My Local Tobacconist...
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Yeah Lawrence you have the gold mine in bham. Ive got a good shop here in Dville, Ga called the Cigar Depot, but though they sell pipes and pipe tobacco, they really aren't pipe people. Last time I went in and bought some tobaccy and went back to the smoking room to smoke the guy was like you arent gonna stink it up back here with that sweet smelling pipe stuff are you? I think he was joking, but still I was like, you just sold it to me. Besides it has to smell better than the tree stump he was smoking. Anyway I like a good cigar too, and with all the smoker persecution there ought to be some commradery between all smokers worldwide. But they are good guys and are going to host our pipeclub when we decide on the first date.
agreed, cajunplume...
It would be legendary. Thousands of years from now once the great weed is all but extinct, they would speak of a gathering of kings so terrible in might and majesty that smoke would pour forth from their mouths in a plume of mirth and scent of frankincense. And from their hands would be issued stern and mysterious scepters crafted of wood and stone of which the world had long since ever known. Whilst hand to hand they passed a leaf of grace and peace so that all the kingdoms might form alliance. And tribute would be given to the one who bears the ring of power. He who bears the name of Arthur!
Muahahahahahaaaaa! :twisted:
It would be legendary. Thousands of years from now once the great weed is all but extinct, they would speak of a gathering of kings so terrible in might and majesty that smoke would pour forth from their mouths in a plume of mirth and scent of frankincense. And from their hands would be issued stern and mysterious scepters crafted of wood and stone of which the world had long since ever known. Whilst hand to hand they passed a leaf of grace and peace so that all the kingdoms might form alliance. And tribute would be given to the one who bears the ring of power. He who bears the name of Arthur!
Muahahahahahaaaaa! :twisted:
@Nathaniel
That's the other thing - the test. You have to take it in person. It has to be given to you by a Certified Tobacconist. There are 100 questions, plus 3 bonus questions all worth one point. You must get a minimum of a 90 to pass. (I got a 101.)
Optionally, you can also buy the Tobacconists Handbook, which has different prices depending on hard cover, paperback, signed, unsigned. I recommend the book too.
I'll actually be giving the test to Russ O. at the Richmond pipe show next month.
Lastly, there are different designations for certification. You would be the first one listed -
1. CCT - Certified Consumer Tobacconist (For the general public)
2. CRT - Certified Retail Tobacconist (Store owners and employees)
3. CST - Certified Salesforce Tobacconists (Works in the industry, but not in retail) (That's my current designation)
And the Granddaddy of all ...
4. CMT - Certified Master Tobacconist - Must first become one of the above 3. Then must complete a minimum of 100 hours in the field combining apprenticing with a pipe maker, cigar roller, tobacco factory, cigar factory, farming, etc.
Then you need to provide signed documentation from the places you apprenticed. You don't have to do all of the above, but you need a combination of some of them adding up to 100 hours. As I said before, I will get my CMT in the coming month or so, but I haven't had the opportunity to work on a tobacco farm, although I am dying to do so, and hope to in the future.
Here's the sign-up form in PDF.
http://tobacconistuniversity.org/pdf/CRT%20Intro.pdf
You can read all the materials on their site for free. However, to become an official apprentice and get certified it costs $250, which is peanuts compared to all the materials and information they have compiled to educate people in the world of pipes and cigars. They don't make any money on this. They pay for a booth at the IPCPR trade show and staff it with people to administer the test. That's a money losing deal right there. It's a labor of love for Jorge Armenteros, the founder. (He owns 2 B&Ms too.)
That's the other thing - the test. You have to take it in person. It has to be given to you by a Certified Tobacconist. There are 100 questions, plus 3 bonus questions all worth one point. You must get a minimum of a 90 to pass. (I got a 101.)
Optionally, you can also buy the Tobacconists Handbook, which has different prices depending on hard cover, paperback, signed, unsigned. I recommend the book too.
I'll actually be giving the test to Russ O. at the Richmond pipe show next month.
Lastly, there are different designations for certification. You would be the first one listed -
1. CCT - Certified Consumer Tobacconist (For the general public)
2. CRT - Certified Retail Tobacconist (Store owners and employees)
3. CST - Certified Salesforce Tobacconists (Works in the industry, but not in retail) (That's my current designation)
And the Granddaddy of all ...
