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House nearly paid off, advice in starting my own p/c shop?
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<blockquote data-quote="CACooper" data-source="post: 402176" data-attributes="member: 789"><p>I agree the lounge is more cigar oriented. I did my best to cultivate a pipe culture in my store and make everyone feel welcome in the lounge. But cigar sales are the bread and butter of the business, so the lounge area is cigar dominate and a necessary evil. And it brings some problems.</p><p></p><p>As far as lounge etiquette, thankfully most customers understand the policy. In order to use the lounge area, BUY SOMETHING. But a few push the limits and bring in their own smokes. I even had one regular customer come into the lounge and hand out cigars to several customers that he bought from J.R. online! Then he gives me one and recommends that I stock them. He was completely oblivious to the notion that handing out a competitor's product in my store was extremely bad form. Amazing. </p><p></p><p>He obviously felt that my lounge was an extension of his living room and not a business. He also told me that because he occasionally purchased high-end pipes, he felt he had "bought in" to lounge privileges. I informed him of the policy of supporting the store, he complied for awhile, then eventually stopped coming in. Customers like him I didn't need and his absence was welcome. </p><p></p><p>This kind of attitude has prompted some shops to post signage with "lounge rules" to cut down on the freeloaders. The problem is worse now because of cheap cigars on the internet and fewer places to smoke. And free WiFi. </p><p></p><p>Ask Starbucks about freeloaders. Big problem.</p><p></p><p>CACooper</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CACooper, post: 402176, member: 789"] I agree the lounge is more cigar oriented. I did my best to cultivate a pipe culture in my store and make everyone feel welcome in the lounge. But cigar sales are the bread and butter of the business, so the lounge area is cigar dominate and a necessary evil. And it brings some problems. As far as lounge etiquette, thankfully most customers understand the policy. In order to use the lounge area, BUY SOMETHING. But a few push the limits and bring in their own smokes. I even had one regular customer come into the lounge and hand out cigars to several customers that he bought from J.R. online! Then he gives me one and recommends that I stock them. He was completely oblivious to the notion that handing out a competitor's product in my store was extremely bad form. Amazing. He obviously felt that my lounge was an extension of his living room and not a business. He also told me that because he occasionally purchased high-end pipes, he felt he had "bought in" to lounge privileges. I informed him of the policy of supporting the store, he complied for awhile, then eventually stopped coming in. Customers like him I didn't need and his absence was welcome. This kind of attitude has prompted some shops to post signage with "lounge rules" to cut down on the freeloaders. The problem is worse now because of cheap cigars on the internet and fewer places to smoke. And free WiFi. Ask Starbucks about freeloaders. Big problem. CACooper [/QUOTE]
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House nearly paid off, advice in starting my own p/c shop?
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