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How to deal with tobacco snobs?
I do not have a large budget to spend on over priced cigars and pipe tobacco. So, I have to look for good deals. I am not afraid to try an inexpensive smoke or buy something discounted. I have discovered some tobacco snobs who turn their nose up at anyone who is not smoking the most expensive tobacco. How do you deal with tobacco snobs? What do you feel about smoking inexpensive tobacco? This post goes for cigars and pipe tobacco. When I am talking about inexpensive tobacco, I am not talking about the junk at gas stations.
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It's really hard to tolerate anyone who is an out and out snob about anything. Be it tobacco, wine, food, music, or top of the line products. I smoke OTC blends as well as better quality blends. And when-ever I get something of better quality I try to get it on sale. Not because I'm a tobacco snob - but because I'm cheap. I've never been out to impress anyone with how much I paid for anything - if anything I'd much rather comment on how cheap I was able to get some over-priced item just by shopping around. I smoke what I like and so should you and anyone else. I have a simple two word philosophy for arrogant snobs ... "F**k em'". (Depending upon how you say it, "F**k em'" might actually only be one word). It's sad how some people seem to relish inflicting misery on another fellow human being. Sucking the joy out of the hobby and trying to make you feel inferior in some way. The time may be coming when the only tobacco you can get is the so-called junk at the gas station. So put that in your pipe and smoke it!
I've been blessed to have had many great people in my life and have also been blessed that I have had many times that I earned far more than I had ever dreamed.
That being said, I am a thrifty/frugal csob. With the exception of food, clothing & most tobacco, I usually buy used.
My car is a 1990 Allante. I love it, has the removable hard top and room for luggage and two sets of golf clubs in the trunk.
My plane was a 1965.
With the exception of the Luciano Bulldog I won @ the TAPS show a few weeks back, my Dunhills, Savanelli's, Peterson's, Nording & all other pipes are estates, the newest of which is the Nording, it's an 87
My golf clubs are 1982 Ping Eye 2 Beryllium Copper's
My Mont Blanc pen, a gift from a dear friend and mentor, is a 1988
My Rolex is a 1962, many of my watches are from the 30's, 40's & 50's.
I have a closet full of Dress Shoes & Silk Ties, many of which are also from the 80's.
All of that to say this. Although many of these are considered expensive or status symbols, I bought em used (cheap) because I appreciated the quality, craftsmanship & style of them. I would never have paid the New Retail price for any of them.
My normal golfin cigars are Arturo Fuente Curly Heads (about $2 a piece).
In the last 6 months or so my modest cellar has grown from 1 pouch of Borkum Riff to somewhere around 50 jars and tins. With the exception of a tin of Penzance, all of them were bought on sale or are Match blends.
Because of my being thrifty, I am able to buy more expensive Scotch, Bourbon, & Cigars that I like to enjoy on special occasions with my family and friends.
Snobs, in my opinion, are really no different than bullies were when I was a kid. They usually have deep self esteem issues and are the type of folks that feel a need to try and make others look bad or inferior in order to make themselves look better. Pathetic really.
If I perceive that they are passive aggressively being contemptuous towards me, I usually just laugh at them. If they persist, I'll turn it around on em. If they still persist I'll just call em out. Just like most bullies they will usually shrink when you stand up to them.
If, however, I see them trying to intimidate someone else, I will confront them immediately. Words just can't convey how much I dislike bullies.
It is my opinion that the reason people behave in such a manner is mainly because they are never called out on it. Most people around these folks will remain politely quiet. Sadly this is nothing more than a tacit approval/acceptance of their behavior and sadly just stokes the flames of arrogance and incivility.
Just my $.02
I came to the conclusion a long time ago, it's just part of the hobby, especially so if I visit some brick and mortar tobacconists, and hang out in the smoking room. Sitting in the chair to one side of you, will be a gentleman's gentleman, who will always be able to regale us all with a story that would rival anything that Sherlock Holmes, or Spiderman could relate.
On your other side, will be a highly educated fellow, who during the first five minutes of conversation, will reveal that he has a masters in physics, and relate how many job opportunities are available to him because he possesses that degree.
Straight across from you, will be a techie, who has his head buried in his phone or laptop, and rarely looks up to acknowledge anyone's presence.
Protecting the security of the shop, will be another brother of the leaf, who is always armed with at least 3 concealed pistols, as well as a fourth, which will always be the largest, and proudly displayed on his hip. In between rants about Hillary Clinton, and Barak Obama, he will get up to go check the security of the parking lot 3 to 4 times an hour, with a cigar hanging from his mouth that is usually always tunneling.
Behind the counter, will be the clerk, who immediately becomes the general manager, just as soon as the owner departs the store. Surrounded by a plethora of superior people, he feels the need to relate stories of his days as an MMA fighter, back before he retired and then continued to brawl in bar room fights, while bar hopping on the Harley.
