I visited a large liquor, beer & wine retailer with a walk in humidor tonight while trying to avoid the overpriced B&M. Got a horrible cigar from them (I knew it wasn't going to be good but I really didn't want to pull my cigars out from my new wineador, they need to adjust) I wrote a letter to them, while smoking this abused stick. Think they'll get back with me? lol
The email:
Greetings,
I wanted to inform you of a recent cigar purchase I made from your Sunland Park location. I was in your store sometime around 8pm today, Friday May 15th. I initially entered to purchase several cigars to tide me over through the weekend. (I recently moved all my cigars to a new wine cooler humidor and I wanted to let them adjust before smoking any) The first thing that struck me was that the humidity seemed low and the temperature was very warm. This was confirmed when I glanced into the small case the higher end cigars reside in and saw the hygrometer inside. One would think that those cigars especially would be better maintained than all the rest, however, the hygrometer indicated that the relative humidity was only 58% and the temperature was (if I recall correctly) at least 76 degrees. Now I understand that there are many opinions to what a well maintained humidor should be maintained at but such high temperatures and low relative humidity is not good at all for cigars. I decided at this point to not purchase several but to just buy a single CAO MX2 Robusto. I chose this cigar because I've had one recently and I know what I should expect from one that has been well maintained. I'm very glad to say that I only spent $7, because if this one cigar is indicative of the condition of the remainder of your stock, I would not recommend anybody purchase cigars from that particular location until your store begins to put as much attention into its humidor as it does its liquor. This cigar not only demonstrated that it was very dry throughout. (let me tell you, knowing that CAO's exhibit more flavor at a low RH this was very dry) When I first rolled this cigar between my fingers I noticed the wrapper was loose and crinkly, this cigar burned very quickly and almost immediately the wrapper began to peel apart from the head to beyond a third of the length of the cigar. This particular cigar showed signs of significant fluctuation, I don't know its age but I can tell you with some certainty that this cigar has gone from being overhumidified to underhumidified several times already. Needless to say its taste was negatively affected.
What boggles my mind is that I have visited your store on North Mesa and have very recently purchased several cigars there. I've found that the gentleman that maintains the cigars is proud to let you know he's 'the cigar guy' and he certainly shows it. The gentleman has been helpful and knew his tastes well enough to make suggestions for me based on mine. He knew his product and more importantly, he knows how to care for them. I will certainly be going back to visit him in that location.
I will also mention this, and I don't intend to sound rude but my brother-in-law is a manager for a country club here in El Paso, he also happens to be the person that purchases cigars for that country club. He's not a cigar smoker so he's likely not able to identify well maintained cigars as obsessively as I am, but for the sake of the members of his country club I do plan on asking him tomorrow what location he makes his purchases. I hope he makes them from the Mesa location.
In my very honest opinion, if the remainder of your cigar stock from that store has been as badly maintained as this cigar was, I'd consider liquidating your stock, hiring someone that has a clue of how to maintain cigars and make a point to your clientele that a new cigar manager is in place. I may be the first, but I doubt I'm the only cigar enthusiast that has noticed the condition on your stock.
I should also mention, if you aren't aware, that your Sunland Park location is directly across the street from the 'Tobacco Tin' a fairly sized cigar retailer. I've heard many complaints about that store (I have my own as well) about its poor customer service and inflated prices. Your store stands to be a great supplier in El Paso, but at the moment I can only imagine that those ignorant of quality cigars would patronize your inventory and I would think that your business is very likely turning these people away from cigar smoking if their only experience is a badly maintained and horribly tasting cigar like the one I attempted to enjoy tonight.
Please, feel free to contact me if you'd like to speak to me regarding this experience or if you have any questions. Thank you for your time.
-man, I'm long winded
#blametheoxy
The email:
Greetings,
I wanted to inform you of a recent cigar purchase I made from your Sunland Park location. I was in your store sometime around 8pm today, Friday May 15th. I initially entered to purchase several cigars to tide me over through the weekend. (I recently moved all my cigars to a new wine cooler humidor and I wanted to let them adjust before smoking any) The first thing that struck me was that the humidity seemed low and the temperature was very warm. This was confirmed when I glanced into the small case the higher end cigars reside in and saw the hygrometer inside. One would think that those cigars especially would be better maintained than all the rest, however, the hygrometer indicated that the relative humidity was only 58% and the temperature was (if I recall correctly) at least 76 degrees. Now I understand that there are many opinions to what a well maintained humidor should be maintained at but such high temperatures and low relative humidity is not good at all for cigars. I decided at this point to not purchase several but to just buy a single CAO MX2 Robusto. I chose this cigar because I've had one recently and I know what I should expect from one that has been well maintained. I'm very glad to say that I only spent $7, because if this one cigar is indicative of the condition of the remainder of your stock, I would not recommend anybody purchase cigars from that particular location until your store begins to put as much attention into its humidor as it does its liquor. This cigar not only demonstrated that it was very dry throughout. (let me tell you, knowing that CAO's exhibit more flavor at a low RH this was very dry) When I first rolled this cigar between my fingers I noticed the wrapper was loose and crinkly, this cigar burned very quickly and almost immediately the wrapper began to peel apart from the head to beyond a third of the length of the cigar. This particular cigar showed signs of significant fluctuation, I don't know its age but I can tell you with some certainty that this cigar has gone from being overhumidified to underhumidified several times already. Needless to say its taste was negatively affected.
What boggles my mind is that I have visited your store on North Mesa and have very recently purchased several cigars there. I've found that the gentleman that maintains the cigars is proud to let you know he's 'the cigar guy' and he certainly shows it. The gentleman has been helpful and knew his tastes well enough to make suggestions for me based on mine. He knew his product and more importantly, he knows how to care for them. I will certainly be going back to visit him in that location.
I will also mention this, and I don't intend to sound rude but my brother-in-law is a manager for a country club here in El Paso, he also happens to be the person that purchases cigars for that country club. He's not a cigar smoker so he's likely not able to identify well maintained cigars as obsessively as I am, but for the sake of the members of his country club I do plan on asking him tomorrow what location he makes his purchases. I hope he makes them from the Mesa location.
In my very honest opinion, if the remainder of your cigar stock from that store has been as badly maintained as this cigar was, I'd consider liquidating your stock, hiring someone that has a clue of how to maintain cigars and make a point to your clientele that a new cigar manager is in place. I may be the first, but I doubt I'm the only cigar enthusiast that has noticed the condition on your stock.
I should also mention, if you aren't aware, that your Sunland Park location is directly across the street from the 'Tobacco Tin' a fairly sized cigar retailer. I've heard many complaints about that store (I have my own as well) about its poor customer service and inflated prices. Your store stands to be a great supplier in El Paso, but at the moment I can only imagine that those ignorant of quality cigars would patronize your inventory and I would think that your business is very likely turning these people away from cigar smoking if their only experience is a badly maintained and horribly tasting cigar like the one I attempted to enjoy tonight.
Please, feel free to contact me if you'd like to speak to me regarding this experience or if you have any questions. Thank you for your time.
-man, I'm long winded
#blametheoxy
