Pranking El Prez

[Fuzz]

Rob has given permission to post a little prank email from my good fictitious buddy, Holden MacGroyne... ain't I a little stinker?

From: Holden MacGroyne [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Thursday, 21 October 2010 11:10 AM

To: [email protected]

Subject: Custom Cigars

Hello Rob,

I recently purchased some of your custom cigars and I have a few issues that I would like to discuss.

Firstly, the Tampa cigars arrived severely damaged. The foot on each of them was ripped up and loose leafed.

Secondly, I was assured by one of your staff, I think her name was Liza, that I would be getting some light Colorado coloured Czar cigars. However, they looks like Maduro wrappers?!

Furthermore, the Czars felt very heavy, like they were overfilled. I haven't tried on yet, but judging from the weight, they could be plugged.

Lastly, all the cigars felt greasy to the touch and the smell was a bit off putting, kind of like a farmyard.

I've never come across these problems before when buying from my local. Nor have I seen damage like that in any of the cigars I've purchased.

I hope we can resolve this and I eagerly await your response.

Sincerely,

Holden

****************************

From: czar01 <[email protected]>

Sent: Thursday, Oct 21, 2010 at 12:43 PM

To: [email protected]

cc: Lisa [email protected]

Subject: RE: Custom Cigars

Hi Holden

Let me see if I can go through the issues with you as I want to make sure you are happy. If not simply return for a full refund no questions asked.

The “Tampa” have a been designed to have a shaggy foot (loose leaf ). It is the way I wanted them as it is a style greatly desired amongst great rollers in Cuba. Once aged for a little period of time, when lighting the foot it combusts into flame. I love it! The style of the foot is known as a “Shaggy”. To allay your concerns head to this post on Friends of habanos where Fuzz/Chris has just received his. You will see his photo’s . http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/inde...howtopic=103665

The wrappers are specially picked to deliver a unique flavour. They are mottled with oil, highly tensile (not thick ) and went best with the flavour profile I am trying to achieve. I would see them as Colorado Maduro but they are certainly light Colorado as I had none made in light Colorado.

The Czars should feel firm to the touch. They are a dense heavy cigar (plenty of leaf) but of the ones we have tried as a tasting panel they draw as they should. Keep in mind they are fresh with a significant moisture content. You will note in your humidor (65-68% RH) they will lighten up over the coming weeks. It is always recommended on our forum www.friendsofhabanos.com that any Cuban cigar should be rested 30 days in your humidor to achieve the best out of it.

The tactile feel of the cigar should be oily as only the best wrapper leaf as used. Oil equals flavour in a cigar . An oily wrapper is a rare commodity and highly sought after and too rarely found in general production. The aroma at cold should be barnyard. It is the tell tale sign of something special in a cigar. Barnyard, leather a certain meatiness is what I look for in the aroma of a cigar at cold. It is a universal characteristic along with an oily wrapper which gets enthusiasts excited.

I am proud of these cigars Holden. Have a read of the thread posted and I believe it will answer independently the issues you have raised. However, if you are not happy don’t give it a second thought, shoot them back and we will provide a refund immediately.

Cheers!

Rob Ayala

www.friendsofhabanos.com

Gotta admit, that is one diplomatic response. I was expecting something like telling Holden where he could stuff it while lit....

[cellinisart]

oh boy they are going to have fun with you now

[El Presidente]

I was going to re-name this post

"Pricks I have to deal with"

...and I am talking about you Fuzz!!! Lisa was apparently in on it too....cow.

20 minutes of my life I will never get back

***I would like to point our that cows are sacred in India

[Fuzz]

I was going to re-name this post

"Pricks I have to deal with"

...and I am talking about you Fuzz!!! Lisa was apparently in on it too....cow.

20 minutes of my life I will never get back

***I would like to point our that cows are sacred in India

I just couldn't help myself!

[Fuzz]

Nice one Fuzz!

Surprised that "Holden MacGroyne" didn't trigger a warning bell w Rob??

