Intrusive B&M Sales Help

Acalla said:
You have got to be kidding... people lick them. I guess I shouldn't be surprised but that is type of stuff is :BS.
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Hah! Here's a few I've seen working at a shop:


  • Licking the length to "test the strength"
  • Sniffing (as far as stuffing them up their nose and snorting...does that actually do anything?)
  • Dropping them, or worse, catching them against something and crushing them
  • Roughly squeezing them (people don't seem to understand that no matter how well kept a cigar is, it WILL CRACKLE if you roll it like play-doh between your fingers next to your ear!)
  • Rummaging around in a box till they find "the one"


Honestly, as an employee, I follow every customer into the humidor that isn't a regular "buy X number of Y cigar every time I walk in for exactly Z price." It has nothing to do with trust and everything to do with socializing and having the appearance of being helpful. The fact that the employee is there and willing to stand around with you in case you need help is a good sign. Plus, nearly 3/4 of my customers have NO idea what they want exactly, and are always asking my :2 on sticks, or are regulars who are inquiring about any new arrivals, specials, or simply something they haven't tried before.

Also I can say with absolute certainty that cigar shops suffer from the Tetris Effect (the propensity of people to find ways to organize and interlock things such that the space allotted is used at the greatest level of efficiency) and stock gets moved around quite a bit to make room for as much as possible on the shelves.

If you feel so strongly that you want to do your shopping in peace, by all means, strike up a conversation about something with the employee. Nothing garners goodwill faster than to talk it up a bit, maybe get their opinions on some sticks, and otherwise make them feel like they know you better.
 
BlackDog said:
There are several nice B&M's here in the Minneapolis area, two of which are in the Minnetonka area, on my way home from work. I've stopped at both to buy sticks, and they each have a nice selection. But what bugs me is that they both basically follow a customer into the humidor and stand and watch while you make your selections. I realize I haven't been in their stores enough that they "know" me, but it really puts me off. I'm usually dressed in slacks and a button down shirt, so I'm not "sleezy" looking. Since I'm new to cigars, I want to be able to take my time and make my selections, read the little signs, compare prices, etc. It's very off-putting to have someone follow me up one side of the humidor and down the other.

So, if you happen to be reading this, please back off. If I want help or have questions I'll be only too happy to ask.
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In all honesty, use the time to ask the owners some questions and if you don't see something you would like to purchase make your inquiry. They have a lot of inventory and they may have had a lot of gars walk out the door. They are in business to sell merchandise not let it walk out the door.

Make friends and you will see that they will let you shop alone once they know you are interested in their business. It works, trust me, I do it all the time. :tu
 
Silound said:
Hah! Here's a few I've seen working at a shop:


  • Licking the length to "test the strength"
  • Sniffing (as far as stuffing them up their nose and snorting...does that actually do anything?)
  • Dropping them, or worse, catching them against something and crushing them
  • Roughly squeezing them (people don't seem to understand that no matter how well kept a cigar is, it WILL CRACKLE if you roll it like play-doh between your fingers next to your ear!)
  • Rummaging around in a box till they find "the one"
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What, NO Lewinskys?:D
 
I really don't mind it. Being a son of the South I'm naturally social and conversational, and sometimes I will even ask if they have anything new in. I have occasionally gotten suggestions for things I might not have tried otherwise. The B&M I frequent most often doesn't have a walk-in humidor (rather cabinets that line the walls) so it's a non-issue there.
 
I'll post later on how I was recently kicked out of Buffalo Tobacco Traders because I was supposedly on tape shoplifting. Even though thhe sales clerk agreed to allowed us to empty our pockets and I even pulled my shorts down, I was kicked out and my friend bought his(he regrets it, especially so because of the prices there). Long story short I called and finally got ahold of him and got him to admit that he reviewed the tape and I was fine. I don't recommend that place.. the sales clerk is just an port of no entry and not knowledgeable enough. (An emo looking 25 year old kid)
 
The guys at my BM walk in with you ,but It seems they are getting the price of the cigar you are picking up. I don't think I could look at any one of a hundred sticks and know the excact size and line of the cigar. The few times I made it in and they were too busy to follow they had to take the sticks back to the humi and write down the prices. MAybe there are guys that memorize all the cigars and prices at other BM's.

I get feeling uncomfortable and looking like a dork while they are with you though. Somedays you just can't make up your mind and need some time.
 
I know how you feel. there is a cigar shop in Old Sacramento, and the owner is an older man, and he just glared at me when I was in the humidor. He has the worst selection of cigars in Sacramento, he doesn't have anything I would want to smoke, much less steal, but the two times I have been in there he glares at me through a window, like I am putting bundles of Opus X in my pockets every time he turnes around. I have no problem with an owner looking out for his merchandise, but he never once has offered to help me, or even said one kind word. Needless to say I have never bought anything from him, and will never go back.
 
I was just in there the other day. He didn't hawk me in the humi but he wasn't friendly, that for sure. There is another one in Sacramento with a good selection that I won't name, but they send the salesman in the humi and give you a hard sell to the point where its downright uncomfortable.

groogs said:
I know how you feel. there is a cigar shop in Old Sacramento, and the owner is an older man, and he just glared at me when I was in the humidor. He has the worst selection of cigars in Sacramento, he doesn't have anything I would want to smoke, much less steal, but the two times I have been in there he glares at me through a window, like I am putting bundles of Opus X in my pockets every time he turnes around. I have no problem with an owner looking out for his merchandise, but he never once has offered to help me, or even said one kind word. Needless to say I have never bought anything from him, and will never go back.
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Yeah, my worst one was going to a local B&M down here in South Houston and actually having a guy tell me the second I chewed on one or took one out of the tube that I'd immediately buy it. I told the guy I didn't wanna add any extra stress and took my business elsewhere. The horrible part about this was that I'd just bought two boxes from the guy a month earlier.
 