When you come to realize that a lot of the info you are getting is pure fiction, and that the smoking room at the local tobacconist is where some of these characters have established their primary identity, you can start to put things into perspective, and begin to actually feel sorry for some of these folks, who are legends in their own minds.
I have often lamented that premium cigar and pipe tobacco is a luxury product, produced for the elite. I believe it is one aspect that can actually drive some customers to purchase exclusively online, in order to avoid all together the pretentious snobs that can be prevalent in our hobby.
The reverse is also true. Don't knock things just because you can't afford them.
Smokers Pride Black Cavendish can be bought by the big bag at reasonable prices. (the last one I bought was on sale @ P&C for $13 or so) and is a pleasant easy going smoke.
Smokers Pride Whiskey isn't half bad either.
Prolly gonna try their Cherry out here in the near future.
4 Aces on the other hand is like smoking a floor mat.
I'm sure there are those who would argue that a forum like TPL is just a place for snobbish pipe smokers to hang out and celebrate their own brand of snobbery. After all, we are vastly superior to those cigarette-smoking heathens.
I enjoy mainly Bulk Tobaccos is that being anti-snob like driving a VW Beetle during the time of the American Behemoth Automobiles?
It's relabeled RYO.
There's a lot to be said for the codger burleys. I've grown awfully fond of Lane RR.
Just posted this on another message - but thought it appropriate for this discussion as well.
Hope you're treated better by the cigar crowd than I was when entering the cigar bar near me in Merriville, Indiana called Karma Cigar Bar. As it turns out the place only sells cigars, lighters, and mixed drinks ... no pipe tobacco or supplies what-so-ever. Not even pipe cleaners. I entered the place recently because before moving to their new location the owners did sell pipes and pipe tobacco ... but at that location did not have a liquor license. So l guess once they made the transition from tobacco store to Cigar Bar they dropped everything but cigars. And man did they have a nice assortment of quality cigars throughout the establishment. Very nice longue ... unfortunately I walked in smoking a pipe and was immediately singled out as something of an oddball. There were six gentlemen seated on the four couches and large chairs which made up a square around a massive coffee table - only two of the gentlemen seemed to be together watching some sporting event on the flat screen TV, while the others busied themselves with a variety of activities from reading magazines, to fiddling with their phones or iPads, and one fellow just stared off into space enjoying his cigar. They were as different as night and day ... a well dressed businessman, a gentleman in what appeared to be a hooded jogging suit, a seriously tattooed biker dude wearing a Rock & Roll T-shirt, an overweight gentlemen who took up nearly a third of one of the couches, and the two guys watching TV who may well have been construction workers. I couldn't find anyone at the counter and asked the closest guy to me seated on a couch if he knew if they sold pipe tobacco in the place. He looked up at me as if I'd just shaved his dog and made a grunting sound. I wasn't sure exactly what that meant. Then the businessman who seemed annoyed by my presence looked up from his magazine and said, "Sorry Professor Pepperdine, the lecture hall is in the next building." Everyone got a big laugh at my expense then went back to what they were doing, leaving me to stand there with my pipe in my mouth feeling like an old fool. There is an ongoing discussion on pipe and tobacco snobs also on this forum so I'll post this comment there as well. Now it has me wondering if there are also cigar snobs who look down upon pipe smokers.
I go there all the time
With the guy that grunted, I would have loudly replied... "What was that? I didn't understand you". Hold him accountable for being dismissive or contemptuous.
To the guy that called you professor periwhatever the response would have obviously been... "Ha, you're very funny, but then again looks aren't everything"
I always start out trying to keep it a bit lighthearted but definitely poignant enough that they're being called out for being inhospitable.
As I've said before, the reason folks behave in such an unacceptable manner is most likely because you, me and others tolerate it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one to make my problem everybody elses problem but certainly expect as courteous of treatment as I offer anyone else.
just my $.02
I am almost always the guy that will say hello to everyone when I walk into a room or an elevator. I always try to break the ice and "lighten the mood" if you will.
I don't want to come across like a hardass here, but the older I get the less tolerance I have for rude self centered folk.
I realize some folks are more introverted or might be having a bad day, still doesn't excuse rude behavior.
I guess I'm living a bit of a sheltered life. Work in an office where I've known 5 of the guys there for almost 13 years and spend time with them socially. Have been in our house for the same amount of time and know most of my neighbors and enjoy cookouts and golfing with most of them. When I'm at the club, even though it is a resort destination, I know most of the staff and even go to church with many of them.
Same story with my grocer, banker, barber, etc...
It's usually when I'm traveling or go to another town, or happened to get matched up with some NY or NJ out of towner that I encounter the tools.
All in all I'm quite fortunate and should really just be thankful and count my blessings.
The Northern New Jersey Pipe Club meets at a J&R Cigar Store.
As to the stereotype of a snob with a pipe is from the illustration of the BMOC(Big Man on Campus) of the late 50's to the 70's. I can't remember Hippies being called "Hipsters" but then I don't remember too much from 65 to 71.