Salesmanship? (a little long)

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.

shaintiques

Lifer
Jul 13, 2011
3,615
227
Georgia
So, I have recently started a pipe club in town. We meet at the local cigar shop. First let me say that it is a very nice shop, with a nice smoking room, but it tailors more to cigar smokers. They are very nice to let us meet there, but we don't just use their space we are paying customers and at the very least buy a tin of something each time e meet. This week was Peterson's Irish Whiskey, which on a side note is pretty good. I titled this salesmanship because though the shop is tailored more towards cigars they do sell pipes and pipe tobaccos, but they really don't have a clue about their pipe oriented products or that has been my experience so far. I was actually in there the other day and a guy (who I don't know) is asking about a can of roll cake. The guy behind the counter says, you really ought to ask him, pointing at me, he is the pipe guy. They have lots of nice pretty tins but probably don't know much about what is in them, but here is the kicker. We are meeting for the club, have just spent about 25 bucks on tobacco and drinks and are all enjoying some nice Irish Whiskey and the owner and a cigar sales rep are sitting at the next table over talking about his product. I had just finished having a pipe tobacco conversation with the rep before the owner came in. The rep says, "man I sure like the smell of what they are smoking." The owner says, "yeah it smells good for about 5 minutes then it gets old." The rep says, "well you can't really complain about the smell though its nice." Owner says, "like I said it gets old which he says with a scowl." It made me feel unwelcome or even unwelcome as a customer. The guy who manages the place is a nice man who is helpful, I'm not saying that the whole experience is bad, but I felt like pipe smoking just isn't as elite as cigars or something. And that isn't the first time that he has said something like that about pipe smoke. I just don't get it, in a world that is trying to crack down on smokers of every walk shouldn't we stick together, or at least understand the concept of good salesmanship, for though cigars are big business, the pipe smokers of America are growing in numbers and we deserve the same respect as the next customer. Just my thoughts, I didn't let it ruin my pipe club experience but it really irked me. And you know what else, I buy cigars there too and have in the past recommended them to others who like cigars, but I think I may start looking for somewhere else to meet. This is a shout out to all of the B&M's out there, pipe clubs are a win win, we buy from you, we bring in other people to buy from you, we advertise free for you, and we tell people about you. All we want in return is a little common courtesy.

 

philip

Lifer
Oct 13, 2011
1,705
6
Puget Sound
Best of luck with your new club.
A lot of pipe smokers are cigar smokers as well so it seems like it should be an ideal situation. I wonder if the store owner just doesn't care for pipes much?
Hers's hoping he will change his attitude when he sees business improving because of the pipe club.
I think pipes clubs are great. Keep up the good work.

 

dylan793

Starting to Get Obsessed
Oct 12, 2011
281
1
Buchanan, GA
Darn it! I wish id have known about this. Im in Buchanan and I missed the Sept. meeting due to work. Is there an email list you can put me on? Id sure like to meet up with some fellow pipers. As to the store you speak of, the guy seems really nice but that's a very off-putting comment he made. Especially towards paying customers. Not to mention, that joint reeks to high heavens of cigar smoke, talk about the pot and the kettle. I need to get back down there and check out his tins. I've only sampled some bulk from there.

 

spartan

Lifer
Aug 14, 2011
2,963
7
Look for someplace else. It'll ruin your whole experience if his comments get more air time. :puffy:

 

aussielass

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 18, 2011
513
1
Shain, can I make a gentle suggestion that you use paragraphs - I tried to read it, but just kept getting lost in mountains of text.
I am in absolute awe that other countries even have proper tobacconists, much less ones where you can sit, sample & smoke - unheard of here, as are pipe shows! Any retailer with any smarts would make the most of that scenario and go to the enth degree to make people want to come in and stay in - cheese, crackers, nuts, high quality coffee machine (Jura), wine if your licensing allows for it, pleasant music - hell, I'd best migrate and start up a chain of stores, it would be amazing!

 

pstlpkr

Lifer
Dec 14, 2009
9,694
31
Birmingham, AL
I too enjoy the occasional cigar... about once maybe twice a year.

I know what I like, and I know I don't know shine-ola (or however you spell it) about cigars...

But, I do hand out a compliment when I smell a good freshly charred stogie: "That sure is a sweet smellin' stogie." a-la Colonel Potter from MASH.
I suppose we are lucky here in B'ham to have The Briary...

Never really felt the need to have a pipe club because we have a pipe shoppe that also sells cigars.

And like Birmingham0irish "Raymond" said: It's kind of like Cheers.

 

pipeinhand

Lifer
Sep 23, 2011
1,198
0
Virginia
During these hard times and with the internet getting you anything... You would think that B&M folks would not put down anyone coming to there store for whatever reason especially spending money. Sad that any smoking establishment would do this to smokers.

