Shop Etiquette

[smokedragon]

So i'll be down in Tampa for a few days on business next week. I was planning on hitting Edward's and a few other shops. Any etiquette advice for someone who does not have a lot of experience in actual pipe shops? I was thinking of buying a couple of oz of their house blends, and maybe adding a new pipe to my collection while I'm there. I just don't know the protocol for lounging or anything like that.

 

[admin]

You should at least buy something if you are going to hang around and smoke. They have plenty of tobaccos and pipes to choose from. You don't have to go so far as to buy a pipe, but they have some they may tempt you.
Let me know when you will be there, and I'll see if I can stop by.

 

[slowwideturns]

Do you mean smoking in the lounge or just hanging out looking around the store? At most places you have to be a member to smoke in the lounge but some places will let you if you buy some stuff

 

[gray4lines]

It is not required that you make a purchase to hang out and smoke, however, I think it is the right thing to do and says "thank you" for them allowing you to relax and smoke in their shop (just as Kevin said).
I have never seen a "members only" lounge in a shop, albeit I am not that traveled when it comes to B&M's. Frankly, if I saw a restricted lounge, I'd walk right out. How is that supposed to make visitors to the area feel?
I will be in Tampa in march, so I will have to see if I can swing by this place too!
Edit: Oh, and if you buy a cigar to smoke, don't lick all over before using the community cutter. :P

 

[smokedragon]

I think my visit will be on Monday in the afternoon. The pipe purchase thought I've been having for a bit simply because I am 1 pipe away from 7. I was going to look at some online, but decided I'd wait until after the visit just in case.

 

[tanless1]

I seems to me that membership smoking is to skirt the 'no smoking in door' laws that have popped up.

 

[gray4lines]

I seems to me that membership smoking is to skirt the 'no smoking in door' laws that have popped up.

That may be true. But smoking indoors is smoking indoors... I don't know.
In one county here we have B&M exceptions (maybe bars too), and then in the adjacent county, there is no exception. However, one particular shop does not care about the law and continues to maintain a lounge, which is awesome.

 

[jogilli]

Thats a nice little shop to visit.. last time I was in Tampa I stopped by every night for some talk, and coffee (it's pretty good there) and a smoke or two.. Thier Dolphin blen is pretty good and you can try the various blends with no issue..
enjoy the visit.. you gotta check out their old german meers beautiful pipes.. and ask the fellas behind the counter about the shops history.. I found it quite intersting..
if you stay at the Marriott courtyard about 5 minutes from there you can visit the Tap and Pub or whatever the sports bar is called and get some great microbrews and smoke you pipe as it has a smoking section.. al beit outside, but Tampa isn't all that cold
james

 

[flyguy]

I agree with Roth. The owner should be glad to see you when you walk into his shop. Cultivate a friendship and let him know what you like. I always buy something. Most of these shops cater mostly to cigar smokers as that is where they make their real money. Our job is to show them that pipe smokers spend money too. ::

 

[pstlpkr]

My best advice... Just be yourself.
I've been a customer of my local B&M for many years.

The proprietor and the others have seen my children grow from babies to adults.
I usually enter with some variation of the same old joke...

"You knew I was coming and you left the door open... again! You guys'll never learn." :D
Then I'll stick my nose in a jar of tobacco or two, load up a bowl of something different...

Then spend some time talking to Skip, his wife Kay, and/or Farmer, as I stack up my purchase on the counter (over the course of an hour or so) smoke another bowl in the smoking lounge and shoot the breeze for a while with the others there.

Say my farewells as I pay for my purchase, then wander away.

::

 

[sparroa]

If you are going to hang around there for a while, most definitely buy something.
If a tin of tobacco runs anywhere from $10-20 it probably won't break the bank for most of us.
It just shows courtesy and appreciation for the shop.
(If you are just browsing, that's one thing - but if you are making a big trip out of it then it is good form to make a purchase and keep them in business)

 

[mso489]

I would definitely have in mind something you are ready to buy anyway, a tin of tobacco, or some bulk tobacco.

If possible, since you'll be out of town, I would try to visit twice, a day or two apart. ( I realize you've already

gone and come home, but addressing the question for the future.) The first visit, do a pretty good survey of

potential pipe purchases, buy your tobacco, and use the time to smoke and get to know the owner or staff a

little. And, study the pipes. I really don't recommend buying a pipe in one visit. Really, a week or two is

a better time frame, to find a few you like and think it over. You can have an infatuation with a pipe -- it's

unique, but the luster is fleeting. Someone might buy the pipe you fancy, but I think that's better than buying

a pipe in 30 minutes or an hour or two. If you come back and still like the item, then it's a go. Or you can

have back-ups in mind. Some folks like to do it all in one encounter. That's okay. Not me. You might well

own this thing for forty years or the rest of your life; why rush?

 

[rlunderhill]

I always walk in with my pipe in my mouth. (Visual) I walk up to the counter and say hello. I make a friend first and then I ask them to show me where there pipes are and pipe tobaccos. I always need Butane, so I buy 2 can's and that starts my shopping. I always look at the lighters, pipes and peruse their tobacco select. They always offer samples to try. I never walk out empty handed and I never walk out without making a friend.

 

[05venturer]

At the risk of repeating myself, you folks who have a decent, local B&M tobacconist nearby, cherish it. I'd gladly pay more locally if I could.

+1 rothnh
I would love to have a B&M nearby, closest to me would be Twin Cities (Minneapolis / St Paul, MN).Solid 1.5 hour drive. I have thought about the idea of trying to start one but my area would not be able to keep it going.

 

[juni]

What I like about my local B&Ms is that they aren't subject to the stupid "hide all tobacco and tobacco products" law. You can browse and look at tins and pipes out in the open. And they (obviously) are smoker friendly. I'll gladly pay a bit more to support them and have them around.

 

[drwatson]

Man I wish I had a pipe shop to worry about

 

[lordofthepiperings]

I'd say if you're going to a shop to have a pipe/cigar you should make a purchase of some sort even if it's only a bundle of pipe cleaners or a cheap house cigar.

 

[cigrmaster]

I think you should walk into the store, announce to everyone you are here, go have a seat, tell the owner to go get you a cup of coffee. After he brings you the coffee, tell him that you want a run down on all his house blends and that you will be sampling them all in some of his new pipes.
I think they will like you. :rofl: