Local Cigar Shop: Cigar Price Markup

[SuperChuck]

When I visited Providence--I *love* that town--I keep telling my daughter she's going to Brown and we're all going to move up there--I went to a cigar shop called the Red something or other.

Red Carpet?

I'll have to give them a look next time I'm up on the hill.

In a former life, I used to work at the bottom of the hill by Waterplace Park (I actually worked next to Washington Park, which is the next park down the river from Waterplace)

[godfather]

Did he give you the impression he was annoyed by you?

He could be a bit on the snobby side. The tobacconist I used to go to in Providence was a little snotty at times. If I'd go in for a pack of cigarettes, he always looked like I was being a pain in his ass, actually purchasing something from his store!

Yeah, that's a good way of putting it, he was definitely on the snobby side. I think the next time I go in I'll introduce myself, let him know I'm new to cigars and that I'm interested in trying different cigars to find out what I like and don't like.

Honestly (I'm sure this is open to debate), I think when younger people like myself (I'm in my mid twenties), get into hobbies like wine or cigars...we're not taken seriously by SOME (_not all_) vendors. I get the impression they think we're not taking this very seriously, we'll phase out of the hobby quickly, or don't have a lot of money to spend and won't become 'frequent customers.' Why? Because we're young in their eyes and they immediately label us like the rest of our age group.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I bet if I was in my 40's I'd probably get a little different treatment. Like I said, I come across the same type of bias with wine. I notice once I prove to them I know a decent amount of information about the topic, I'm taken seriously.

[SuperChuck]

I always wonder what people think of me...

I was hobbling into the office the other day (I had a nasty ankle sprain from football) just as someone from another company was walking out. I was probably wearing sneakers, cutoffs, and a tee shirt. This guy was wearing the official uniform of cookiecutter officeworkers: khakis and a polo shirt.

Throw in there that I look about 18 and I couldn't help but wonder who he thought I was. I imagine he was thinking "janitor", not "software engineer" :)

But when I'm treated like a lesser being by a business owner, I take my money elsewhere. And there's always a competitor out there that will treat you like Don Trump even if you look homeless. :)

(I actually used to work for a guy who seriously looked homeless, yet his servants quarters were nicer than my apartment)