B&M Hatred?

[Kyle Weiss]

Anyone else read that rant on page 39 of the Pipe Smoker Unleashed online mag? :scratch:

http://www.pipesmokerunleashed.com/magazine/august2012.html

*shrug*

 

[Rob_In_MO]

What an ass!

Him no you, Kyle. :lol:


I understand what he's trying to say, but he's going about it in a completely wrong way. Not all B&Ms are like that, and not all Smoke Shops are Head Shops.

Overall, it's a piss-poor article and I'm quite surprised that it was even published.

 

[puros_bran]

I hate B&M's too.. especially the big hard ones that won't come out..

Why are we discussing this?














Eff you Kyle, now you know how it feels :twisted:

 

[shootist51]

I guess the fact that I am familiar with John allows me to see the humor in his article. Though it seems a bit harsh, if you have stumbled on to what is passing as a pipe shop nowadays, I think we have all seen examples of what he describes.

I think that this is the reason that once we find a TRUE pipe shop we tend to cherish it and those that share it with us.

 

[MisterE]

Yeah, I find the glass pipe places a little disappointing too.

His piece didn't pull off the humor he was trying for. Comes off a little mean spirited IMO. Jus sayin'. :|

Peeb, for that it's called a B 'n M.

n is for non. :roll:

 

[puros_bran]

nothin a big ole swig of mineral oil won't take care of *shrug*

 

[monbla256]

What an ass!

Him no you, Kyle. :lol:


I understand what he's trying to say, but he's going about it in a completely wrong way. Not all B&Ms are like that, and not all Smoke Shops are Head Shops.

Overall, it's a piss-poor article and I'm quite surprised that it was even published.

I concur 100% ! He sounds like the common whiney, bitching attitude so prevelent here in the US today. I guess they needed to fill space in the mag. The article - meh

 

[DrumsAndBeer]

To a certain extent I can relate to feeling this way. Not hatred for my local Brick and Mortars but definitely a feeling of alienation.

Kyle, I know from reading your posts that you live near a really great Tinderbox location, & I know you consider yourself blessed and you should.

I am relatively close to a handful of decent B&M's that are in Sacramento, albeit all of them are more cigar oriented. But nonetheless I do support all of them. While I have never had a down right bad experience at these B&M's, the collective knowledge of most of their staffers is cigar-centric . Frankly pipe knowledge is probably not as much of a staff requirement as having the knowledge necessary to recommend a good cigar.

I have been smoking a pipe for a very short amount of time & I already feel that I know more about what I prefer, and how I prefer to do it. I wish I had a good pipe mentor, I could certainly use the help. It's possible that I haven't rubbed elbows with the right individuals at these places, but when I waltz into these shops and make a B-Line for the pipe tobacco selection and not the cavernous humidors, it does strike up some strange looks at times. And while this divergent business/customer relationship doesn't deter me from frequenting these shops, it does not exactly have me jumping for joy to return, hang out, and spend my hard earned cash either.

It would be interesting to know where this gentleman lives and where he has shopped in the past. Perhaps all of his B&M experiences have really sucked. In fact they sound like my music store experiences. I have been drumming since I was 12 years old. I started studying jazz drum set when I was in high school and still to this day I love practicing, performing when I can, etc. It's a life long pursuit, and for me there is nothing more masochistic than walking into a music store looking for a simple item (replacement sticks, a drum head), and have some sales person I have never met greet me with the proverbial "What's up dude?" or worse tell me about how the drummer of his favorite band is the second coming of Buddy Rich. :x Boy what I would give to live near Steve Maxwell Drums, or A Drummer's Tradition. True no frills, no sales gag specialty shops where the staff know their stuff.

Perhaps this gentleman is that passionate about pipes and his local stores are undeniably awful? If that's the case, I can relate a bit

 

[CACooper]

Greetings,

I have found that you don't even have to open the door of a head shop to know exactly what lies inside. The awful, nauseating, sickening stench of incense will assault your nose before you step foot inside.

All these places, with very few exceptions, stink like patuli incense. And everything on the shelves does too. YUK!

What are they hiding? Something illicit? We all know how Patuli is effective at masking lingering marijuana smoke. Hmm. :roll:

A true tobacconist has a fragrance like nothing else. Sweet, aromatic tobacco, mixed with latakia and cigar smoke. In other words, wonderful!

When searching for a tobacconist, trust your nose.

CACooper

 

[Scot's]

I do think it's a matter of perspective. Having lived in the Portland Seattle area for many years there have been some pretty remarkable shops. They're all gone now... Taxed to the point of zero profitability ...and being a smoker in Seattle, you might as well be a Leper. What I have left is less than what he's describing in Charlotte. It's not hard to get PO'd.

Unfortunately the people who partake in "other" substances have more respectability and resources in the world than the distinguished pipe smoker. It's sad times for tobacco and tobacco users in general. I understand his frustration but it's possible he went too far in saying we should boycott them all because I know in other areas like Sacramento, there's still some good ones.

Scott

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Eff you Kyle, now you know how it feels :twisted:

What, the part about taking a constipated dump, or are you hinting at something far more perverse... :suspect:

Eff you too, PeeBee. :lol: :heart: Shoulda left that one alone. :lol!:

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Back to the article...