This used to drive me nuts when they did this. After reading this however with what peopel do with them I may not mind as must. I am plaing it safe and going to be buying sealed boxes going forward.
 
I've never been to any of the shops in the 'Tonka area, but Burn down in Burnsville is (I think) affiliated with one of them. I go in there all the time, and even from my first visit they've been great.

If they see you coming in the door, they'll greet you. If they don't know you, they'll ask if you need any help. If anyone goes into the humi, one of them will come in and ask if you need help finding anything. If not, then they'll leave you on your own. If you take a long time, then they might come back in and see if you really don't need any help. Heck - they leave me in there 20 minutes at a time w/o bugging me, and most the time it's just schmoozing when they do. Great shop.
 
Burn is affiliated with Tobacco Grove in Maple Grove - Jeff and Joel sold the controlling interest in Burn to James earlier this year, but they are still involved



rsamos said:
I've never been to any of the shops in the 'Tonka area, but Burn down in Burnsville is (I think) affiliated with one of them. I go in there all the time, and even from my first visit they've been great.

If they see you coming in the door, they'll greet you. If they don't know you, they'll ask if you need any help. If anyone goes into the humi, one of them will come in and ask if you need help finding anything. If not, then they'll leave you on your own. If you take a long time, then they might come back in and see if you really don't need any help. Heck - they leave me in there 20 minutes at a time w/o bugging me, and most the time it's just schmoozing when they do. Great shop.
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BlackDog said:
Thansk guys, I'll just strike up some conversation next time like you suggest. The possibility of theft crossed my mind. These two B&M's are within a mile or two of one another, so it is possible they have been experiencing some theft. Thanks for the advice.
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It's probably the case.
I know the B&M I go to have enough sales people that I don't necessarily know everyone of them. The ones that don't know me by sight, typically find some excuse to be in the humidor with me (either re-arranging or doing inventory, whatever). But once I start asking them about cigars and/or strike up a conversation with them, they're polite and within just a few mins, find something else that needs their attention.

I suspect it's just more to get a "feel" of the person in the humidor (of course, it doesn't help that I usually am dressed very casual--worn out old jeans + t-shirt hovering over Ashton VSG's I'm sure will give any sales people pause). The sales people who know me by sight, just gives me free reign with their humidor and only come around when I need to ask them something.

About the only complaint I have with them are their prices, but I suspect given that I live in Washington with their retarded tobacco taxes, it can't be helped (ironically, the PAMs at this B&M when I can find them in stock, are actually cheaper than the ones I can get online--go figure).
 
Even the first time I went to my favorite shop, the guy only came in for a minute to ask for my ID, and offered his help and left. I'm almost always in the humidor alone, and even when staff are in there they don't follow me around. They all know me by name now though, which is kind of sad...the manager told me today "Tyler, either I'm going to have to give you a membership, or I'm going to have to call the cops on you for vagrancy." I've been in for long lengths of time the last few days for various reasons, to say the least...
 
As long as there are ---holes who continue to steal instead of paying like everyone else, you will continue to be closely watched until the shop owner knows your face. Maybe the threat of my Palio on their pinky finger will help reduce the 5 finger discount. If I was real good with Photoshop, that would make a heck of a poster!!
 
havent read the whole thread but yes, I prefer to be left alone in a B&M. the most annoying thing is when the owner/worker comes with you and raves about all sticks--ie there are no bad sticks. i guess this is salesmanship, but either at a car dealer or B&M, it comes off as quite fake. that being said, i do value and support B&Ms as it would suck if they went away. but the trick is finding a good one.
 
Besides the joy of spending copious amounts of time looking around a well stocked humidor I love shooting the breeze with knowledgeable staff. Do not have any good local stores, but have visited many great B & M's in my travels. Have not had the problem of being followed just for the sake of watching, however I am in my 50's and regardless of how I dress, have not had the problem of being spied on. I guess that may change once I turn 60, ya know them old farts shop lift like a hunting dog! :D

Did have one guy hound me. After striking up a conversation it was clearly evident the guy had no idea what he was talking about. It was also obvious he was trying to push his slow moving cigars. I politely asked he let me browse around for awhile and he backed off, but soon returned full force. I purchased a couple of smokes and left.

I really feel for the guys trying to make it in this business. With the outrageous taxes and stiff competition from on-line vendors it is pretty tough to make a profit. Cut them some slack, try to get to know them and if you are still uncomfortable, try another store.

Good luck and hope you find a nice place to shop.
 
here in the Milwaukee/Greenfield area, there are a couple of local cigar stores. but one of them is called the Smokers Club. the interior looks nice and the walk in humidor has a good selection, but the thing that pisses me off is that this guy owns it and has his two daughters work there. the thing is though, that they (daughters) know nothing about cigars(and i never seen the guy), they just sit there, even one time they tried over-charging me and my buddy on some CAO America Potomacs. i guess i should be an ass and ask some recommendations on a nice full-bodied or very mild cigar(i dont like mild cigars), or ask about a nice cigar with a cameroon wrapper, they would have no clue.
 
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