Local Shop Question - What Would You Have Done?

[ProSpkr]

I asked for Fox News, there is no, has been no bad blood among us. It's not like we are best buds or anything; I go in pick my cigars, chat for a minute or two, then head home. Been doing that for 2 years now. I will say that in that time, I have only smoked there twice before.

I guess my point is that Cigar Shops are not a high margin business and repeat customers are the way to stay in business. I do buy my boxes off the internet, but spend about $70 a week in his store on singles I want to try. So, with no one else in the store, I couldn't watch Fox News for 45 minutes?

[Pablo]

I tend to let my actions say how I feel. I would not completely cut off my visits, I like cigar stores to much. I can tell you I wouldn't be going there as my first choice anymore. Let your spending say how you feel as a customer.

[JustAyoungMC]

I personally dislike Fox news....but he couldve turned it to a different station during the breaks at the least (x-files reruns have tons of commercials).

[horrorview]

As a fan of the X-Files, and someone who hates Fox news (especially Shepard "I'm a robot" Smith), I can see the owner's side of things. But, as someone who ran their own business for several years, I also know how important it is to cater to your customers needs and wants, even if they fly in the face of your convictions.

[Steeltown]

Originally Posted by 1f1fan

Sounds like your relatonship with the owner isn't as good as you thought. I don't know what I would have done...I guess it depends what type of mood I was in. After a long trip I probably would have done the same thing you did.

Have some fun...

Start bringing your own cigars in and smoke in the lounge... if he asks why you don't buy from him tell him they are your favorite...pick something he doesn't have in stock....

Then....get a universal remote and program it to the TV he has. Just turn the TV off (when he is not looking) during his favorite show..that will piss him off. He may think something is wrong with his TV if it keeps turning off all the time. Tell him you repair TV's on the side and can probably fix it (for a small fee, of course)

Classic post.

Maybe the shop owner just "fronts" w/ you and talks to you to get your return business. When it really comes down to it, he clearly doesn't care much about you, and thinks he can call the shots and his customers won't care. I would have spoken up right then and there. It would be somewhat childish to go back in there and then try to discuss the problem. Just my opinion - if I don't like something, I'll open my mouth. If I keep it shut, I lose my chance.

Since you didn't say anything the first time, I'd refuse to go back there. Even if it takes an extra 5 mins to go to another shop, I'd give them ALL my business. Now if it's the only place within miles, that's another story.

It would be one thing if the guy sorta bantered a bit and then didn't want to change it, but to just say "no" and watch reruns? I could understand if you wanted to change it to some lame show, but watching the news is pretty universal anywhere you go, and for someone to refuse to change it to that in favor of re-runs is pretty strange.

Which is why I will say that he only likes you when you are handing him $$ at the cash register. He probably was wondering why you decided to stay, since you said you've been going there for 2 years and only actually stuck around 2 times to smoke. He wanted to sit there in peace, and not have you around. Therefore, I say boycott his operation.

You could have made some comment about him being able to afford the whole season on DVD w/ the profits you've given him. Lose him.

[coppertop]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

It was early in the afternoon and his "favorite" show was reruns of X-Files.

Now that is lame.......totally changes my thoughts, he should have put on fox news for you......I would stop going.

Now where are my flip-flops

[MoTheMan]

Man, that's a first.
Just about every cigar store I know that has a TV & smoking area pretty much gives the customres choice as to what to watch. They carry the credo that it's about the customer service.

Gotta tell you, his actions really surprise me. There are some cigar stores that I just don't frequest becasue I don't find them customer friendly enough to my tastes to make the trip worthwhile. The stores I do frequent, I can spend hours in there.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by SeanGAR

If somebody pulled that crap on me I'd have walked out the door never to go back.

The customer is always right - he should be happy to make you comfortable and relax in his shop.

Amen. And I would have let him know why he just lost my business. Even though I detest Fox News, I would have let the customer watch what he wanted.

[miketafc]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

I asked for Fox News, there is no, has been no bad blood among us. It's not like we are best buds or anything; I go in pick my cigars, chat for a minute or two, then head home. Been doing that for 2 years now. I will say that in that time, I have only smoked there twice before.

I guess my point is that Cigar Shops are not a high margin business and repeat customers are the way to stay in business. I do buy my boxes off the internet, but spend about $70 a week in his store on singles I want to try. So, with no one else in the store, I couldn't watch Fox News for 45 minutes?

