What did you smoke today? (Non-Habanos Edition)

[c.ortiz108]

2012 Pueblo Dominicana Torpedo with iced water on a cool but lovely evening.

I hope that the nuance comes through in this (too) long post but I'm smoking a favorite stick to celebrate my daughter, Elisabeth, achieving a personal milestone after an odd day.



Last year, Elisabeth was a new RN and she decided to buy a 2015 Subaru Forester (all-wheel drive) so that she'd be able to get to work in inclement weather. We went to GP, a Subaru dealer and were assisted by a pleasant young chap but soon, James, a Sales Manager, took over and he simply wouldn't stop talking .

James decided that my daughter HAD to buy an in-stock, low mileage, 2013 Impreza stick (she does drive a stick) but when he began to brow-beat her, I admonished him and we walked out. I don't hold a grudge and this past April, after my wife was rear-ended and her car totaled, she bought a Forester from GP (James no present). Our salesman was Roy.

Elisabeth was off today and we returned to GP to finally buy her a Forester. I asked for Roy but it was his day off and after about 15 minutes of waiting, Vicky was 'assigned' us. I explained that we knew the car, having purchased one from GP in April, but we wanted to see the 2016 features and to test drive their driver-assist 'Eye Sight' option. I told Vicky that if the price was right she'd sell a car today. Vicky showed us the new features but she needed to find a car to test drive 'Eye-Sight'.

James walked past us and spoke to the man in charge of floor sales. Vicky disappeared, ostensibly to find a car to test drive. James walked by again, stopped and engaged us, clearly recalling us and the night that he tried to sell us the Impreza.

"You missed a great deal on that Impreza, sold it early the next morning, just as I said it would."

"Really? I received emails for several weeks afterward saying that the Impreza was still available.", Elisabeth said with some surprise.

"Computer generated emails.", James answered. "Is someone helping you?"

"Yes, Vicky's helping us", I nodded.

"No, Vicky has something else to do, Jean will help you". James smiled and moved on.

Vicky walked past and I thanked her for her assistance.

"Yeah, right", her resentment didn't seem to be directed toward me.

I repeated to Jean what I'd previously told Vicky, emphasizing that if the price was right, we'd buy a car today.

The Eye-Sight performed inconsistently with Jean a consistent apologist for its mediocre performance. Elisabeth said that she wouldn't want this option but rather than return to the showroom, Jean let us drive around for another 15 minutes until I told her to direct us back.

While we waited outside for Jean to park, Elisabeth and I, almost at once, agreed that there was something creepy and out of whack with what was going on. We were both sure that James had made the salesperson switch but we didn't know why, nor why they'd not want us back in the showroom as quickly as possible. Jean rejoined us and Elisabeth asked her to quote a price.

"I need your name and phone number.", Jean said dryly.

As soon as we were back in the showroom, Jean extended her hand to Elisabeth and said, "I'll give Roy your number and he'll contact you."

"Elisabeth is interested in buying a car today.", I reminded her.

"Roy will contact you. Nice meeting you, goodbye." and she turned and walked away.

Two hours later, at a competing Subaru dealer, Elisabeth was signing the dotted line for her new, 2016, Subaru Forester. Later she would think about what she would say to Roy when he called.

I'm actually not surprised by this surreal tale. Car dealers are a mysterious bunch, and when my wife and I shopped for a car a couple of years ago we walked out of quite a few dealers totally bewildered.... We finally bought on Craigslist.

Just smoked a Brick House for the first time. Disappointing after all the praise, 92-rating etc. Very ordinary, and little bitter and acrid.

[thechasm442]

Im still waiting for you to smoke the unbanded mystery stick too!

haha, It's next on my list. Btw, 2.5 years did that stick justice, tasty.

[Bruck]

2012 Pueblo Dominicana Torpedo with iced water on a cool but lovely evening.

I hope that the nuance comes through in this (too) long post but I'm smoking a favorite stick to celebrate my daughter, Elisabeth, achieving a personal milestone after an odd day.



Last year, Elisabeth was a new RN and she decided to buy a 2015 Subaru Forester (all-wheel drive) so that she'd be able to get to work in inclement weather. We went to GP, a Subaru dealer and were assisted by a pleasant young chap but soon, James, a Sales Manager, took over and he simply wouldn't stop talking .

James decided that my daughter HAD to buy an in-stock, low mileage, 2013 Impreza stick (she does drive a stick) but when he began to brow-beat her, I admonished him and we walked out. I don't hold a grudge and this past April, after my wife was rear-ended and her car totaled, she bought a Forester from GP (James no present). Our salesman was Roy.

Elisabeth was off today and we returned to GP to finally buy her a Forester. I asked for Roy but it was his day off and after about 15 minutes of waiting, Vicky was 'assigned' us. I explained that we knew the car, having purchased one from GP in April, but we wanted to see the 2016 features and to test drive their driver-assist 'Eye Sight' option. I told Vicky that if the price was right she'd sell a car today. Vicky showed us the new features but she needed to find a car to test drive 'Eye-Sight'.

James walked past us and spoke to the man in charge of floor sales. Vicky disappeared, ostensibly to find a car to test drive. James walked by again, stopped and engaged us, clearly recalling us and the night that he tried to sell us the Impreza.

"You missed a great deal on that Impreza, sold it early the next morning, just as I said it would."