 

markw4mms

Lifer
Jun 16, 2011
2,176
2
Bremen,GA
Sorry I couldn't make it Dave, I'm still a little too sore to have gotten out and enjoyed it. I'm also sorry about the negative comments coming from the owner, looks like he would enjoy the extra customers in the store, I wish I had the money to open a good pipe oriented tobacco shop in the area, I know I'd love to host the pipe club if I did.

 

shaintiques

Lifer
Jul 13, 2011
3,615
227
Georgia
Yeah, i can add you to the list Dylan, I'll pm you. Yeah sorry we missed you Mark maybe next time. There may be a get together before the next official club meeting. Ill mae sure you guys know when and where. As for the comments, I think next time I'll just ask him what his problem s and see if he would like us to take our business elsewhere. There is another place in town, but they are even slimmer on pipe stuff. We'll see. For now wewill still be meeting there till I find a better alternate.
Yeah Lawrence you've got it made!

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
18,317
11,068
Maryland
postimg.cc
I get to visit some fine pipe shops on the East Coast and occasionally stop by a cigar shop. There is what is billed as the "largest cigar shop on the East Coast" near Allentown. They have a giant pipe sign hanging by the door that says "Pipes". I went inside, strolled through the various and luxurious rooms. Cigar smokers were everywhere. I didn't seem any signs of pipes or pipe tobacco. I asked the college-aged clerk if they had any pipes, he said "don't think so". I said you have a sign at your front door advertising them. He shrugged his shoulders and kept wiping the counter glass. Too bad, it looked like a nice place to have a smoke. If I don't buy something, I don't like free-loading.

 

trout

Lurker
Nov 22, 2011
4
0
I'd love to attend your next meeting as well. Smoked a pipe for twenty years but have never attended (or even heard of) a pipe club until recently.
I actually just started as the brand manager for pipe tobacco at Lane Limited here in Tucker, GA (Capt. Black, Sir Walter, Lane Bulk, etc.). I'd be more than happy to tote along some free samples for everybody. I also have a sort of demo kit that explains the various leaf & cut types etc. that go into creating pipe tobacco - if you thought members might be interested.
Either way, I'd love to attend.
Leonard

 

romeowood

Lifer
Jan 1, 2011
1,942
155
The Interwebs
That sounds like a capital idea, Leonard--and welcome to the forum! It's good to have some industry insiders in the mix, and I'm sure a casual comment aimed toward the owner that pipe smoking is on the rise and that accommodating pipe smokers equates with more money might go a long way with him coming from you.

 

shaintiques

Lifer
Jul 13, 2011
3,615
227
Georgia
Yes PM sent to trout, we would love to have you attend and bring your demo kit, that sounds interesting. We are now meeting at New Manchester Cigars in Douglasville, Ga for anyone else interested. From 530 to 7pm on the 1st thursday of the month. These guys are very welcoming and I forsee a long and beautiful pipeship with them. Thanks for your interest!

 

withnail

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 30, 2011
737
1
United Kingdom
It's a pity that the sales folk don't know about what they sell. It is something I experienced when I first smoked a pipe years ago. It was in the days before widespread internet access and so relied on the local B&M tobacconist. When asking for some advice on as a new pipe smoker I was told that I should remove the stem from the shank as soon as I finished smoking (while the pipe was still hot) to clean it. Also he recommended that I get a reamer to stop any carbon from building up on the inside of the bowl!
Luckily, thanks to the internet and the rather excellent B&M tobacconist close to where I now live, I have got out of all those bad habits and enjoy my pipes a whole lot more.

 

iowamike

Can't Leave
Nov 14, 2010
300
0
Man a pipe club would be cool here. Last guy I saw smoking a pipe was my father in law.

How do you go about starting a club in a town of 55000 with 1 non smoking cigar store LOL (tough gig).

I was in a wood carving club for a while when I was younger, 5 guys and I was the youngest by 35 years. Those guys had great stories and taught me alot.

 

rd02sir

Can't Leave
Nov 1, 2011
415
1
I wish we had pipe clubs here. We aren't allowed to smoke in any public building. Only outside, your car or your home is where you can smoke. The casino Du Lac Lemy has a cigar lounge, but no pipe tobacco allowed, lame.
It would be nice to find a way to open up a pipe/cigar lounge here. But with all of the by-laws, it's pretty much impossible.
So consider yourselves lucky to have a shopyou can smoke in.

 

spartan

Lifer
Aug 14, 2011
2,963
7
My area has a pipe club once a month too that I'm about to advertise here maybe tomorrow. I had to skip last month so I'm freaking GOING this month damnit! haha. It's in San Antonio, TX if anyone is interested send me a PM.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.