Shocking Lack of Knowledge

[pantsBoots]

I've noticed this in all aspects of retail these days. Want piss-poor advice on how to remodel your house? Ask most of the people at home depot. Yes, there are a few "experts" there, but most of the employees are just rubes who need a paycheck. I don't begrudge them for this, but the fact of the matter is that in most retail establishments, the chance that whomever is helping you actually knows more about the subject at hand than you do seems to be quite small these days.

I've said for years, the only thing a Home Depot or Lowe's employee knows is how to pass a drug test. They usually can't even tell you what aisle something is in, so if they start talking about which tool or how to do something, run - don't walk - away as fast as you can.

In decades of going to those two crappy stores, I met one guy - ONE GUY! - who knew what he was talking about. He helped me rig up a toilet-mounted diaper sprayer out of dishwasher, air compressor, and toilet plumbing parts. The rest of those I've met are tits on a mule.

 

[trouttimes]

The only close B&M ( over an hour drive) is small and mostly a cigar and ryo store but they do have 25 or 30 tins and a fair amount of bulk. The owner is a pipe smoker but most everyone else is into cigars. Let's face it, 95% of their business is either cigars or ryo. They don't pretend to know what they don't know and they are happy to try and get you what ever you want. All in all, I really like this store and try and support it as much as I can.

 

[KafkaStoleMyBike]

My Better Half rolls her own cigarettes, and I just want to remind the forum that many local “tobacco shops” are also the preeminent purveyors of sex toys and body jewelry. They also occasionally have pouches of American Spirit.

I rarely have to visit another store.

 

[telescopes]

Growing up, my father taught me to never buy tobacco out of a tin.

He taught me a lot of other stupid things as well.

Like, "Don't worry about your grades when you go to college. No one will ever ask to see your report card."
On my first interview for a real job, the first thing the guy did was look at my transcript. Whoops, there went that job prospect.

In my family, besides being told not to buy tobacco out of a tin, we didn't go to college. College was for losers. When I was a few months from graduating high school, I told my dad I thought I would go to college.

He punched me in the nose. Told me no son of his was going to get an education and then blow smoke in his face.

He probably thought that smoke would come from tobacco out of a tin.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Just to offer some perspective, I smoked a pipe for a decade before I had heard of G&H, Sutliff and C&D...

 

[telescopes]

Just to offer some perspective, I smoked a pipe for a decade before I had heard of G&H, Sutliff and C&D...

I got you beat, and by a lot. I am too embarrassed to say. Did I say I come from a family of anti tinners?

 

[Ahi Ka]

I got you beat, and by a lot. I am too embarrassed to say. Did I say I come from a family of anti tinners?

With the exception of a tub of EGR, and some Sansepolcro and capt bobs blend I was given I’ve only ever had bulk from these houses too. Don’t get my post wrong, I’m stoked to now be familiar with their names as my favourite tobaccos come from them. Anyways, sorry to hear about your tinnitus

 

[telescopes]

With the exception of a tub of EGR, and some Sansepolcro and capt bobs blend I was given I’ve only ever had bulk from these houses too. Don’t get my post wrong, I’m stoked to now be familiar with their names as my favourite tobaccos come from them. Anyways, sorry to hear about your tinnitus

That's funny. I had to think about that one.

I'm sitting here thinking, "How does he know I have tinnitus?"

Duh!

 

[anantaandroscoggin]

Here in Maine, B&M is short for Burnham & Morril's Baked Beans, whose factory stood many years in Portland, Maine. Their canned Brown Bread was somewhat famous (and is tasty) too.

 

[danish]

Since I started the pipe and tobacco journey in the ‘80s, I have of course also experienced ignorant pipe tobacco sales people here in Denmark. As well as the opposite. Only about 7 years ago, I visited a new (to me) B&M and quickly felt embarassed about myself, pretending to know more about pipe tobacco, than the charming lady in the B&M. They did mostly sell cigars but I guess that lady could teach most of us here about pipe tobacco! I have since tried to learn more and broaden my horizons...

 

[anotherbob]

Are those still a thing? I can't believe someone would pay for that in this internet age.

homeless people need to jerk it too.

 

[BROBS]

homeless people need to jerk it too.

NOT EVERYONE HAS DATA ON THEIR PHONE OK?!

 

[mingc]

Yes. Up north a guy might need one or a few in his tractor trailer on long hauls.

No wi-fi in the deep taiga, eh?

 

[rajangan]

No wi-fi in the deep taiga, eh?

Probably in camp.

 

[shanez]

We have a local store (I think they have 4 locations here) that carries a few good blends but mostly they sell cigars. No vape, RYO, or cigarette stuff there which I find to be refreshing.

We also have several very nice cigar stores that have good bars in them so you can enjoy a drink too.

Unfortunately I haven't found a pipe store with a bar.

We do have a nice liquor store with a beer/wine bar in it that lets me smoke at their outside tables though. Usually it's just cigar smokers out there. Very little cigarette/vape which is nice.

 

[prairiedruid]

Nothing like relaxing by the fire with a nice bowl or Orlik Golden Sliced and a magazine full of other people's asses. I wonder if the centerfold is printed horizontally so they can put a cheek on each page.

Interesting place for the staple I would imagine.

 

[chefmike]

I have had mixed experiences with B&Ms. B&B in Asheville was a long time friend. Not much near me when I lived north of Atlanta. One memorably laughable experience. Then I was at the beach and stopped in at a shop as I will. People were friendly, place was nice. Pipe tobacco selection was MIND NUMBING. Holy crap, I have never seen so much C&D tobacco in my life! Back home a week later, realized that Low Country Pipe and Cigar is Laudisi owned. I had no clue they were right there. When I went back the next fall, I went over and got a tour of C&D/Smoking pipes. Great folks. Like the Country Squire, Low Country is what we all wish we had...

 

[shermnatman]

I asked the guy in town if he could order SWR.. I knew I could get it online, but I wanted to do business with a local store. He sounded excited that I had asked, and asked me to come back next week. I came back, he said he couldn't pull it off. He had ordered some PA instead... Which I bought, even though at the time I didn't really want to.. now I'm glad I did.

Only glad?

Don't you really mean to say: "Oh, Joy! Rapture! Delight!... Prince Albert is the National Joy Smoke!!!!" - Sherm Natman

 

[ssjones]

After you got off the phone, they probably all three called each other and said "hey, a guy just called about pipe tobacco, can you believe it, do people still smoke pipes these days?"

You were most likely the first pipe tobacco call they've received in years, maybe ever.

 

[Reggie]

I've noticed this in all aspects of retail these days. Want piss-poor advice on how to remodel your house? Ask most of the people at home depot. Yes, there are a few "experts" there, but most of the employees are just rubes who need a paycheck. I don't begrudge them for this, but the fact of the matter is that in most retail establishments, the chance that whomever is helping you actually knows more about the subject at hand than you do seems to be quite small these daysAttempt to get advice at an Auto Parts Retailer!

I've noticed this in all aspects of retail these days. Want piss-poor advice on how to remodel your house? Ask most of the people at home depot. Yes, there are a few "experts" there, but most of the employees are just rubes who need a paycheck. I don't begrudge them for this, but the fact of the matter is that in most retail establishments, the chance that whomever is helping you actually knows more about the subject at hand than you do seems to be quite small these days.

Its the same at Auto Parts Retailers. When you ask for advice on parts, all they can advise you is what nis in that computer.