B&M etiquette

[smokin nightly]

I have been going to my local B&M (up in smoke) and they have a really nice lounge for locker renters. The lockers cost $30 a month and you can keep your smokes and whiskey in there and have access to the nice part of the store(big screen and leather couches)...All of the commoners have to sit out in the front and watch the small screen TV...Anyway, I was thinking about getting a locker but I am kind of unsure about what is commonly done. Do I still have to buy my cigars from the store to put in my locker or what? Because if I had my way I would bring my own smokes and stock up my locker that way...Right now every time I smoke there I get a cigar from their humidor and sit and smoke it in the front lobby...but If im paying 30 a month, I might be more inclined to bring my internet smokes...I dont know, That doesnt sound right to me...

[ongreystreet]

It really depends on the shop. I would just straight up ask the B&M. Just tell them if you own a locker you know if you can store cigars bought elsewhere. I think it would be crazy to pay $30 a month and not be able to store a cigar bought elsewhere, whether an internet buy or a premium cigar that you bought elsewhere that can't be bought at that particular shop.

[RobustBrad]

Yeah I would ask him straight up also. I don't see that as being a problem though. Assume you don't buy ANY smokes at all from him (which I'm sure you'll be inclined to buy a little something) He's making $30 a month off of you.

And if there is any push back at all on that I would find a different B&M.

Cheers,
Brad

[Mitch]

I know guys from the Outlaw buy cigars other places and store them there. I would say they wouldn't care if your still spending money there. I buy tobaccy at other locations (Some things I want I can't get there) and smoke it there and they don't seem to care (But I still spend most my money there too). I wouldn't make a big deal about it, and don't brag to others in the shop on how you bought a box for $50 cheaper than at the location.

[ericb13]

I know this isn't the kind of answer you're looking for, but I'd try to find a different shop. I frequent two local shops - Cigar Shop & More in Addison and 2 Brothers in Plano - and neither separate the members from non-members. I find that they both create a much more relaxed environment than the "member separator" shops I've been to. You shouldn't have to feel demeaned at a local shop...that's just my opinion and the way I've felt at some places.

I know the 2 shops I mentioned are probably too far a drive for you from L'ville, but I'd bet there's more than one in close range to you.

[veteranvmb]

In the new york area, most shops that have lockers only want cigars purchased in the shop.
In fact its weird,at some of them, to smoke in the shop, they only want you to smoke the cigar that you have just purchased.
I have asked in three of them, if I can bring my own cigar that I have purchased in the store, if I take it home to age. (These are stores that dont have lockers) They all gave me that look.
I recently went to a new hand rolled cigar place I found. I very nice shop and sell all the brands also. I purchased 8 singles at a purchse price of around 70 dollars. He asked if I was going to smoke there, so he could cut it. I said I have my own cutter and lighter, but would prefer to smoke a 4 month aged one in my pocket. He said we do not do that here. Then I said If thats the policy I will abide by that.
As I startd to leave, he had a change of heart, but again, I take that as a dispute to my word.
I told him I would only smoke cigars that I purchase here and have aged. I guess he didnt trust me, but for buying 8 overpiriced singles, in this economy(The shop was empty for the half hour I spent looking over his goods) should have entitiled me to smoke a cigar. What has happened to buiding a reputation, and a customer support base. I forget what they call this in business, but when I took some accounting courses in my undergraduate work, we were taught to amortize this invisibible item. Its sort of like customer goodwill. Anyone know the accounting term for this?
Its a hard world out there, and a lot of the more recent business owners, do not understand how to deal with an individual customer. You would think they dont want your business a lot of time.
I have a cuban owned hardware store near me. They have had this store for thirty years. A husband and wife. Now there are big hardware stores near me(home depot , etc. ) but you see a lot of loyal people to this store, who do not mind paying higher prices for the smaller things they have. Of course they are limited compared to the big stores.
But, you get them in the store 6 days a week (only one helper) and he will tell you anthing you need to know. I have needed a specialized tool, or size of tool, for a small job, and he has lent me the tool for the day. Thats the way to do business. I dont care his duct tape is 50 percent more expensive then home depot.
Lots of times I cant find things at thome depot I find there. Too often I can find the size of lag bolts I use by the box, they always have it, at one third the cost of homedept.
Also, and this is unvelievable, home depot doesnt carry three way to two way adapters, and when they do, they are so looles to be dangerous.
So, Let this be a lesson for these stores who just dont seem to care, and only think about the sale.

Jerry

[jadeg001]

At my local B&M there is a sign that says in order to smoke in the lounge you have to have made a $15 purchase per person. However, its ok to bring a cigar from home to smoke as long as you make that purchase before hand.

[veteranvmb]

Originally Posted by jadeg001

At my local B&M there is a sign that says in order to smoke in the lounge you have to have made a $15 purchase per person. However, its ok to bring a cigar from home to smoke as long as you make that purchase before hand.

Thats not a way to get a repeat customer. The propriator should know his customers and after a while know your habits. So its basically a 15 dollar charge to smoke in his shop. Say you have been there ten days in a row and purchased a 20 dollars cigar each time.
Then on day 11, you are in the mood for a short smoke, say an r and j, that runs 6 bucks. He wont let you smoke then?

Thats why I like one of my local b #ms. He likes to chat, and sit on his couches, and doesnt care if you buy one this visit, or bring your own. He takes all customers as individuals and gets to learn who the glamers are and who are decent folk.
I dont always buy much there, if I am looking for something in particular, but I will always buy at least one cigar and a newspaper. That is enough to get me the utmost couertesy.
I asked him for an empty box recently for my wifes projects, I received all the boxes I could stick in my truck. I took about 40 empty wood boxes, and why???because he knew I was polite, and alwasy purchased something and never dickered on price.
And yes, when he was selling chocolates for his kids school at a buck apiece, I purchase a 40 dollar box of them, (but dont tell me wife, these are my secret stash).
And please, do not ask me to get you boxes. He asked me if I am going to sell them or give them away, and I said no I wont, and I am good on my word to the utmost. If he didnt care one way or the other, believe me I would send them to whoever wanted.

Jerry

[RobustBrad]

Outch! $15 per person, per visit?

So if I go in there and buy a CAO Brazillia i'm SOL in hopes of relaxing and smoking it in their lounge?

I found a great local B&M that lets you smoke in their cigar lounge as long as you purchase a cigar through them (any amount). They have free Wi-Fi, poker tables, plasma T.V's. And too boot they are VERY well priced. In my opinion if you want to have a succesfull cigar shop in todays economy and competitive internet prices, you need to lead with customer server and the customer experience. Well done to my new local B&M.

Cheers,
Brad

[ericb13]

Originally Posted by RobustBrad

Outch! $15 per person, per visit?

So if I go in there and buy a CAO Brazillia i'm SOL in hopes of relaxing and smoking it in their lounge?

I found a great local B&M that lets you smoke in their cigar lounge as long as you purchase a cigar through them (any amount). They have free Wi-Fi, poker tables, plasma T.V's. And too boot they are VERY well priced. In my opinion if you want to have a succesfull cigar shop in todays economy and competitive internet prices, you need to lead with customer server and the customer experience. Well done to my new local B&M.

Cheers,
Brad

I guess this thread has gotten a little bit hijacked, but I think it's a good discussion. My local shop charges $5 to smoke in their lounge if you don't buy a cigar. Or so their sign says. I've bought enough from them that they don't ask...I've only done it once, but I took a cigar there that had been gifted to me and they knew I didn't go into the humidor and look around, as I normally do. They were just as courteous as they always are. They also have Wifi, poker, and flat screens. In fact, I even joked with the manager last week about how cheap I am and that I always buy there cheapest stuff. She was in the middle of laying out some new cutters that were upwards of $30, and I commented that I wouldn't spend that much. Instead of snubbing me - as has happened at a place down the street when I bought a cheap cigar - she directed me to a cutter that was only about $12. Now, I'm not in the market for a cutter - thanks to Jerry - but she didn't think any less of me for not wanting to spend a bunch of money.

