Local Shop Question - What Would You Have Done?

[Cartierusm]

I see no side of this, "the customer is alwasy right!". He is not there to watch his favorite show, he's there to provide a relaxing environment for his customers, who are there to buy cigars, who are there to make him money. I wouldn't go back, but bringing in your own remote is a super close second...LOL

[Nely]

I don't spend much money in my local shop. I usually go for a stick or two every other week or something like that. But they treat me as one of the regulars. I have sat in their lounge many times to eat my lunch and smoke my 5 dollar cigar and they are very happy to have me.
With the kind of money you are spending every week there this guy should be literally kissing your behind. Let your dollars do the talking. Find another shop that truely appreciates you and your business.

[megasolo]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

I was arriving back into town yesterday and on the way home from the airport; I stopped at a local shop that I frequent quite often. I usually buy 5 to 7 sticks each time I am in this shop and the owner knows me by name. I wanted to relax a little after several days on the road and I wasn’t in the mood to smoke on the back porch due to the weather.

This shop has a smoking area with a big screen TV, leather chairs, etc. I was the only one in the shop besides the owner and I sat down; lit my cigar and settled in for a nice 45 minute or so smoke.

I wanted to catch up on the news and asked the owner if we could watch a certain news channel and he said no, that his favorite show was on. I thought WTF? I didn’t say anything and smoked my cigar and left.

What would you have done and what are your thoughts on this shop owner?

wow, i'm surprised at some of the responses in this thread. to me the customer is always right, isn't that why he has a TV in his shop? for the customers? The owners response indicates to me, that he doesn't think his customers are top priorty, therefore that would be the last time you found me in that shop.

[radar]

Unless it was the only shop in town with VSG's or Opus X at the time, I woulld probably stop spending there.

[Sickboy]

Sound like its time to gift him a cigar with a cigarette load in it. When I was a teenager starting to smoke Dutch Masters, my friends pulled that prank with annoying frequency. For those who don't know, it's basically a baby firecracker that blows the tip of the cigar off. I've never been hurt by one, but on second thought maybe I shouldn't endorse this plan. Just give him another chance (maybe he had a bad day), if he ever acts rude again, tell him to go f**k himself.

[GOAT LOCKER]

As others have said, the lounge is there for the customer, not the staff/owner. Obviously, he doesn't care much for his customers. Must have too many of them...

[radar]

I live in a very small town, no smoke shops. So, I drive an hour to Bonita Smoke Shop on occasion. With FL laws against indoor smoking, there's no lounge. But if I'm buying 3 or 4 boxes or the young guy next to me is buying a single stick, we are both treated extremely well. If they are busy, this is a huge shop, the owner calls the office staff out of the back to help and all are knowledgable and feriendly. It sounds like your shop owner doesn't get it.

[floydp]

Only one thing to do

In a calm polite voice say, you just lost a customer..

[horrorview]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

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

Oh, believe me, I've watched FOX news, and am well aware of the super hot chicks they have broadcasting on there (that Dhue gal is a hottie), but I'm more of a CNN guy myself

[altbier]

The X Files? Maybe deep down he belives he has been abducted and has waded through all the seasons of XFiles to find the truth!

If you dont like the way you were treated, head somewhere else. We do live in a capiltalistic society.

Cheers!
George

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

I was arriving back into town yesterday and on the way home from the airport; I stopped at a local shop that I frequent quite often. I usually buy 5 to 7 sticks each time I am in this shop and the owner knows me by name. I wanted to relax a little after several days on the road and I wasn’t in the mood to smoke on the back porch due to the weather.

This shop has a smoking area with a big screen TV, leather chairs, etc. I was the only one in the shop besides the owner and I sat down; lit my cigar and settled in for a nice 45 minute or so smoke.

I wanted to catch up on the news and asked the owner if we could watch a certain news channel and he said no, that his favorite show was on. I thought WTF? I didn’t say anything and smoked my cigar and left.

What would you have done and what are your thoughts on this shop owner?

You never mentioned that you purchased a stick on this particular visit. Maybe he only gives dibs on the TV if you have purchased something to smoke on that visit. Who knows? Some of the best vendors I have are peculiar in one way or another outside of their discipline. Me, I judge the cigar store on its selection/pricing, the owner or managers knowledge and helpfulness as well as their willingness to find things you may be interested in. TV? Hey WTFC it will still be there whenever you get to your own and the real world is getting more like the X-files every day anyway.

[DonJefe]

When I had my shop, the TV belonged to the customers. It sucked some nights, like the guy who came in every Saturday night to watch the XFL! That was brutal, but usually there was a card game or someone to shoot pool with. Bottom line, the customer rules.

[JustAyoungMC]

Originally Posted by ProSpkr

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

I dont really watch the news (internet all the way) but when I do its BBC or CNN.

[NCRadioMan]

The old saying says it best, "the customer is always right". He is there everyday watching the mysteries of the universe being unvieled by Scully and Moulder. He couldn't miss 45 minutes? Of an episode he has probably seen a dozen times! WTF?


NCRM

[Thurm15]

@#$% Him and his store! Bottom line is he disrespected you as a customer. Stay away and tell anybody else that you know to do the same.