Stonehaven/jJ f Germain & Co. Customer support - draw your own conclusion
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While I think a year is a little early for a tobacco to be that different, that's the gamble with keeping a perishable product to age.
As for his tone, ehh. Your email ended stridently, and that probably set him off. I would say yours wasn't the only email about Stonehaven and the other Esotericas that day, and there were probably a few that were bat guano crazy, perhaps a few American "cellarers" willing to trade their daughters for a few bags of Penzance. Then you told him how you posted the whole conversation online, which probably further reinforced his opinion of you as a spoiled brat. How did you expect it would turn out? That he would cower at the mere mention of Pipesmagazine.com forum?
Germain's is a small operation, they put out a quality product the old fashioned way, next years production is already sold, they feel they are performing. If it bothers you, quit buying Germain's products. Honestly, quitting cold turkey now may be good. Germain's is such an anachronism, they probably won't be around too many more years.
As for his tone, ehh. Your email ended stridently, and that probably set him off. I would say yours wasn't the only email about Stonehaven and the other Esotericas that day, and there were probably a few that were bat guano crazy, perhaps a few American "cellarers" willing to trade their daughters for a few bags of Penzance. Then you told him how you posted the whole conversation online, which probably further reinforced his opinion of you as a spoiled brat. How did you expect it would turn out? That he would cower at the mere mention of Pipesmagazine.com forum?
Germain's is a small operation, they put out a quality product the old fashioned way, next years production is already sold, they feel they are performing. If it bothers you, quit buying Germain's products. Honestly, quitting cold turkey now may be good. Germain's is such an anachronism, they probably won't be around too many more years.
An 8oz bag would last quite some time even if it was my only smoke. I believe most of these blends are being hoarded by the Lemmings in pursuit of unobtanuim (thanks sable). Just in the small number of us on this forum there must be lbs and lbs cellard, so what percentage of their production, especially 8oz bags, is being squirreled away? Not that this has anything to do with the OP's enquiry but Mr Germain brought it up.
If I were you I would call the guy and apologize for putting his direct number on this forum. I would also ask a mod to delete it.
I would explain the consistency issue you are experiencing with Stonehaven, which I agree, has nothing to do with cellaring.
Hopefully he will be mature as well and apologize to you for his inflamatory response, but even if he doesn't, move on.
There is way too much "internet shaming" going on in the world these days. Pick up the phone and talk to one another, like adults should.
It's much more difficult for people to be strident and difficult when they are talking to a live person who is approaching the conversation in a mature and reasonable manner.
I would explain the consistency issue you are experiencing with Stonehaven, which I agree, has nothing to do with cellaring.
Hopefully he will be mature as well and apologize to you for his inflamatory response, but even if he doesn't, move on.
There is way too much "internet shaming" going on in the world these days. Pick up the phone and talk to one another, like adults should.
It's much more difficult for people to be strident and difficult when they are talking to a live person who is approaching the conversation in a mature and reasonable manner.
Mature and reasonable manner? What? No gnashing of teeth or righteous indignation? On a forum? Peck, you must lower your expectations, if only for your own sanity.
P
pipebuddy
Guest
I think John Germain's point of view has been completely missed, here...
Quote"We manufacture our tobacco to be enjoyed at acquisition.
If you wish to "cellar" our blends, be it on your own head."Unquote
__________________________________________
I understand it this way: Putting the product away for X months or years instead of smoking it shortly after purchase does not become advantageous as it can be harder to claim, or ask for some sort of compensation, as various elements come into play than can affect the tobacco or/and its container. If the OP would have opened his bag shortly after purchase, and the tobacco was such as described in the e-mail, he would have been able, most certainly, to come to an easy agreement either with the online shop, or directly with Germain (the preferred way, thus the phone number), for a product replacement. I believe John Germain opened a door for the OP by providing his phone number and asking him to call. That's extremely positive but it's been screwed up.
Quote"We manufacture our tobacco to be enjoyed at acquisition.
If you wish to "cellar" our blends, be it on your own head."Unquote
__________________________________________
I understand it this way: Putting the product away for X months or years instead of smoking it shortly after purchase does not become advantageous as it can be harder to claim, or ask for some sort of compensation, as various elements come into play than can affect the tobacco or/and its container. If the OP would have opened his bag shortly after purchase, and the tobacco was such as described in the e-mail, he would have been able, most certainly, to come to an easy agreement either with the online shop, or directly with Germain (the preferred way, thus the phone number), for a product replacement. I believe John Germain opened a door for the OP by providing his phone number and asking him to call. That's extremely positive but it's been screwed up.
Pipebuddy, the consistency issue has nothing to do with cellaring. In fact, the bag the OP referred to was just purchased in August, according to his e-mail. A number of folks on here, including myself, have experienced the same thing with recently purchased bags of Stonehaven, so I have every reason to believe that what the OP is saying is correct.
And what the hell does faffing mean? Do you think he meant fapping? That would be kind of gross, and would involve a whole new kind of treacle.
Shit... I agree with Warren, Woodsroad and Peck. This does not bode well.
Seriously?
Stop with the public laundering of your twisted knickers, call the man, and sort this out.
I thought his response was hilarious AND that he answered your question. Germain isn't going to take responsibility for blend consistency or quality control of a bag that has been cellared. I'm reading into his response, but I think that point was pretty clear. Frankly, I wouldn't either. I produce roasted whole bean coffee. If you put it in your basement for any length of time and then called me to tell me that it tasted different than other bags of the same coffee I would agree with you.
As to posting a telephone number on the interweb? Poor form.
-- Pat
Seriously?
Stop with the public laundering of your twisted knickers, call the man, and sort this out.
I thought his response was hilarious AND that he answered your question. Germain isn't going to take responsibility for blend consistency or quality control of a bag that has been cellared. I'm reading into his response, but I think that point was pretty clear. Frankly, I wouldn't either. I produce roasted whole bean coffee. If you put it in your basement for any length of time and then called me to tell me that it tasted different than other bags of the same coffee I would agree with you.
As to posting a telephone number on the interweb? Poor form.
-- Pat
'faffing' - Basically means to flutter around, and usually connotes wasting time.
"The current sense may have been influenced by dialect faffle initially meaning 'stammer, stutter', later 'flap in the wind', which came to mean 'fuss or dither' at about the same time as faff in the late 19th century." -- Oxford Dictionary
"Top Definition. faffing. Time wasting/feckin' around. Stop faffing around and do the ... Stop faffing around already, and please provide to me my work objectives." -- Urban Dictionary
-- Pat
"The current sense may have been influenced by dialect faffle initially meaning 'stammer, stutter', later 'flap in the wind', which came to mean 'fuss or dither' at about the same time as faff in the late 19th century." -- Oxford Dictionary
"Top Definition. faffing. Time wasting/feckin' around. Stop faffing around and do the ... Stop faffing around already, and please provide to me my work objectives." -- Urban Dictionary
-- Pat
Well, that is a relief to know that he didn't mean fapping.
I just had this image pop into my mind of John Germain sitting in his office on the island of Jersey reading the Urban Dictionary while smoking a bowl.
I just had this image pop into my mind of John Germain sitting in his office on the island of Jersey reading the Urban Dictionary while smoking a bowl.
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