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Last post 20 years ago by Charlie. 20 replies replies.
Bad Cigar Shop
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rayder1 Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, May 16 2003, 12:46 PM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
I went into a local cigar shop in Fresno to see what they had. They had a huge selection of cigars. Absolutely disorganized. Cigars tossed in bins. Inventory all over the place. They had 4 stand up humidors with industrial humidifiers but no hygrometers or thermometers. They had a large walk-in humidor that looked it had been in an earthquake.
The owner must have about $20,000 in inventory.

The absolute worst part...in two of the stand up humidors, a large number of cigars were torn up by beetles. I told the sales clerk...he looked at the hole laden cigars and said "Oh...bugs". He took a handful of infested cigars and tossed them on the bottom shelf of the humidor. Then he said...as long as they don't touch the other cigars they will be fine.

I told him..."Man..that's not good. You have a nice CAO and Fuente display sharing the humidor...you are going to lose a few hundred dollars pretty quick." He seemed disinterested. Bummer...needless to say I didn't buy anything there.

I felt like calling up a couple distributors and let them know how cruddy their cigars are kept. If I were a distributor I would hate to have cigars be displayed and sold in such a manner. If someone were to buy a box or two and bring them home to find them buggy, it wouldn't look good if the cigar company gets a bad rap for sloppy storage by a retailer.

I probably shouldn't give the name out in case they sue me for slander.
lenny4z Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, May 16 2003, 12:52 PM EST
Joined: 10-29-2002
Posts: 297
Some shop owners just don't get it. There's one near my office that I used to think was decent. It's in a mall, but the prices are pretty good and the selection is nice. I was in there one day and saw some mold starting on the feet of some CAOs. I told the owner and he took them out of the humidor and mentioned that with the heat we had recently, the humidity jumped up and he was trying to get it back down.

A week or so later, I stopped back in and the same moldy cigars were back in the humidor! I know they were the same ones because he only had a handful left. I picked them up just to check, and sure enough they were all moldy. I put them down, walked out, and I haven't been back since.

-Lenny
Spiny Norman Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, May 16 2003, 12:59 PM EST
Joined: 09-04-2002
Posts: 899
Raydar, I think you should call some distributers. Like you said, it's their reputation on the line as well. IMHO, an outfit like this would blame faulty product on manufacturers and distributors anyway.

I say rat em out!
Fatshotbud Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, May 16 2003, 6:25 PM EST
Joined: 03-31-2003
Posts: 782
Good eye, good comments. They will not be around long.
It is not slander unless it is not true! Post it!
JonR Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, May 16 2003, 9:24 PM EST
Joined: 02-19-2002
Posts: 9,740
Yo radyer1 ; Knowing it to be true and proving it to be true in a court of law are two different things. rayder1 a word of caution, tread carefully. Jonr
efm Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, May 16 2003, 10:24 PM EST
Joined: 01-23-2001
Posts: 499
No big deal. Throw the buggy cigars on the bottom shelf, beetles will stay there because it's too much work to walk up to higher shelves. As for mold it only adds flavor.
xaigoxx Offline
#7 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 2:50 AM EST
Joined: 01-01-2000
Posts: 122
That really sucks.

For those who live in San Diego...theres a great cigar shop in clairemont mesa. Im sure you guys know about it if you live here. Theyre all friendly and very knowledgable about the 'gars they carry. Everything is neat and organized, and the selection is pretty good.

Almost every time I go in there, at least 1 of the owners/workers recognizes me and gives me free samples of the newest line of cigars. Love that place. Thats the only cigar shop that I dont mind going to and spending 2 times what the internet shops charge.

Lawrence
rayder1 Offline
#8 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 7:48 AM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
I never said I was going to sue them or take them to court. Proving it would be no problem. This shop is such a piece of #%$# that they would have a harder time hiding the bugs.

I am going to drop a dime on some of the distributors Monday. They can look for themselves.
Slimboli Offline
#9 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 8:24 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
rayder1 --- good call on your part ... by not mentioning the tobacconist ... and I respect your restraint and good judgement!

As much as it may benefit those nearby the shop (if they don't know it already) ... CB would most likey frown apon it, as they disapprove of "disparaging an individual, a race or religion, a company, or website."

Taking it up with their vendors, or even with their sales reps, should do the trick!

xibbumbero Offline
#10 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 8:58 AM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Usually cigar shop owners who have sloppy shops and/or disregard the humidity levels are uaually not cigar smokers. Owners who are,without exception keep everything copasetic. X
lifesacatch22 Offline
#11 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 9:03 AM EST
Joined: 03-29-2003
Posts: 174
which is why the local retailer I got to should put me in charge of things. They havn't carried Brazilias since the line first came out because they "taste bad and won't sell" according to a sales person there.
Arrow_34 Offline
#12 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 9:05 AM EST
Joined: 12-19-2002
Posts: 186
I know how you feel, even though I am pretty new to cigars. I have walked intoa few shops that have great inventories, but are run badly. It makes me cring to think of how many great cigars are getting mistreated....
rayder1 Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 10:02 AM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
If I was retired, I would ask the owner if he would let me de-bug and organize his stuff. Just let me take 20 cigars a week and I'll maintain his humidors.

Unfortunately many of his cigars are too far gone to help.

I couldn't believe it. He had a little bit of everything in there.
Arrow_34 Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, May 17 2003, 11:23 AM EST
Joined: 12-19-2002
Posts: 186
Kinda strange to think he would throw away money like that huh? Must be a tax right off?
sketcha Offline
#15 Posted: Sun, May 18 2003, 11:50 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Add me to the list in support of busting these clowns.
SteveS Offline
#16 Posted: Mon, May 19 2003, 5:57 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
LOL ... don't get me wrong ... I too am in favor of your doing something Rayder, but I've gotta ask you something ... do you think support to "turn him in" or "bust him" would be any greater if you had found the owner of a pet shop abusing animals and were considering reporting him to the SPCA ??

Someone who wasn't a cigar smoker might have a hard time understanding the passion seen here for reporting this abuser of innocent cigars ... (hey, I hope this didn't happen to be the store I asked you about last fall ... ???)
THL Offline
#17 Posted: Mon, May 19 2003, 7:23 AM EST
Joined: 10-22-2002
Posts: 3,044
And even a lousey cigar store in your neighborhood is better than no cigar store in your neighborhood.
La10870 Offline
#18 Posted: Mon, May 19 2003, 10:30 AM EST
Joined: 10-14-1999
Posts: 993
Guys, I would add that I remember all too well which cigar shops were selling premium cigars at two to three times MSRP during the boom. Funny how most of them have disappeared. I may have smoked some marginal sticks at times but I didn't bite. By building customer relationships, good cigar shops (and internet sites like CI/Cigarbid) have learned to take care of their regulars with fair pricing of premium sticks and respect for the product.
rayder1 Offline
#19 Posted: Mon, May 19 2003, 2:47 PM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
I wasn't thinking of "busting" him...LOL I don't think he broke any laws. Actually I think it would be more fun to stage a herf protest.

My intent would be to just get hold of a couple of the distributors and let them know the state of his cigar store.
SteveS Offline
#20 Posted: Mon, May 19 2003, 6:40 PM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
You should already have the e-mail addy of an officer in at least one of the cigar makers you mentioned ... go for it
Charlie Offline
#21 Posted: Tue, May 20 2003, 5:31 AM EST
Joined: 06-16-2002
Posts: 39,751
That shop will NOT stay in business long unless they have other inventory to make up for the terrible cigar handling. Maybe you should hold a herf right inside the place and have everyone in attendance state their opinions on the conditions of the cigars. Each attendee buy one cigar from the creep, so he cannot complain.

Charlie
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