"Really? I received emails for several weeks afterward saying that the Impreza was still available.", Elisabeth said with some surprise.

"Computer generated emails.", James answered. "Is someone helping you?"

"Yes, Vicky's helping us", I nodded.

"No, Vicky has something else to do, Jean will help you". James smiled and moved on.

Vicky walked past and I thanked her for her assistance.

"Yeah, right", her resentment didn't seem to be directed toward me.

I repeated to Jean what I'd previously told Vicky, emphasizing that if the price was right, we'd buy a car today.

The Eye-Sight performed inconsistently with Jean a consistent apologist for its mediocre performance. Elisabeth said that she wouldn't want this option but rather than return to the showroom, Jean let us drive around for another 15 minutes until I told her to direct us back.

While we waited outside for Jean to park, Elisabeth and I, almost at once, agreed that there was something creepy and out of whack with what was going on. We were both sure that James had made the salesperson switch but we didn't know why, nor why they'd not want us back in the showroom as quickly as possible. Jean rejoined us and Elisabeth asked her to quote a price.

"I need your name and phone number.", Jean said dryly.

As soon as we were back in the showroom, Jean extended her hand to Elisabeth and said, "I'll give Roy your number and he'll contact you."

"Elisabeth is interested in buying a car today.", I reminded her.

"Roy will contact you. Nice meeting you, goodbye." and she turned and walked away.

Two hours later, at a competing Subaru dealer, Elisabeth was signing the dotted line for her new, 2016, Subaru Forester. Later she would think about what she would say to Roy when he called.

That's crazy. I had a slightly lower intensity version of that at a Ford dealer. Four years ago I wanted to get a new F150, and needed to get one that day or very soon thereafter, for reasons I won't bore you with, so I was willing to buy from dealer stock. I had the A Plan, so there was no dickering on the price, and I knew what features I needed and which ones I was flexible on. I went to the larger volume dealer in town and absolutely could not get the attention of any of the "sales" staff milling around. So I went to the smaller volume dealer and drove off in Maybelline that afternoon. Great salesman; I even got him down to a dollar over cost for the Rhino Liner (bed coating).

[jp1979]

haha, It's next on my list. Btw, 2.5 years did that stick justice, tasty.

I thought they were pretty good at 1 year for a buck.... lol

[Bruck]

Oh, and just to get back on topic, smoking a Brohiba at the moment

[Hardheaded]

I'm actually not surprised by this surreal tale. Car dealers are a mysterious bunch, and when my wife and I shopped for a car a couple of years ago we walked out of quite a few dealers totally bewildered.... We finally bought on Craigslist.

Just smoked a Brick House for the first time. Disappointing after all the praise, 92-rating etc. Very ordinary, and little bitter and acrid.

In my opinion the maduro is far better than the regular Brickhouse.

I had been sick, and not smoked since last week. So, as an early anniversary gift, my wife handed me a Sons of Anarchy Prospect to light up tonight. I think I picked a good one.

[pdq_wizzard]

No special reason just because





sent from my bag phone

[AlanS]

[JollyRogers]

Not from today but two recent cigars I enjoyed. The

An epicure no. 2 (my first cuban)

and a La Imperiosa

[NeverBend]

That's crazy. I had a slightly lower intensity version of that at a Ford dealer. Four years ago I wanted to get a new F150, and needed to get one that day or very soon thereafter, for reasons I won't bore you with, so I was willing to buy from dealer stock. I had the A Plan, so there was no dickering on the price, and I knew what features I needed and which ones I was flexible on. I went to the larger volume dealer in town and absolutely could not get the attention of any of the "sales" staff milling around. So I went to the smaller volume dealer and drove off in Maybelline that afternoon. Great salesman; I even got him down to a dollar over cost for the Rhino Liner (bed coating).

Between you and Chico I feel a little less like I had crap in my pants. Not glad to know that you guys were treated the same way but it does make me believe that some of these fools prejudge people and their intent.

My post was already too long so I left out several other things that Elisabeth and I noticed. I could have written this...

As soon as we were back in the showroom, Jean extended her hand to Elisabeth and said, "I'll give Roy your number and he'll contact you."

Elisabeth and I went to the restroom, not knowing that each of us was trying to get our head around the bizarre behavior. When we returned I said to Jean...

"Elisabeth is interested in buying a car today.", I reminded her.

"Roy will contact you. Nice meeting you, goodbye." and she turned and walked away.


My store had 7 Caminetto Super Moustache pipes that ranged in price from $750-$2,500 (1982). There probably weren't 7 other Super Moustaches in the rest of the USA combined. These were Hen's Teeth of Caminetto.





A new customer, Stan, clad in denim and looking like a biker (he was), asked to look at the Caminettos. I opened the showcase, let him browse and I walked away. He negotiated a small discount and no tax, promising to buy them all and over the next several months he did. Along the way he told me that in other stores they'd hover over him or not even open the showcase.

With each pipe that he bought I'd give him a tin of Sobranie White and he'd fill these over-sized pipes to the brim and smoke them, one match, to the bottom over a couple of hours with a gifted and experienced cadence. He's the best technical smoker I ever met and I learned a lot from him and I never half-fill new pipes since. He's a gentleman I'm glad to have known and I had the good sense to not prejudge his potential as a customer or person.


2013 Torano Colosseum Churchill. Brisk but clear morning.

@2:00 Torano Colosseum with coffee light. Almost done with this bundle but there are more.