I look at it like this, some of the associates that work in B&M's are just there for a paycheck. They may not be very interested in the hobby and have no need to learn or search to see what else is outside of there walk-in. So it is like asking a Verizon associate what the new AT&T phone is, and how they liked it. My problem occurs when they do not know what you are talking about, or don't know an answer to a question. They assume I am ignorant since I am young and mislead me or just flat out fabricate stories. I still frequent the B&M where the owner said that he smoked a 1960 something Opus. He is usually very helpfull, but doesn't know much about cigars they don't carry. They are an aurthorized Opus dealer by the way.
Don't know what I'm talking about...
- Thread starter itsme_timd
- Start date
I can't say that I have had too many of these experiences.
I do however think that with today's technology, it is up to the B&M owner to be on BOTL, or some other board where they can keep up on today's information so that they can give informed answers to the customers.
I do however think that with today's technology, it is up to the B&M owner to be on BOTL, or some other board where they can keep up on today's information so that they can give informed answers to the customers.
AlohaStyle
BoM Sept '12 & Aug '13
Yeah, I just went into a well known Seattle-area B&M recently and was looking for a few new things. I was talking to the owner who wasn't that old and seemed like he should be up with the times. But then I started asking him questions... 3 strikes later and I was thinking "he's the owner?" And he even went to the New Orleans IPCPR show LOL
I asked him if they carried or will be receiving the following...
1. Opus Love Affair. I knew they just got a box in from talking to their manager on the phone. The owner didn't know what they were. Luckily the manager was in the back room and pulled out the box.
2. Opus Shark. He said there wasn't such a thing and that it was an Anejo. I told him the story which he accepted.
3. E.P. Carrillo Inaugural 2009. He had no clue. Didn't know who Ernesto Perez was either. Then he talked to the manager in the back, came back out and said "oh yeah, we just got a box in. Let me see if that's it." Yes, they did get a box so I could buy some.
4. Viaje. He said "yes, we have La Vieja cigars. I said not the La Vieja, but Viaje. He just gave me a blank stare.
I guess that's why I research and buy online for the most part... It's nice to have local B&M's and I feel good supporting them, but I just need to take it with a grain of salt knowing I need to educate myself for the most part. My favorite B&M and most educated is the farthest away which sucks...
I asked him if they carried or will be receiving the following...
1. Opus Love Affair. I knew they just got a box in from talking to their manager on the phone. The owner didn't know what they were. Luckily the manager was in the back room and pulled out the box.
2. Opus Shark. He said there wasn't such a thing and that it was an Anejo. I told him the story which he accepted.
3. E.P. Carrillo Inaugural 2009. He had no clue. Didn't know who Ernesto Perez was either. Then he talked to the manager in the back, came back out and said "oh yeah, we just got a box in. Let me see if that's it." Yes, they did get a box so I could buy some.
4. Viaje. He said "yes, we have La Vieja cigars. I said not the La Vieja, but Viaje. He just gave me a blank stare.
I guess that's why I research and buy online for the most part... It's nice to have local B&M's and I feel good supporting them, but I just need to take it with a grain of salt knowing I need to educate myself for the most part. My favorite B&M and most educated is the farthest away which sucks...
I'm so thankful for my B&M. Great selection, very knowledgeable staff and I can practically spit on it from my house.
If a B&M manager will talk to their reps and has a good relationship with the manufacturers they don't really need to be on the forums. Rarely, if ever do I bring something up to the owner or manager that they didn't already know about but I guess that comes with the territory of really being into cigars and not just having the shop as a job/investment.
If a B&M manager will talk to their reps and has a good relationship with the manufacturers they don't really need to be on the forums. Rarely, if ever do I bring something up to the owner or manager that they didn't already know about but I guess that comes with the territory of really being into cigars and not just having the shop as a job/investment.
Owner of a shop around me told a guy in the walk-in that he'd never heard of Davidoff's Winston Churchill cigars... Not as big a deal as not hearing about Tat's, but still... It's not like there are no ads for Winston Churchill or anything out there. Not as many as Davidoff, but there still there.
I think it used to be an internet term but due to the intermingling it's starting to get out there pretty good. However I guess a shop that has mostly old school customers may still not be exposed to it... yet. :thumbsup:
Did he sell davidoff products?
The winston churchill line isn't talked about all that much from what I've seen.
Have you tried the spitfire yet? Its supposed to be great.
No... They don't sell Davidoff, & your right, they're not as talked about as much, but I figured the guy is in the cigar business. An employee maybe wouldn't know, but an owner who frequents shows & such... You'd think that he might know a little more then the average guy.
And yes... The Spitfire is good, but I really like the Chequers.
My city doesn't have a B & M so today I went to the "Tobacco Outlet" hoping to find something. After looking at their selection of sticks only worthy of hollowing out and refilling with "green tobacco", I went and asked the guy if it would be possible to order Don Pepin or Tatuaje. He looked blankley at me then said "uh, I don't know. Some cigars are illegal in WI" uh... Ok dude.
I imagine they have no interest in davidoff products because they think they couldn't sell them, haha.No... They don't sell Davidoff, & your right, they're not as talked about as much, but I figured the guy is in the cigar business. An employee maybe wouldn't know, but an owner who frequents shows & such... You'd think that he might know a little more then the average guy.
And yes... The Spitfire is good, but I really like the Chequers.
ROFL! Agreed, that is definitely a winner!
We here on this dedicated cigar Internet forum--the best one, if I may be so bold--are pretty much "experts" who have a huge amount of experience and information we share. We all benefit from the collective knowledge and "cross pollination" of information. However, this BOTL cigar discussion forum world is relatively very small and very different than the "real world," which includes most 9-5 B&M employees or even owners, who probably more or less see the same crowd of local customers month in and month out. They're probably more interested in selling CA, not reading it. They are primarily businesspeople, not aficionados themselves.
I've had the same experience with Internet gun forums and local gun shops & their employees & owners. Because I have been hanging out on an Internet gun forum for years, I seem to know a lot more about guns (especially machine guns, silencers, and related) and the laws relating thereto than most gun shop owners/employees.
I've had the same experience with Internet gun forums and local gun shops & their employees & owners. Because I have been hanging out on an Internet gun forum for years, I seem to know a lot more about guns (especially machine guns, silencers, and related) and the laws relating thereto than most gun shop owners/employees.
bigmanfromou
The BBMF
My favorite was trying to explain that a hydrometer is not a hygrometer. "Yes I'd like a Xikar hygrometer", "you mean hydrometer?" "no dammit I'm not making alcohol!!"
Agreed with you guys. The internet has brought a world of information and many, many minds less than a click away (if you have botl as your homepage). I wish more shop keepers used the internet as a resource. I think it'd be a great tool for b&m's to network, learn and grow.
As it stands, I've been to a few shops where owners or even the managers don't smoke their product. Whenever I go to a new shop I try to chat up the members, workers or even the owner when I can and I always ask them what their favorite or go-to cigar is. One B&M owner I spoke to said, "I don't smoke cigars, I've never smoked cigars but I can tell just by smelling someone else's smoke if it's a good cigar." And when I asked if they carried tat noella reservas...he pointed me to the P2's
As it stands, I've been to a few shops where owners or even the managers don't smoke their product. Whenever I go to a new shop I try to chat up the members, workers or even the owner when I can and I always ask them what their favorite or go-to cigar is. One B&M owner I spoke to said, "I don't smoke cigars, I've never smoked cigars but I can tell just by smelling someone else's smoke if it's a good cigar." And when I asked if they carried tat noella reservas...he pointed me to the P2's