I agree with everything Jerry said above...I have one of those local hardware stores too, but I still have to go to HD sometimes. It's the same as with the CBid to B&M relationship...they know we need to save money on our "at-home" smokes, but they also know we'll spend plenty with them, so they treat us well and we always come back.

Back to the topic of putting outside cigars in the lockers...I think it's really going to depend on the staff there and it's just something that you'll have to ask about. One thing this slightly off-topic thread has shown is how differently shops are run and there doesn't seem to be an accepted etiquette.

[danmcmartin]

I can understand a shop not wanting guys to bring in cheaper smokes from outside ans smoking them there, but if your paying $30 bucks a month for a locker that's different. Other than aging them in your locker, what's the point?

I don't know the term Jerry, but I know what your talking about. You take it in the shorts today, to make even more money tomorrow. I don't like the member/non-member set up, but if I owned a shop, I might give the rental guys a break on smokes or access to special events. If an owner wants to get guys to smoke there and buy his sticks, they ought to be priced competitively. Personally, I wouldn't go back to a shop that made me buy some overpriced smoke just for the privilege of sitting in the shop to smoke it.

A little side story. My grandma and my uncle both used to own bars. They both told me that selling drinks was not there business, it was providing a seat to play video poker. They would take a loss on the alcohol to get customers to sit in front of the video poker machines. Then they would rake in the cash. I know that won't work in other states, but getting a guy in the place even if he brings his own sticks might lead to him buying some drinks, or a humidor, or cutter, or maybe buying a few stick now and then. I mean the lights are on anyway, so it doesn't really cost the owner anything to let them sit there, but it could cost him a lot if he never comes in at all.

[niterider56]

I have been with the same B&M for about 5 years. I have a locker and smokes in there from him, from NC online retailers and CC online retailers. He knows about this and is okay with it. He also has one of the best lounges in town and has no requiement to smoke in there. Of course he's a pretty good business man so he knows that if takes care of his customers they will keep coming back.

[Flux]

I'd be wary of a locker just because of a possible beetle issue. One guy brings his sticks in and they are contaminated - everybody suddenly has infested sticks. I'm not saying that's an issue everywhere ... more my own paranoia.

I'm fortunate in that my B&M owner is a good friend and every once in a while I take him something to smoke. Him and the Tinder Box in town account for 90% of my cigar purchases so if I take something not bought there into his lounge, he doesn't care.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by niterider56

I have been with the same B&M for about 5 years. I have a locker and smokes in there from him, from NC online retailers and CC online retailers. He knows about this and is okay with it. He also has one of the best lounges in town and has no requiement to smoke in there. Of course he's a pretty good business man so he knows that if takes care of his customers they will keep coming back.

This is the same with the Outlaw (Not sure where they are at with Cubans, I would never ask them). There are some guys who don't smoke cigars that hang out there, but that is what he (owner) wants. Part of his business plan is to bring people in who don't smoke cigars, and have them hang out with those of us who do. He has poker night, and a bunch of guys come and play who hate the smell of smoke, haha. They don't have any requirements to use the lounge. But if anyone never spent money there, and only bought online, and used his lounge anyway, thats just character and you probably can't change that.

[Herf N Turf]

It's a simple thing to just ask if you can "keep my own cigars in here?"

All I can really tell you is that it is, in my understanding, considered bad form to smoke a cigar in a shop, or lounge that they don't sell. I saw a guy tossed out of a shop once for torching a Davidoff, which that shop did not sell. He was politely asked not to smoke it there, but got rude and lit it anyway. Otherwise, that shop owner doesn't care if you smoke from your pocket. Just buy something.