Troubling sights at my local B&M
 

So I stopped into a B&M that's just blocks away from where I work a couple a days a week. They carry Tatuaje and the Hemmingway Work of Art, so I figured I'd poke in, ask about Wolfman, see if they have Tatuaje Black, and maybe pick up a short story and Work of Art.

While I was poking around there, I saw they had some Opus X Lost City. Expensive, but it's nice to know they were there...so I open up the tubo, only to find it spotted with mold. I tried to brush it off to see if it was just "bloom" from the oils, and no, it was a white mold. I found several other sticks around there looking the same way. That's disappointing, especially on such nice sticks..

So on my way out, I'm asking about Tatuaje stuff, and was flat out told that nobody really wants the Wolfman stuff, so he didn't even bother asking for it. As he's telling me this, he's "repairing" several sticks that clearly have beetle holes in them, by gluing bits of wrapper over the holes using a typical vegi glue used on cigar bands.

So I inquire, "these aren't for sale, are they?". He says "No, I'm repairing these for a customer". Then I'm like, "but they have beetles", and he says, "all cigars have beetles, you've probably been smoking them for years". I say "any cigar can have beetle's eggs, but if they hatch, you're smoking beetle crap!" and he pauses...shrugs and says "more protein".

So, this reputable local shop, I think just lost my business. :gary

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

:jd WOW!!!!!!!
That is a horror story for sure!

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

I find it more surprising that it sounds like the customer asked him to FIX his cigars with beetle holes. I mean once a beetle gets in there the pack and draw can go to ****, regardless of if the beetle is still there, so I'd think you'd want just a whole new cigar

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Wow sounds like a disaster!
Pics?

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Damn that is a shame.

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I was so very tempted to take photos...but I didn't want to be thrown out (which they can since it's privately owned property and not public space).

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I love me some beetle dung goes great with me coffee :dr :wo:cf2:r

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It could have been a blessing in disguise:confused:

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Yeah, I guess I just didn't want any confrontation. I don't like burning bridges.

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CA spelling...gotta love it :D :r

Seriously though, that is an interesting story. I normally let a B&M slide on things such as mold. I dont expect them to inspect their inventory that much. It does happen. I know it shouldn't, but it does.

Now the other bit of the story, thats just nuts.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Yeah, sorry about the spelling. I realized that too late.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

No worries, just giving you a hard time. :gary :D

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Sad but true....there are more than a few B&M's like this one.

If the shop blows off customer requests, tries to pass off mold as "bloom" or "plume" or WTF ever, and would go so far as to paste wrapper scraps over beetle holes while telling a customer "all cigars have beetles", there's only one thing to do....vote with your feet and your pocketbook.

No need for a confrontation, just don't go back. Simple as that.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

That's my plan exactly. It's too bad too, because their prices on Nubs and Hemmingways is about $1 less then any other shop in the area. But then, at this point I think I'll just have to order everything online or work out great trades with the folks here.

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ROFL. That's amazing. And terrible.

It looks like it's time to find a new B&M. Sounds like he doesn't care about his customers OR his cigars.

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I would have sent him a link here for the thread about the Wolfman or any other Cigar BB for that matter. Nobody wants them. :r
Sounds like they have all the right accounts but know nothing about the product or how to care for the product that they are selling. That's just sad and I would be just like you and leave probably to never return. It could have been some clueless employee so I honestly would probably go back one more time to see if anyone else was working and pick their brain a bit. If the results were the same I would definitely never return. Sometimes you just get clueless employees and every shop has them. Most just regurgitate information they hear people say whether it's right or wrong. I had an employee at a very reputable shop here when I questioned why the humidor was so hot and humid to the point where the parking garage adjacent to the store was cooler(mid summer nonetheless) reply with "Well to keep cigars fresh the humidity and temperature need to marry at 80.":O Granted he had just finished spending some time pushing smokes I had no interest in without even asking me what I smoke regularly or if I liked mild, medium or full bodied smokes so he was already on my nerves so I responded with "So your not worried that Cigar Beetles can hatch at 75 degrees." He said they never had any issues with beetles but granted that was the first time I went there and witnessed the humidor so hot and humid. It was at that point he finally left me alone and tried pushing those Warlocks on the next guy who walked in as he probably got the hint I wasn't going to buy what he was told to push that week. I've been back a few times since and have not seen this guy so maybe they got rid of him due to lack of knowledge.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

That sucks Eric. Who is the guy? I mean is he the week day guy or a manager? That is definitely the first time I have heard of a shop even entertaining the idea of hiding/patching beetle holes like it's a damn shoe shop. You could always go back when you know the owner/manager is there and tell him about it, how bad would it suck to own a place and have high standards only to find during the day some asshat is ruining your name.

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The manager was busy assisting some guys who were buying 1000 smokes for some event...so this was the *owner* I believe.

