How do you handle a cigar mooch ?

[Markofoz]

I have a friend who visits my house every other weekend with his family.

we have a pool...

Each time they come. We grill, BBQ, drink and play cards...

Being an avid trader, I break out cigars..which he loves...


It used to be that he would bring a few smokes over..lately however, ( last 4-5 times they came over) he comes empty handed.

Normally I wouldn't mind but last couple times. After smoking 1... He starts asking if I have another...then another...

He's smoking 3-4 to my 1.

Last night I smoked a Berger and Argenti entubar.

He smoked A B&E with me, then asked for another smoke, i let him choose.. He chose a LP T#9 toro, Then a Padron 26 and eventually my last FFP.



I hate to be an A hole.. But when he did bring smokes they were always. Crappy Baccarat or some cheap Thompson blend.

Should I start hiding my babies ?

How would you guys handle this ?

 

[USCG Cigar Newb]

WOW. While I think we would all agree that sharing cigars is one of the joys of cigars, what I do is I have a humi of good solid smokes that they can choose from, but not ones that I will hold anything against a guest for smoking. That way they get a good cigar, do not know I am keeping my treasured ones to myself, and I dont need to worry about holding something against that person that they may not they are doing. Usually they couldnt know one cigar from another, so they wouldnt know they are smoking the expensive ones. I do have to say that 3-4 cigars to your 1 is a bit execcive, but all of this is just MHO.

 

[Tobacco Giant]

How good of a friend is this guy? And how well do you know him?

If he's intentionally mooching because he knows he can, put an end to it. If he's a good friend who fell on hard times or has just been absent minded when coming over and forgot to pick some up or you know he's the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back, I wouldn't mind. If he's just smoking too many just let him know you've implemented a 1 smoke a day rule at your house to stop yourself from smoking too many (and this rule is universal).

 

[Poriggity]

I know a few people like this.. I have one friend in particular that is constantly mooching. I've put a stop to it, but he's moved on to other people, and is mooching off of them. Sometimes you just have to be firm... Just tell him from now on, YOU will pick out the smokes to give him.
Scott

 

[pbibby]

I agree with all the above I think that you should just have an extra humidor with decent sticks in there for guests to smoke

 

[FuenteSmoker]

This is a little funny. I have those friends too, maybe not as excessive. I have two humi's my giant which are all my bomb sticks then a desktop with my everyday sticks. People can have as many of the desktops as they want, when there gone there gone. It's filled once a month. If this was me I would be blunt, but Im kind of a direct person. Honestly and openness are the only path. Boundrys are healthy in any relationship.

 

[StocktonJohn]

I keep certain sticks tucked away so I don't have to worry about them. Otherwise if it's a good friend I don't worry about it. What you may want to do is keep an assortment of non favorites on top and tell him to grab whatever he wants... Most guys are too polite to dig very deep.

 

[Craig Mac]

If you have a problem, say something! It's not any more rude to call him a mooch than it is for him to be a mooch.

 

[Red Raider]

My best friend could smoke whatever, but he is too polite and considerate to to take advantage and he doesn't exactly know what he is looking at, so he usually just asks me to get him a good one... The result of asking usually gets him a better smoke than if he'd have just gone and chose one.

A buddy of mine who is a mooch gets his selection made prior to his, or my arrival. I usually pick 2 identical sticks, hand him one, smoke one and preface the conversation with something like "lets see what we think of these..." It also gives us the chance to get someone else's opinion on the same smoke. Just a friendly way of not being taken advantage of

 

[Knickerbocker]

if he's that bad, i would say listen you gotta start giving me the cash for the smokes. let's see if he is willing to dish out $60 for what he takes out of your humi.

 

[javajunkie]

yeah, can't say without knowing more about the relationship. setting up a stash box and a regular box is a real good idea. or, since it is your place, you make the selection. i would seriously lay it out for him, though: someone smoking $70 out of my stash without my EXPLICIT say so would not fly. would i hand that out? right guy, right event, in a heartbeat. my real fear would be if he got something someone gave to you or bombed you out on, as that is really the one area of my stash i am protective of.

 

[Cigary43]

How good of a friend is this guy? And how well do you know him?

If he's intentionally mooching because he knows he can, put an end to it. If he's a good friend who fell on hard times or has just been absent minded when coming over and forgot to pick some up or you know he's the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back, I wouldn't mind. If he's just smoking too many just let him know you've implemented a 1 smoke a day rule at your house to stop yourself from smoking too many (and this rule is universal).

The right answer right here.

 

[Jdsmoke]

Buy a small cheep humidor and put a mix of dog rockets and value priced smokes you like. When he comes over allow him to select what he wants. Put the better stash away for other times. I usually keep a small desktop filled with get value priced smokes ($3-$5 range) for when the guys are around and want a smoke but who don't know the difference between a $3 or $12 htf stick.

 

[deuce]

I had the same problem and he was a really good friend of mine and i knew he owned his own! He would call me up and ask hey wanna smoke? Id answer of course and he would reply ok be right over! Shows up empty handed! i would pull out a couple of cigars prior to him showing up i didnt mind him smoking and setting em out for him to grab. It got to the point i just told him hes gotta start bring his own im not gonna supply his hobby!


Sad thing is were not really friends any more. He kinda did that with more then cigars and wasnt much of a friend when i needed him to be.

 

[SSimp]

Go Gurkha on his ass and he'll think twice about coming over empty handed.

 

[Markofoz]

IHe kinda did that with more then cigars and wasnt much of a friend when i needed him to be.

Fear same thing is happening here.

 

[Markofoz]

Go Gurkha on his ass and he'll think twice about coming over empty handed.

It's funny at his house he offers. ThompsonS or CI seconds...he comes to me for real smokes...

 

[mwlabel]

Naked bundles. Tell them they're Cubans. Everybody is happy.

That's been my solution so far anyways.

 

[SSimp]

Go Gurkha on his ass and he'll think twice about coming over empty handed.

It's funny at hs house he offers. Thompson. It. CI seconds...comes to me for real smokes...

Oh boy. You have to lower the bar on this guy then.

 

[pbibby]

Naked bundles. Tell them they're Cubans. Everybody is happy.

That's been my solution so far anyways.

Love this. If he isn't a serious smoker then this will work perfectly. Plus you'll be the best friend ever in his eyes