4. CMT - Certified Master Tobacconist - Must first become one of the above 3. Then must complete a minimum of 100 hours in the field combining apprenticing with a pipe maker, cigar roller, tobacco factory, cigar factory, farming, etc.
Then you need to provide signed documentation from the places you apprenticed. You don't have to do all of the above, but you need a combination of some of them adding up to 100 hours. As I said before, I will get my CMT in the coming month or so, but I haven't had the opportunity to work on a tobacco farm, although I am dying to do so, and hope to in the future.
Here's the sign-up form in PDF.
http://tobacconistuniversity.org/pdf/CRT%20Intro.pdf
Wow Kevin, that sounds like a whole load of fun! I'm not sure what the benefits of the cert would be other than prestige, but heck... I'd be for it. Plus the apprenticeship would be fun too.
So if I did it, could you proctor my exam on down the road? So I don't have to go across the country to the IPCPR.
Man, I've totally got to talk my wife into this scheme. :
:
So if I did it, could you proctor my exam on down the road? So I don't have to go across the country to the IPCPR.
Man, I've totally got to talk my wife into this scheme. :
:
Most likely, I could. I see you're in Titusville, so we could meet up somewhere either over there or over here or somewhere in the middle. There's a 1-hour time limit to take the test. You don't need that much time if you know the material though. It took me 30 minutes.
Depending on how much time you have to read and study, you'll need anywhere from a few months to a year to get through everything.
Thanks Kevin, that would be perfect. I could drive over there so it's no trouble for you. Plus, I've been wanting to check out some B&M's along the way. But honestly, it will be a long while, if ever. But now at least I've got someone in the works to give me a helping hand! I appreciate it! :D
Nathaniel i have a very similar experience. i have two B&M's near me one of which is a dedicated pipe and cigar store and let me tell you the staff there are first rate they not only know about every bulk blend they sell but they also have a full understanding of each of their tins while still being knowledgeable about all of their cigars it is simply wonderful. now the other store is in my mind only good for buying cheap pipes. they have been around for a while and have multiple establishments none of which i frequent. their prices are great on pipes but the service is horrible once i asked if they had any tins and one literally told me we sell tobacco..... i asked about English blends and the other one working said you guys are on your own i dont know anything about that stuff. i find it crazy how people who sell this stuff can know so little about it. well that was me venting for the day.
So Nathaniel...how did you like the Fox and Hound? I picked some up the other day...Wasn't too bad.
the number of times i have been asked to leave a certain chain tobacco store is about 5.
my great sin was knowing more than the clerks they hyad working who were trying to sell the machine rolled crap cigars with the company's name on instead of cigars that would insure the guys would come back because they could make more money on the crap.
the last time was about a month before they closed. and the 3 young guys followed me out to sit in the mall and pick my brains on cigars, types, lighting ect. if the clerks woulda shut up and listened to me and not the manager they might still be open...
my local pipe shop is a wonder....but you best not take yourself serious if you go there. ideas fly around along with the banter and riding all done in good fun by people who enjoy the dark goddess.
my great sin was knowing more than the clerks they hyad working who were trying to sell the machine rolled crap cigars with the company's name on instead of cigars that would insure the guys would come back because they could make more money on the crap.
the last time was about a month before they closed. and the 3 young guys followed me out to sit in the mall and pick my brains on cigars, types, lighting ect. if the clerks woulda shut up and listened to me and not the manager they might still be open...
my local pipe shop is a wonder....but you best not take yourself serious if you go there. ideas fly around along with the banter and riding all done in good fun by people who enjoy the dark goddess.
hardlined, I'm serious jealous! But living a few minutes away from Peretti's would be way to expensive for me to survive; my wife would end up kill me eventually!
Hardlined, There's a couple of fellas that worked at Peretti's that I used to talk with quite a bit through my blog on wordpress.com. I think the names were Smith and Michael Murphy. If they're still there, give them a hello from me. They would know me by my name here.
Great couple of guys and helped me out in more ways than I can count when I first started pipe smoking and blogging about it.
Great couple of guys and helped me out in more ways than I can count when I first started pipe smoking and blogging about it.
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