How would you feel about somthing like this?

[FriendlyFire]

I know it will pass I just need to vent a little.

I started going to a B&M for the last couple weeks and liked it pretty much, The truth is I didn't really go crazy for their seating arrangements but I enjoyed the company which I think that's what counts the most.

I would usually go to a different place which I like the company even better but I felt it was to cramped.

So here's what bothered me, I understand every one has the right to make their own rules but I think there is something called appreciation.

I recently got in to pipes and was looking to get a nice churchwarden pipe. After all the looking on the net and local I decided to go for the one they had, It came out to allmost $90. I sit down and light up that new pipe and as usual Put out on the table my Diet Snapple. I usually have spring water but I just happen to have that drink with me and I like to drink while smoking here and there. After a few minutes one of the workers comes over to me and says know for next time, you can't have your own drinks here. I asked him do I need to put it away. he said no, but just that you know for next time. I'm not saying he said it in a nasty way but come on, a guy buys a pipe, you want him to come back be nice to the man, maybe next time or on the way out tell him yah know we have a policy etc... blah blah, ok, so 5 minutes later the store manager come with the same speech, yah know the store policy doesn’t allow out side drink,, blah blah blah. I asked one of the guys there is it because you sell water? he said yes, they sell Poland spring, the smaller one which you would pay in most places a dollar they want three dollars.

I thought it wasn’t so nice, if your focusing on cigars and pipes and they make big bucks, they worry if a customer enjoys his smoke with his own Snapple.

[Ironfreak]

That is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. At the end of the day, they risk losing a good customer over not being able to sell you a $3 bottle of water? That’s a load of :BS

[vstrommark]

If that's the rule, then that's the rule. It's your call if you are going to drink their water or go without.

My thoughts are that you are being a bit silly for complaining, since it is, as you point out, their store. Personally, I would not consider bringing my own beverage into a cigar store, whether they sell any or not. But that's just me.

[Don Fernando]

my fav B&M is also a liquor store and the owners refuse to charge me money for the softdrinks or the beers I drink when i'm there. I can't relate to your problem anyway, but it reminds me how lucky I am with my B&M.

[croatan]

Personally, I would not consider bringing my own beverage into a cigar store, whether they sell any or not. But that's just me.I've taken many beverages into cigar shops. And I've never heard of one that had a policy against bringing in outside drinks. Of course, it's their store so it's their decision. But, personally, I just wouldn't go back.

[pnoon]

If that's the rule, then that's the rule. It's your call if you are going to drink their water or go without.

My thoughts are that you are being a bit silly for complaining, since it is, as you point out, their store. Personally, I would not consider bringing my own beverage into a cigar store, whether they sell any or not. But that's just me.

:tpd:
Yes, you did purchase a pipe from them. And they did allow you to drink the Snapple you brought. Just informed you of the store policy for next time. And if they were to allow you to always bring your own beverage in, who would they sell the water to? The guy who spendt $75? $50? $10?

You say you only started going there a couple of weeks ago. If I were the owner/manager, I would hardly call you a regular (yet).

My suggestion is to continue to patronize the establishment and maybe down the road when they recognize you as a true regular (one who regularly spends money there) they might ease the restriction for you.

[FriendlyFire]

Thats my point, I'm not complaining. I just think I can buy my sticks where they allow me to dring my water.

And if you belive it or not,The cargnie Club true they have a cutting fee but they asked me not to bring my drinks because they have a bar, but guess what, they give me water, with a piece of lemon, oh and Ice for freeeee. And they serve it to me on a platter. :)


If that's the rule, then that's the rule. It's your call if you are going to drink their water or go without.

My thoughts are that you are being a bit silly for complaining, since it is, as you point out, their store. Personally, I would not consider bringing my own beverage into a cigar store, whether they sell any or not. But that's just me.

[FriendlyFire]

You might have a point, but how do you make people want to come back?

:tpd:
Yes, you did purchase a pipe from them. And they did allow you to drink the Snapple you brought. Just informed you of the store policy for next time. And if they were to allow you to always bring your own beverage in, who would they sell the water to? The guy who spendt $75? $50? $10?

You say you only started going there a couple of weeks ago. If I were the owner/manager, I would hardly call you a regular (yet).

My suggestion is to continue to patronize the establishment and maybe down the road when they recognize you as a true regular (one who regularly spends money there) they might ease the restriction for you.

[pnoon]

I've taken many beverages into cigar shops. And I've never heard of one that had a policy against bringing in outside drinks. Of course, it's their store so it's their decision. But, personally, I just wouldn't go back.

Even into places that sell their own? I can understand if the establishment doesn't offer any thing but if they do, I understand their position.

Personally, I probably wouldn't go there either BUT, given that I like everything else about the place, it is a small concession to make. And, as I stated, if I become a regular patron, down the road they might make an exception for me.

[pnoon]

You might have a point, but how do you make people want to come back?

By offering a comfortable and enjoyable place to enjoy a smoke.

By your same logic, in a restaurant/bar, you should be allowed to bring in any drink the establishment doesn't offer. Even high end restaurants will charge a corkage fee for bringing in your own wine.

[FriendlyFire]

Exactly!!!!!


By offering a comfortable and enjoyable place to enjoy a smoke.

By your same logic, in a restaurant/bar, you should be allowed to bring in any drink the establishment doesn't offer. Even high end restaurants will charge a corkage fee for bringing in your own wine.

[croatan]

Even into places that sell their own? I can understand if the establishment doesn't offer any thing but if they do, I understand their position.

Personally, I probably wouldn't go there either BUT, given that I like everything else about the place, it is a small concession to make. And, as I stated, if I become a regular patron, down the road they might make an exception for me.
Never been to one that sells water (at least that I know of). Been to many that give it away, though. Yeah, if I really dug the place, I'd go back. In and of itself, it's really not that big of a deal. My guess is, though, that if they're making that big of a deal about selling water, I'm probably not going to like the guys running it anyway (but I am kind of a dick :)).