He didn't even catch on when I called and introduced myself, " Hi. I'm Holden MacGroyne..."

[El Presidente]

I stopped second guessing names when I told a new client "Pornsiti" to use his real name or bugger off.

It was his real name.

[#2 man]

Fuzz, good prank !! Rob handled that perfectly and is being a good sport allowing the post

[Ken Gargett]

20 minutes of my life I will never get back

you mean 20 minutes of your life you didn't spend with your feet up on the balcony and a cigar and a wine?

[theholmesmob]

Whilst we are on the theme of having a lend especially around names.... this was reported in the Canberra Times social pages yesterday. The event was the ACT Bachelor of the Year.

Just goes to prove the Canberra does have a soul (other than all those souls on the Hill)!!

[dicko]

haha great work Fuzz!

[laficion]

There are days but then, somedays

[Colt45]

Nice work Fuzz!

Like taking candy from a drunken baby......

[Dbone]

Good to see you can take it & dish it out as well, Pres.

[jacksfull]

I am really impressed with the way you handled that, Rob. It must have taken an incredible amount of patience to calmly explain that all was as it should be in the face of such an apparently ill-informed customer.

On the name issue, I agree that it's sometimes hard to tell a joke from a sadly unfortunate real name. We had a Vietnamese tailor open up shop here some years back. The name on his shingle? Au Phuc. No lie. I still die laughing when I think of him pricking his finger on a needle...

[First Lady]

LOLOL My God Rob I was waiting for you to come downstairs to ask me who he was and I was going to tell you....

[MoneyPit]

Nice response Prez, I'm amazed you held it together as well as you did. I know you're pretty proud of those cigars.

[rdb6]

Payback is a ***** though. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[Colt45]

Payback is a ***** though. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

No doubt there's a case of severe intestinal trauma in Fuzz's near future.

[Pilot]

Hey guys, I am new here and just wanted to say:

1. It is great to see that good humour is in abundance (... "HoldenMacGroyne"?! )
   
2. This post was also genuinely useful because, despite having researched quite a bit as a novice, this was the first time that I heard of the shaggy foot.
   

So thanks!

[habanablue]

Can't believe he didn't pick up on Holden Macgroyne's name! a similar nom de plume was recently picked up in a social scene photo in Canberra Times. A bloke at a party gave his name as Mike Litoris.

[Pilot]

Can't believe he didn't pick up on Holden Macgroyne's name!..

I stopped second guessing names when I told a new client "Pornsiti" to use his real name or bugger off. It was his real name.

!

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Whilst we are on the theme of having a lend especially around names.... this was reported in the Canberra Times social pages yesterday. The event was the ACT Bachelor of the Year.

Just goes to prove the Canberra does have a soul (other than all those souls on the Hill)!!

Are these names for real?! I mean, er, ahem, Mike Litoris

[Ken Gargett]

many years ago, england played queensland on a cricket tour in a game up in toowoomba - a sort of country exhibition (a very young andrew symonds thrashed the poms from one end to the other). all the country lads from miles around came as it was quite a big deal locally. and they got pissed in the summer sun.

the only downside was a pain-in-the-arse ground announcer who would not shut up. loved his own voice and clearly thought himself terribly important.

he spent the afternoon repeatedly requesting that mike hunt meet his mates. it never dawned and he was such a tosser, no one told him.

at the other end of the spectrum, the ground announcer at ballymore used to be hysterical.

some i recall -

some bloke had parked illegally and was not going to move it during the game until "do please go to your car. it is on fire".

"if there is a paul smith in the crowd, congratulations, your wife has had a boy".

and my fave, when thousands of young kids would rush the ground at the end of play despite repeated requests not to, he finally said, just as the hordes were charging on to the ground, "i have all your names". i reckon 3000 kids stopped dead in their tracks. for about 2 seconds.

[jackohalloran]

Great prank Rob really handled it well! just shows the professionalism and quality of customer care here at FOH