My Local Tobacconist...

[nathaniel]

So as another point as to how it seems that many local B&M's are forgetting the pipe smoking community altogether:
My wife went out a few weeks ago to get me some tobacco for no reason other than she's awesome. And when going to the local B&M she asked if they had any Fox&Hound (I had mentioned wanting to try some). So he looked, and of course in the smattering of cheapo altidas stocks, there it was. He opened the pouch though to make sure it was still good and upon smelling it... here's the kicker...
He said, "whoa! I'm sorry, but this stuff has gone bad, and I mean REALLY BAD."
Naturally, my wife took a whiff and said, "Nope! That's good stuff... just how he likes it." and she bought the pouch.
So apparently, certified tobacconists aren't required to learn crap about latakia. Which is rightly so, since NO ONE really likes the stuff... right? :roll:

:crazy:

 

[classicgeek]

Your wife should have played along: "Yep, it's gone bad all right. I'll take it off your hands and toss it in the trash on my way out. No, it's no bother. Yes, all five pounds of it. Thanks."
:roll:
Simon

 

[papipeguy]

B&M owners should train their people about the products they offer. I've been in places where the attendants are no more than check-out clerks. No knowledge about the products at all. Fortunately, my B&M has experienced people plus there are always regulars around all too willing to help with questions.

 

[bubbadreier]

I can't tell you how many times I have had to walk up to someone at my B&M and talk to them about pipes and pipe smoking. I love my B&M but they do like to hire some straight up ignorrant people (tobacco related)!

 

[nathaniel]

Yeah... I wish my local shop was more pipe friendly. But sadly the owner says he hates pipes. He says they're too much work. I should probably tell him he desperately needs to redefine his understanding of what's work and what's fun. :crazy:

 

[admin]

@Nathaniel

So apparently, certified tobacconists aren't required to learn crap about latakia.

Is the store owner a Certified Retail Tobacconist through http://tobacconistuniversity.org/ ?

 

[pstlpkr]

William and Birmingham0Irish can back me up on this...

No uninformed people working at our local...
I would guess that there is over 100 years experience between the three that serve their customers.

Then come the customers... they are just as knowledgeable...
When a new (prospective) pipe smoker comes in, looking to give pipe smoking a try...

Skip or John will help them with their first pipe, by steering them toward value and satisfaction rather than trying to sell the top shelf stuff, all the while explaining the differences between bowl shapes, the importance of engineering and other subtleties of the pipe. Then they turn them loose on the customers introducing them to the regulars who (of course) are always willing to chip in their two cents on every thing from packing, to lighting, to choice of tobacco, etc.

They just do it right.

 

[marmal4de]

Lawrence, I would kill to have a B&M like that within an hours drive of me.

 

[seanz]

I would kill to have a B&M like that within an hours drive of me.

+1

same island even

 

[mp31guitar]

Some of the places I've visited, It seems like I know more about pipe smoking than they do. And, I've learned most of it here. :nana:

 

[nathaniel]

Lawrence, I would kill to have a B&M like that within an hours drive of me.

Super ditto on that one!
@ Kevin:
I'm not sure if he's certified through there, but I do know it's advertised on his store, website, and other promotional stuff that it's "not just a clerk... but a real certified tobacconist".

His shop is call Harry Smooth's SNS Tobacco. Not sure what SNS stands for though.

 

[cajunplume]

Do any you other younger smokers ever walk into your local B&M and all of the older guys smoking cigars just stop talking like some old movie where the record stops playing and all turn and look at you as if your intruding on there secret meeting. This is what I get every time and it sucks ass. I don't like to go, its to weird, plus they don't have much pipe stuff anyway, and the stuff they do have i can find on the internet for a lot cheaper. its either this or there all just really quiet and weren't talking before i walked in. Either way...very uncomfortable :crazy:

 

[nmbigfoot02]