[[OT] Loki]

they want you to pay $3 for water....the hell is it a movie theater? I've taken my own beverages to all the shops I go to and no one has said anything....including the one that sells soda for $0.50/can. Course I didn't know that at the time and I haven't done it since. I'd be finding a new shop, there were better ways to handle the situation then they did. it's not what they did but how they did it that would drive me away

[FriendlyFire]

The truth is, I should make it a little more clear. I'm not so angry that I'm saying I'd never go back there, but it was a turn off for me.

[Ironfreak]

It's all about what you do for your patrons.

Giving them a bad time about an outside drink is not the way to gain repeat business.

[pnoon]

Never been to one that sells water (at least that I know of). Been to many that give it away, though. Yeah, if I really dug the place, I'd go back. In and of itself, it's really not that big of a deal. My guess is, though, that if they're making that big of a deal about selling water, I'm probably not going to like the guys running it anyway (but I am kind of a dick :)).

Loki;1675915']they want you to pay $3 for water....the hell is it a movie theater? I've taken my own beverages to all the shops I go to and no one has said anything....including the one that sells soda for $0.50/can. Course I didn't know that at the time and I haven't done it since. I'd be finding a new shop, there were better ways to handle the situation then they did

Points well taken, gentlemen.
BUT, my point is to help the OP understand the position of the proprietor. Not impose my choice on the OP. He says he likes the place. If he does, then he should abide by their rules and stop complaining. If it is THAT much of a deal about the water, then, yes, he should find another spot.

Edit: And now that I re-read the damn title of the thread, I take back my counterpoint. I don't dispute your feelings about it. As I said, I would likely feel the same way. I was just trying to offer up perspective from the other side.

[68TriShield]

The paying customer is King in my book...

[[OT] Loki]

Points well taken, gentlemen.
BUT, my point is to help the OP understand the position of the proprietor. Not impose my choice on the OP. He says he likes the place. If he does, then he should abide by their rules and stop complaining. If it is THAT much of a deal about the water, then, yes, he should find another spot.

Edit: And now that I re-read the damn title of the thread, I take back my counterpoint. I don't dispute your feelings about it. As I said, I would likely feel the same way. I was just trying to offer up perspective from the other side.
i understand your point quite well and I happen to agree. if he doesn't like the rules then yes he should go else where. However, what if the customer wishes to consume a beverage other then water? I don't like water, I stick to colas when I'm smoking my pipe or cigar. What should someone who is in my position do?

[pnoon]

Loki;1675936']i understand your point quite well and I happen to agree. if he doesn't like the rules then yes he should go else where. However, what if the customer wishes to consume a beverage other then water? I don't like water, I stick to colas when I'm smoking my pipe or cigar. What should someone who is in my position do?

What we all agree on - find another shop. :tu

[[OT] Loki]

What we all agree on - find another shop. :tu
well put sir :ss

[FriendlyFire]

Ok, let me say some more. The truth I'v been to places that let you drink your own, and I'v been to place that asked me not to pay, they said take it.

The truth is, I was told by a guy that comes there alot, that last year they bearly had a 1%loss they make big money, and good for them. And the truth is part of why they probly make alot of money because they charge $3 for water and they do sell coke and mocas or somthing.
My point is a guy pays $90 dollars for a pipe let the man enjoy his smoke. don't shove it down his throat while he's just lighting up his new pipe after he gave you Money. If that is part of there buisness I can understand, they make lets say (only example) 100,000 a year from the beverages, and everyone brings there own then the whole income is down the drain, I can understand that. but personelly I like to drink when I smoke, so that place I guess is not for me. And its ok, I have other places to go.
I'm not out raged its just I need my drink, and If I can't have it I can't smoke there.

[4thtry]

That is absolutely ridiculous. Honestly, it'd make me think twice about being a customer again.

My B&M has a policy......Bring in whatever beverage you want, non-aclo, or alcoholic, just make sure you bring some to share. If you need water, he sells the big ass deer park squir bottles for $1 a pop. THAT's how it should be....but maybe i'm just spoiled. My B&M is the shiz so, i'm not sure if this is normal or not, but your story definitely sounds like a bad b&m experience

[Mad Hatter]

For me I wouldn't have taken an outside drink to the B&M without having asked if it was ok first.

[Syekick]

I don't like it. I think they are forgetting what they are selling. The places I go into sell drinks as a side item, so we can have something while we are in there spending big bucks on cigars. They give away all the coffee you can drink. Both here in Nashville, (2 places) and in Knoxville.

OK, it's a rule. A dumb rule. You can almost guess that the manager had a store meeting that morning with everyone about the "rule."

[hotreds]

I'd also have to agree that hassling somebody that just spent close to $100 in the store is beyond the pale. I think I would have a talk with the manager and tell him exactly how you feel. See his reaction. If he is still hard nosed about his rule, then tell him he just lost a customer for a bottle of water. Let's see- $90 vs $3-- hmmm, I think I know what I'd rather take in!

Not having one of these places, I can't comment other than that. But, I do take me a cola when I light up in my cigar room or on the deck.

[MithShrike]

My B&M is pretty good. You can bring in your own drinks. However, you can get a can of soda for 50 cents which is better than most vending machines. Also, the assistant manager offers iced coffee at $1 a goblet and 50 cent refills. Better tasting and cheaper than the nearby Starbucks.

These guys may be assholes (in a good way, friends of mine) but they know customer service and we appreciate it.

Over at Habanos Torres it's all BYO but Tim usually has Coke for himself and us regulars.

As for your situation, that sucks dude but them's the rules.