...my Tinder Box is a great place. Yes, I feel I have, in many ways, surpassed a lot of the knowledge and expertise they should have, but let's face it, you ask them about cigars, and they're all on top of it. Pipes don't make stores money. Naturally, even if they are a proper tobacconist, I won't expect anyone to be as passionate and nerdy about briars or pipeweed as, say, any given member of BoB. I love the place--it's about the spirit and ambiance, not just the prices or the fact some kid might be working there learning the ropes (or twists, or plugs). One day that kid could be Peter Heeschen or Russ Ouellette. You just don't know. If the guy's former employment bitterness is for real, I can empathize: I would rather be Heeschen or Ouellette, too. :lol: All in good time, for any of us.

That said, one goes into Tobacco Road in Sacramento, and I can find zero fault with the place. It's literally like coming home. It's a wonderful place with knowledgeable staff, pipes and tobacco galore, and the right kind of folk to b.s. with and hang out amongst for a good, long stay.

Hey, the article's author has a good point: head shops are in no way, at all, even close, a proper tobacconist or a pipe shop. They're using a loophole to wink-nod-tap-nose to an entirely different culture and selling of wares. It's irritating at worst, and something I simply ignore and pass by. If you stop in and get your expectations dashed, one thing those places don't do is false advertise--bongs in the window, lava lamp glow, smelling the patchouli a block away and the beaded curtains should have been the key to avoid disappointment. :lol:

I caught some of the tongue-in-cheek stance of the article, but the guy has a little ways to go expressing this in totality in his writing. I'm more criticizing his style and presentation, not what he said. I've been writing for a long time, and I feel perfectly comfortable offering a second set of eyes to the guy to see if it "reads the way intended," should he need an editor. On the other hand, if he's a rabble-rouser worth his salt, writing like that gleans attention, not precision--so perhaps I judge too soon.

Just wanted to see what the Brothers thought. I'm sure the site appreciates the clicks--it's an interesting concept and magazine.

8)

 

[dshpipes]

Didn't read the whole thing but it seemed like he was clearly trying to infuse the writing with a tongue-in-cheek attitude. The article on Jeff Gracik was cool, though.

 

[shootist51]

I woukld say that John is first a pipe man, then a librarian, then a cranky old fart. Perhaps this is why he makes a living as a librarian :lol!:

 

[MisterE]

My version of the B&M glass pipe store is to go into a retail music store. I only go in those places if I really, really need something urgently. Valve oil or something like that. They almost always assume you're just a dumbshit and give the authoratative hard sell on something. I almost never mention what I do for a living and just let them do their thing. Sometimes I'll play along and just say "gee, I wish I had the bread for something that nice! Next time maybe." It always reminds me to keep my "authoritative side" in check. It's pretty embarrassing if someone if someone who really knows their **** calls you on it.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

Don't get me started on chain music stores... :| Ugh.

Why is it the places I go into often ask ME what something is? "Oh, good, Kyle...you're here...I wanted to ask you something..." :lol:

Oh well. If I need a job this winter I know where to go...I can keep a low standard. :mrgreen:

8)

 

[DGErwin11]

Were I live WalGreens is the B&M. Thank God my favorite smoke is Carter Hall. Also if not for the internet, I would not have my nice meers and my better cobs.

 

[Kyle Weiss]

I bought two lovely MM cobs at a Walgreens in Fallon, NV--they were clearing them out for $2 a piece. :mrgreen:

8)

 

[DGErwin11]

Around here all you can find are Legends. My preference is for Missouri Prides for smaller pipes, and most of the larger ones except for MacArthur and Freehand. There can be too much of a good thing.

 

[Dutch]

I've had something weighing on my mind for awhile now concerning my local B&M, so I guess this is the thread to express it.

My local tobacconist is the $hit. He is the classiest guy you would ever want to meet. Even when he has something negative to say about any subject, he knows how to express himself with class. Because of this, he has a very popular establishment, and on any given day, the doors are swinging off the hinges.

My first really negative experience there, came from one of his customers. You know, the type of guy who brings in his own Cuban cigars, makes a beeline for the smoking room, rarely buys anything, and proceeds to entertain everyone by dominating the conversation, and literally acting as if he owns the place himself.

Because the owner has a lot of class, he will never tell the guy what he needs to hear.

Unfortunately, the owner has had some serious health problems during the last year, and has found it necessary to turn his shop over to someone else for extended periods of time.

When I first started pipe smoking, I spent quite a bit of money each week. Sometimes between $200-$300 each week. Since I was new to the hobby, I'll admit I over did it a bit, but I was enjoying myself. Because of this, the owner allowed me a 10% discount on everything I bought.

Around a year later, I began to have some minor health problems myself, and slowed down on frequenting the shop. During this time, I'll admit that I didn't miss the ostentatious jerks that like to hang out there, who enjoy encouraging the good customers to not come around as much.

Now, every time I go in, I have to listen to one of the cashiers rant about how I don't love them anymore, but he will go ahead and give me the 10% discount anyway. This, even after I explained to him in detail about my health problems, and where much of my disposable income had been going.

I know the owner needs help to run the place, but sometimes I think that he might be better off, if he shortened his hours, and completely closed down his smoking room all together.

It has simply gotten to the point, where I only go in two or three times a year now. For me, pipe and cigar smoking all comes down to a hobby, relaxation, and personal satisfaction. It didn't take me long to come to the conclusion, that I could enjoy myself more, buying online, and having my supplies delivered right to my door, and in the process I have saved much more than any 10%.

The thing I miss the most, is the man who owns the place.