Do any you other younger smokers ever walk into your local B&M and all of the older guys smoking cigars just stop talking like some old movie where the record stops playing and all turn and look at you as if your intruding on there secret meeting. This is what I get every time and it sucks ass. I don't like to go, its to weird, plus they don't have much pipe stuff anyway, and the stuff they do have i can find on the internet for a lot cheaper. its either this or there all just really quiet and weren't talking before i walked in. Either way...very uncomfortable :crazy:

There's a cigar store near my office that's like that. I've been in there a couple times, but I refuse to return for that very reason. I always feel like I'm underage again and the owner's expecting me to walk out without paying. On top of that they're more expensive and carry zero pipe stuff, so no big loss.

 

[rigmedic1]

The local in Covington is family owned and operated, a husband/ wife team who know a lot about the business. Always a pleasure to visit, was there while I was out and about today.

 

[hobie1dog]

Do any you other younger smokers ever walk into your local B&M and all of the older guys smoking cigars just stop talking like some old movie where the record stops playing and all turn and look at you as if your intruding on there secret meeting. This is what I get every time and it sucks ass. I don't like to go, its to weird, plus they don't have much pipe stuff anyway, and the stuff they do have i can find on the internet for a lot cheaper. its either this or there all just really quiet and weren't talking before i walked in. Either way...very uncomfortable

been there, done that...usually at shops there are a group of regulars who see each other every day, same time, same place and anyone else who walks into their little clic is an outsider. I'm just now breaking into the group after going in weekly for the past 6 months. I'm never going to fit in though, as they have a tight nit Bible study on Wednesday after closing, so they all go to the same church too.

 

[loneredtree]

Cajan, It is not because your young. I am an ORF and get the same treatment at a local cigar shop. They do not have much pipe stuff anyway. But, I would not go back again.There is a good shop about 1 hour away so I am happy to go there.
:puffpipe:

 

[juni]

If they are that unfriendly to newcomers they obviously don't need your business. I guess they'll change their minds when they start losing regulars with no new business coming through.
If I was a B&M owner I would most certainly be visiting sites like this, it sort of would come with the business. To keep up with what people want.
Are there any B&M owners here?

 

[nathaniel]

I would love to work in one... After Kevin posted the link to where he got certified, I'm thinking I might try it. It would be a great job I think to be an employed tobacconist or carver. or both!

 

[admin]

@Nathaniel
TU lists him (I'm assuming it's the store owner) as an apprentice, which means he signed up and is studying the materials, but hasn't taken the certification test yet.
Harry Smooth's
However, it doesn't help if you are attended to by a store clerk that doesn't know anything.

I would love to work in one... After Kevin posted the link to where he got certified, I'm thinking I might try it. It would be a great job I think to be an employed tobacconist or carver. or both!

I'm really glad I took the course and got certified. They have a great program. However, I must warn you that it is cigar heavy, probably about 90% cigars and 10% pipes and pipe tobacco.
It's not because they don't think pipes are important, but because that is kind of how the market share breaks down ... the actual market share for pipes is probably even less than 10%.
If you're into cigars as well as pipes, then I would definitely recommend Tobacconists University.
Sometime in October / November I should become a Certified Master Tobacconist.

 

[nathaniel]

Awesome! Thanks Kevin!
I like cigars too. Years ago, I started with cigars before I started pipes up, but I recently picked them back up again. I really enjoy it a lot. I bought a humidor, read some books, and started trying as many different ones as I can I afford. Haven't found one yet that I don't thoroughly enjoy. But it certainly is the pricier of the two hobbies, that's for sure.
So from what I gathered in my 15 min. perusing the TU site, am I right in saying that it doesn't cost anything? Or is that just the curriculum? And in order to apprentice, do I actually have to be in shop? I ask that namely because there aren't many B&M's around here.
Maybe I'll just have to actually look around the site and see if I can find out, instead of being lazy and tagging you as my new-found TU guidance councilor! :nana:

But then again, it's always nice to get answers from the interweb's most beloved magazine owner. :mrgreen: