A Most Disturbing Encounter

[sounddust]

I was at my LCDH a couple of days ago and requested an Inmensa. After some searching, the dude finally dug up a '05 box with a few sticks left. I wasn't too impressed with the soft looking lot and he promptly managed to find an untouched '06 one. "Good," I thought as I chose a densely packed stogie.

After which a stick from the '05 was squeezed into the missing '06 slot, the "full" box nonchalantly slid back into the shelves above me.

I was saddened and disheartened by this turn of events, but I knew that I will never purchase another box from there again.

That got me thinking about the state of the boxes purchased. I'm confident that Rob et al are not into such shenanigans but I'm wondering if anybody else had such an experience? This practice is almost impossible to detect if done properly I believe, with similar shades of wrapper being key. At if it can happen at an LCDH...

[gerem]

I live in Montreal and the LCDH is pretty good. When ever you want to purchase a box, they open it in front of you.

If the brand you want is not there, they order it for you.

[Colt45]

The reality is that we hold some to a higher standard than others. In the end, it's people and personal character - no matter who or where.

[Ken Gargett]

i assumed from the title of the post that you'd actually met the prez but that story is distressing.

i'd be wanting an explanation from the manager/owner - was the bloke serving you either? - and if he didn't do something, like firing the bloke on the spot, i'd be broadcasting it far and wide. anyone prepared to condone that does not deserve a business, let alone customers.

[Tampa1257]

The reality is that we hold some to a higher standard than others. In the end, it's people and personal character - no matter who or where.

Colt, I believe that you have hit the nail on the head, if management has expressed their desire to maintain full boxes as much as possible, then the employee was following managements direction, most of us I believe would personally hold an LCDH to a much higher standard, so it depends on the character of those working. If he was dealing with the manager directly, I would have protested and informed loudly to everyone that would listen and to Habanos S.A. that filling in a box with inferior underfilled cigars is bad business and such acts display a lack of proper customer service. Report them!

[sounddust]

What was truly disheartening was the fact that I have grown to like and trust the staff at that LCDH over the years.

I have reason to believe that this is not an unusual practice as the switch was done right in front of me. It was truly mind-boggling to say the least, I did not speak a word to anyone as I smoked the Boli. Personally, I felt confused as if my best mate kicked me in the balls before making off with my wallet.

I will drop an email to the management but still...

[OZCUBAN]

Its a good idea not to buy from places like this i guess your quite sure what your getting ,if they do stuff like that what else are they up to!!!!

Pardon my newbie ignorance but what does LCDH mean i think i have got most of it.

don't you love step learning curves!!

cheers

Oz Cuban

[Ginseng]

LCDH = La Casa del Habano

LCDH Home

Wilkey

[OZCUBAN]

LCDH = La Casa del Habano

LCDH Home

Wilkey

Thanks wilkey

you would expect better business practices from a store like that!!

[Ginseng]

True. It really comes down to the culture that the owner of the franchise sets. That and the world region where the LCDH is situated. I've had some fairly hairy first-hand experiences relayed to me about LCDHs in South America.

Wilkey

[jeromeroselli]

sheesh

my local smoke shop lets their inventory pretty much run out before they have full boxes again.

its about the appearance of the presentation, its about the people and the smokes that makes me buy

[PigFish]

I don't know what to say about this... I would only now buy boxes that I witnessed being opened from them. I think the practice is despicable but I am at times focused on vintage and not on outward appearance and my sentiments reflect that view. I like to make a stink about limited cigars looking correct as that should be reflected in the price you pay. On the other hand what really counts for me is taste performance. (a tangental thought!)

I think the practice that you witnesses is likely more along the lines of "housekeeping" than that of fraud. Knowing my stock I often group a bunches of single cigars together knowing full well the chronology of the cigars is no longer of importance to me. I may second band them, or provide index cards indicating their personal specifications if I deem it important at the time.

The fact remains that someone will likely pull that box down, ask an employee to aid in selecting a cigar and be sold the under-filled cigar. The cigar will be described as desirable because of the easy draw and assurances will be made that it is not plugged!

As my dad used to say, "there is an ass for every seat." Since the shops policies are not to your liking as they pertain to open box rules, you simply need to address the manager on the issue and tell him/her why you hold your views. Wanting the guys head on a stick is not the approach I would use; hell he was probably told to perform this task by his boss without even thinking of the consequences. I think in many ways some shop owners have differing views from patron connoisseurs. They have open boxes of cigars around day in and day out. It is a part of their job to keep abreast of current cigars and make recommendations about them. They are probably not smoking 10 and 15 year old cigars as a result and they probably don't think much about that market if they themselves don't specialize in it. I think is some cases a cigar is a cigar to them! It is a means to make a living and means little more than the produce to the corner grocer. Given that rationalization I would not be inclined to look for a human sacrifice here. You may have likely witnessed an act as ordinary as putting two brands of beer in the same carrier in order to utilize the space. Dont' make enemies... just use the data point to your favor and next time he encourages you buy an open box, remind him of his policy and ask for 20% off!!! -Piggy

[toracubed]

I thought that LCDH's were supposed to held to a higher standard?

[Jay Hemingway]

this is an excellent post!

I don't know what to say about this... I would only now buy boxes that I witnessed being opened from them. I think the practice is despicable but I am at times focused on vintage and not on outward appearance and my sentiments reflect that view. I like to make a stink about limited cigars looking correct as that should be reflected in the price you pay. On the other hand what really counts for me is taste performance. (a tangental thought!)

I think the practice that you witnesses is likely more along the lines of "housekeeping" than that of fraud. Knowing my stock I often group a bunches of single cigars together knowing full well the chronology of the cigars is no longer of importance to me. I may second band them, or provide index cards indicating their personal specifications if I deem it important at the time.

The fact remains that someone will likely pull that box down, ask an employee to aid in selecting a cigar and be sold the under-filled cigar. The cigar will be described as desirable because of the easy draw and assurances will be made that it is not plugged!

As my dad used to say, "there is an ass for every seat." Since the shops policies are not to your liking as they pertain to open box rules, you simply need to address the manager on the issue and tell him/her why you hold your views. Wanting the guys head on a stick is not the approach I would use; hell he was probably told to perform this task by his boss without even thinking of the consequences. I think in many ways some shop owners have differing views from patron connoisseurs. They have open boxes of cigars around day in and day out. It is a part of their job to keep abreast of current cigars and make recommendations about them. They are probably not smoking 10 and 15 year old cigars as a result and they probably don't think much about that market if they themselves don't specialize in it. I think is some cases a cigar is a cigar to them! It is a means to make a living and means little more than the produce to the corner grocer. Given that rationalization I would not be inclined to look for a human sacrifice here. You may have likely witnessed an act as ordinary as putting two brands of beer in the same carrier in order to utilize the space. Dont' make enemies... just use the data point to your favor and next time he encourages you buy an open box, remind him of his policy and ask for 20% off!!! -Piggy

[Colt45]

I thought that LCDH's were supposed to held to a higher standard?

First , let me state that I've never shopped at an LCDH. But, I've always thought of them as an extension of HSA, and therefore representatives

of HSA, and therefore supposedly beyond reproach - a last bastion of sorts. They should be held to a higher standard. The owners and

employees should be intimately familiar with their products. I always thought that there were requirements other than money, and

that there should be requirements other than money to own a franchise. I'd have no problem with deceptive practitioners losing their

franchises.

Call me naïve.

[Warren]

Call me naïve.

Hello naive

[El Presidente]

LCDH is a Franchise.

If you have a little knowledge (preferable), a great location and a big chequebook then you too can be a LCDH

[Trevor2118]

LCDH is a Franchise.

If you have a little knowledge (preferable), a great location and a big chequebook then you too can be a LCDH

The owner in question probably missed out on the Kentucky Chicken franchise, so this was the next best thing.

[sounddust]

Piggy: That was a very insightful post, and I'm certainly going to speak to the manager in charge once I can.

If I fail to get a satisfactory explanation, I will report this to HSA and its rep in this region(PCC).

This incident got me thinking about the state of the cigars in boxes, as it will take a very well-trained palate indeed to taste the difference between a 2 and 4 year old cigar, or whether to attribute a bad stick to the usual 1 in 20 average or blatant misrepresentation.

[mkz]

I thought that LCDH's were supposed to held to a higher standard?

A few months ago there was info on an swedish forum that the owners of LCDH in Gothenburg had Cohiba Piramides Edicion Limitada -04 (fakes) for sale on their website.

The guy that noticed it contacted Habanos Nordic but apparently never got an answer from them. The fauxhibas was removed from the owners website about a week later.

After this came out, I never set my foot at that LCDH again.

[gerem]

I'm impressed with all those bad experiences. I'll be honest I buy my cigars from 2 shops and one of them is an LCDH. The LCDH didn't cross the line yet (I hope it won't). As you all said, it's all about management.

[El Presidente]

If it was a PCC Divan then drop me a PM with the details. I will take it up on your behalf with PCC execs if you like.

It should not happen on the simple premise that it is not right. No matter how you look at this, it is not right. A purchaser of that box has the right to expect that it is as represented which includes box date.

[Colt45]

It should not happen on the simple premise that it is not right. No matter how you look at this, it is not right. A purchaser of that box has the right to expect that it is as represented which includes box date.

Distilled to it's essence - thank you.