I did tell him there was some interest in the Wolfman online, and then he went into this mini-rant, "well Tatuaje is at the mercy of Don Pepin and has to do what they say" and "I'd have to order hundreds of boxes of stuff I don't want in order to get one box of limited editions...it's just not worth the trouble"

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If what he said is true I don't blame him:2

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Meh. I'd be more concerned with the humidor issues than anything else.

What they do, by request, with cigars that a customer already owns, isn't my concern.

Slight misinformation by a B&M employee or owner? Oh noes! Say it's not so!

If he feels that his customer base doesn't want the Wolfman, fine, there are plenty of other places out there to get them. I won't assume I know more than he does about what his clientele want.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Hah. I've smoked sticks with beetles (a few) in them. I remember this one time when I was new I had lit a cigar and I kept hearing this popping at the foot. About an inch downward a beetle started working its way out of the cigar, I thought to myself, "oh no you don't sucker" I pushed its ass back in and smoked it. It gave a satisfying pop when it died.

I don't remember this changing my cigar any.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

You sir are HARDCORE!:r

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Haha, that is awesome! :tu

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So are you and probably everyone else posting in this thread. Ever look up the FDA regulations on permissible levels of food contamination? The food defect levels act, I believe it's called, lays out the acceptable levels contamination in mass processed foods. It outlines just how much/many insects, maggots, insect fragments, rodent hairs, mold, fecal mater, etc are permissible in foods. So it's not like you haven't been munching on bugs all along anyway.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Way to make every one sick T.G. :tu

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Anyone up for some chocolate covered crickets?

Mmmmm. Crunchy.

http://www.flukerfarms.com/images/Iateabugbutton.jpg

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

That cricket head looks a little strange:r

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This is actually true, especially in places that produce processed meats like pepperoni and salami. They can only have a certain amount of rat per pound other meat make it into the stuff. Its just an inevitable thing. Its impossible to kill all the mice/rats that are gonna make their way in so the standards have to be made to make sure that the place at least makes an attempt to keep most of them out

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Agreed. And if it was a tubo, those are more susceptible to mold anyway and probably was there before it even entered the shop. Also, good humidor etiquette would be to not take the cigar out of the tube but let the clerk take it out to inspect it when you buy it. You would be surprised how many morons can't put the cigar back in the tube and/or damages it when they do.

:2

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

I think I know what shop you're talking about, I've seen similar things. It's hard because they have stuff that you can only really get there but stuff like that makes you cringe. I was given the same response regarding the Wolfman even with the preorder. :2

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

....except I'll bet money they were repairing their own cigars, to put back on the shelf. How many time have you heard someone taking their cigars in to get "repaired"...?? Smells bad to me.

In any event, right or wrong, good or bad, truthful or bold faced liars....I would never go back.....:2

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

This is precisely what I was thinking.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

It all depends upon how well you know the store, the employees and the owner. If they have been reputable in the past then I would give them the benefit of the doubt and believe that he was repairing cigars for someone. Otherwise, I would take my business elsewhere -- but I would tell them why I was doing so.

If you remember the bands of any of the repaired cigars you could go looking for them the next day...

As for the mold, many B&Ms and online retailers have issues with mold. While I don't like buying sticks with mold on them, and will avoid it when I can, mold is pretty easy (if time consuming) to clean up.

Part whether or not you go back also depends upon if you have anywhere else to go... I am lucky in that we have a lot of B&M's in the area.

Just my :2

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Shops like that are in it for the buck & not the life style & everything that comes wth it like life long friends/customers...

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I like to bring my aged sticks in for an oil change at least once a quarter.:r

TG and DaBear, thanks for the reality check. Did I mention that I USED TO love pepperoni.:(:gary:D

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

I have personally repaired several customers cigars when they asked me.

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I'm curious; what kind of damage did you repair...??

I've got a lot of cigars at home in my Staebell, and I have a hard time imagining what kind of repairable damage they could incur...??

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

I repair my own all the time. Usually cracked wrappers. Always tends to be the sticks without cello. Sometimes I will drop one while re-arranging(3ft drop onto hard woods) or every once in a while the foot or head gets caught while opening the draw in my cabinet or just physically handling them from time to time you can accidentally crack or tear a wrapper. I've also had sticks that came in through a trade etc that I have had to repair. A little pectin and voila, good as new.

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I'd like to see the Venn diagram indicating the percentage of Tatuaje customers not interested in the Wolfman- I'd imagine it's pretty miniscule. If this guy thinks "nobody wants the Wolfman", why is he carrying Tatuaje in the first place?

As for the mold, it's a little extra distressing to discover it inside a tubo, though that may indicate a problem further up the distribution chain.

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Just typical wrapper damage like cracks or splits. Some guys are very cheap, or maybe cost conscious is the right term, and will not toss a cigar for anything and will jump through hoops to be able to smoke it.