OK Let me be the first to cut this guy some slack. He may just be your typical "old time" cigar shop owner and thats their personality.

For instanse the shop I go to is run by an old Italian that is the nicest guy but pretty set in his ways. In other words don't sit in his chair or grab his newpaper before he does or your liable to get tossed on your ear. Anybody that know him will tell you, he's got a heart of gold, but don't change the tv channel. I love to bust his chops and his crass personality breaks em back.

Maybe he's like this, so just go back and get to know him better. Cigar shops are not your "typical business place" they've replaced the barber shop for local town gossip and become good old neighborhood smoke havens for many. Believe me it takes time to know all the players, and get accepted, but it's worth the effort.

Don't think of them as margin and profit, they have a much more important place in the cigar smoking world ---- or would you rather buy your cigars at Walmart?

Ya get what I'm sayen?

[c2000]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Curious...what was the (favorite) show?

If it was Deadwood,

Off topic but nice to know there is another Deadwood Phile on the forum.....My role model is Al Sweragen..


Jerry in the People's Republic of Minneosta.

[Ms. Floydp]

I don't think I could be comfortable there anymore if it had happened to me, but I'm funny like that. I guess the owner put the TV in there for him and not for the customers.

We once went to our local shop and after 30 minutes of going hmmmmmm in the humidor, our grandson (7) and I went to the lounge to wait for Frank to stop drooling. The owner came back and sat with us. The Colts were playing on TV and he picked up the remote and started changing the station. He said, I'll find a family station and we both looked at him and asked him if we could go back to the game and he apologized, saying he should have asked us first. I guess most women and kids don't like to watch football.

Customer Satisfaction comes from more than just the cigars, you have to like the shop too.

[Ms. Floydp]

Originally Posted by 1f1fan

Sounds like your relatonship with the owner isn't as good as you thought. I don't know what I would have done...I guess it depends what type of mood I was in. After a long trip I probably would have done the same thing you did.

Have some fun...

Start bringing your own cigars in and smoke in the lounge... if he asks why you don't buy from him tell him they are your favorite...pick something he doesn't have in stock....

Then....get a universal remote and program it to the TV he has. Just turn the TV off (when he is not looking) during his favorite show..that will piss him off. He may think something is wrong with his TV if it keeps turning off all the time. Tell him you repair TV's on the side and can probably fix it (for a small fee, of course)

That would be funny to see! Love these silly antics! Keep changing the stations.. tell him you think the place is haunted or something.. LOL.. that's pretty funny!

I don't think the particular show matters. Wouldn't if it was our (floydp would never leave) home/shop. Put on what ever you want. If there were more customers then I'd have asked if anyone else minded but it would never have been what I wanted to see. In our shop, it would be free smokes for all BOTL's!! It's that customer service thing to me.

What if it was your shop? What would you have done?

[ProSpkr]

Originally Posted by miketafc

Cigar shops are not your "typical business place" they've replaced the barber shop for local town gossip and become good old neighborhood smoke havens for many.

You are right in that aspect; in the two years I have been buying singles there, it's always the same guys sitting watching TV.

Originally Posted by miketafc

Don't think of them as margin and profit, they have a much more important place in the cigar smoking world ---- or would you rather buy your cigars at Walmart?

Maybe Walmart if they had a climate controlled hermetically sealed walk in humidor with an electro shock device for any rugrat trying to sneak in to touch the cigars! However, as a business owner myself, it is about profit and margin and repeat customers are a businesses lifeblood.

I travel a great deal and frequent shops in cities all over the country, this is the first time a request from a customer (me or someone in my party) has ever been declined.

As for horrorview and JustAyoungMC; you don't know what you are missing by not watching Fox News!

[SeanGAR]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

As for horrorview and JustAyoungMC; you don't know what you are missing by not watching Fox News!

There any babes on Faux?

[dadof3illinois]

I tend to agree with about everyone here. I wouldn't let this keep me from getting a good deal from their shop but I would look for another place that puts the customer first.

The smoking area is for the customer. He actually should have turned on Fox news, then offered you a deal on a couple smokes, like buy two get one free or at least offered you one at cost. This way you would have felt inclined to buy something before you left and would tend to return more often.

Just my 2 cents.