Troubling sights at my local B&M

[T.G]

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.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by T.G

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.

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.

[BlindedByScience]

Originally Posted by T.G

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

....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.....

[Boz]

Originally Posted by BlindedByScience

....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.....

This is precisely what I was thinking.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by BlindedByScience

....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.....

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

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

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by BlindedByScience

How many time have you heard someone taking their cigars in to get "repaired"...?? Smells bad to me.

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

[BlindedByScience]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

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

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...??

[neoflex]

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.

[NCRadioMan]

Originally Posted by BlindedByScience

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

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.

Originally Posted by BlindedByScience

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...??

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

[T.G]

Originally Posted by BlindedByScience

....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.

*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.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by T.G

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.

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.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

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?

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.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by T.G

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.

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.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

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.

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

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by T.G

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

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.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

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.

I don't necessarily disagree with some of what you have said in theory, but without the transcript and specific context in which it was said along with having access to detailed knowledge of his customer base and their desires, agreeing in specifics requires too many assumptions for me.

[Ratters]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

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.

I bet a ven diagram of his customer's wishes and those wanting Wolfmans would be miniscule. 90% of cigar smokers smoke General/Altadis stuff, just want something mild that smokes well, and usually does it when golfing or for some get together. People who really obsess over cigars and chase limited releases are a vast vast minority in the world of cigar smokers. Most of the cigar shops around here carry only a tiny amount of boutique smokes, really only one has a good selection, and they all do just fine. I go to the one with the boutique smokes even though it's a bit farther away because that's what I smoke and it's an all around good shop. But most smokers just don't care.

[bobarian]

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"

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.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by bobarian

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 don't 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.

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.

[Ratters]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

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.

Not at all. I know a shop that carries Tats and couldn't care less about limited releases. It's just another brand to him. In fact he was blowing them out because they don't sell very well. Again, most smokers don't want things strong and spicy, they just want a nice mild smoke while enjoying some other activity.