Ever drop a cigar or drop your travel humidor when it's not full and the cigars have plenty of room to jostle?

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*shrug* Whatever you want to assume...

I fix cigars for people all the time, and I've seen shops do it too. Beetle damage, cracked caps, damaged & torn capas. No big deal and not that uncommon really.

If someone has a sizable or valuable collection and suffers an outbreak of beetles or other issues that goes unnoticed for some period of time that result in cigars being damaged, what are they supposed to do with the damaged cigars? Not everyone is willing to just throw cigars away.

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Whether or not that is the case is not the issue, but apparently something makes him feel that way and I'm not going to sit here and pretend to know what those reasons are so as to refute them.

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Well.....I guess I'm the exception. In many years, and thousands of cigars and lots of travel, I've never beat up a cigar so badly that it needed repair. Sure, I've dropped a few over the years, but they never were damaged so badly that they needed repair. A little foot damage that goes away as soon as you set fire to them, etc....guess that's about it.

I'd heard about guys using pectin to repair cigars before; never occurred to me to ask a B&M to do it for me.

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

Well, there is a gap between, "No one wants those." and "My customers haven't indicated much interest in those, but I'll note yours." and in that gap lies honesty, humility and customer service. :2

Re: Troubling sites at my local B&M
 

I wasn't aware that you were there to witness the conversation.

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The guy/owner was right that he would need to carry more than what he probablly had of Tat products in order to even get considered for the "limited stuff". I just looked at the Tat catalog and it's quite an extensive list. Your talking some serious money and space to get all the Tat products in house. Granted you probably don't have to carry everything in order to get some "limited" boxes like the Wolfman. Don't know how Pete picks them out or if his reps do it for him.

The guy should have gave a smile and noted your interest for future Tat products. The customer service seems to have been lacking and apparently it spills over to the humidor.

When I find damaged cigars during inventory at my local I simply put them aside to be fixed and then tuck them away to get smoked by the owner and staff when they feel like a smoke. More cigars can be ordered to replace the damaged ones and customers should always leave with the best you have to offer, imho.

Re: Troubling sights at my local B&M
 

I must be missing something because I see nothing wrong with the worker's statements in the OP.

If you add up all the members of all the online cigar communities, we are still but a miniscule percentage of the buying public. The vast majority dont smoke Tatuaje products at all much less seek out their limited releases. Most cigar smokers buy a few sticks on Friday for the weekend or for a round of golf and that's it. No humidor, no beads, nothing.

As far as repairs, it sounds like he is performing a service for his customer. Beetle holes are no big deal, once you see the hole the beetle is gone. He is 100% right, most cigars you smoke have some remnants of beetles, larvae or eggs.

Here's a few tidbits from the FDA website.

Beer drinker?

"HOPS Insects
(AOAC 967.23) Average of more than 2,500 aphids per 10 grams

DEFECT SOURCE: Pre-harvest infestation
SIGNIFICANCE: Aesthetic"

10 grams of hops? I guess they disappear when its "cold-filtered" :r

PB&J

"PEANUT BUTTER Insect filth
(AOAC 968.35) Average of 30 or more insect fragments per 100 grams
Rodent filth
(AOAC 968.35) Average of 1 or more rodent hairs per 100 grams
Grit
(AOAC 968.35) Gritty taste and water insoluble inorganic residue is more than 25 mg per 100 grams

DEFECT SOURCE: Insect fragments - preharvest and/or post harvest and/or processing insect infestation, Rodent hair - post harvest and/or processing contamination with animal hair or excreta, Grit - harvest contamination
SIGNIFICANCE: Aesthetic
PEANUT BUTTER Insect filth
(AOAC 968.35) Average of 30 or more insect fragments per 100 grams
Rodent filth
(AOAC 968.35) Average of 1 or more rodent hairs per 100 grams
Grit
(AOAC 968.35) Gritty taste and water insoluble inorganic residue is more than 25 mg per 100 grams

DEFECT SOURCE: Insect fragments - preharvest and/or post harvest and/or processing insect infestation, Rodent hair - post harvest and/or processing contamination with animal hair or excreta, Grit - harvest contamination
SIGNIFICANCE: Aesthetic"

Mmm crunchy. :sh

Re: Troubling sights at my local B&M
 

I see it more frequently than I like -- and I do carry pectin and have lent it to BOTLs many times...

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I wasn't aware that I needed to be present in order to comment on the OP's description of the conversation. I pretty much figured that "unless the OP is misrepresenting the situation" was a caveat implicit in every response here. :sh

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Of course Tatuaje buyers are a small percentage of the cigar market-at-large, but the question here is about the interest in one of the highest profile releases within the Tatuaje market, not the larger market. This guy is a Tatuaje dealer- his Tatuaje customers are necessarily interested in Tatuaje product. For this guy to imagine he has a viable market for Tatuaje items, but not one for the current hottest Tatuaje item is just kind of odd.