"Dear J.M.,
My name is David Montez, and I wanted to take a moment to write you regarding my experience at Boswell Pipes on May 21, 2010. Late in the afternoon last week Friday, I stopped by your shop accompanied by my wife and older brother who was visiting from Montana. I wanted to do three things during my visit: purchase a fishing vest pipe, have my current Boswell pipe inspected and cleaned, and finally, browse through the selection of Boswell pipes on display and purchase a few choice blended tobaccos.
When I walked through the door, a young man named Alex greeted me warmly. He was extremely respectful, courteous, and very friendly. He answered all my questions and assisted in having my pipe inspected and cleaned free of charge. I was quite taken aback; I fully expected and wanted to pay for this service, however, Dan assured me that no payment was necessary. The easygoing, friendly atmosphere in the Boswell pipe shop was infectious: while chatting with Dan and Alex, I felt like I knew them my whole life, fast friends in a matter of minutes.
During the conversation, I mentioned that I would like to have a photo taken of you, Dan, and myself, posing with my first Boswell pipe, a 30th birthday present two years ago from my wife. When you appeared from the back, I could hear the phones ringing off the hook and I could tell that you were extremely busy. Yet, you were just as outgoing, personable, and friendly as Dan and Alex, and I immediately felt comfortable talking to you, asking questions, and getting advice. It was an awesome moment, meeting the craftsman that made my very first Boswell pipe.
While chatting with you, I asked many questions about pipe tobacco, as I was searching for a smooth, full body smoke, something that was both aromatic and did not leave a bad aftertaste. You personally helped me select a couple of blends that you thought that I would enjoy: Boswell’s Best, Spice and Nice, and Christmas Cookie. Regardless of how busy you were that day, it was immediately obvious that all customers at Boswell’s were a top priority and were to be treated with courtesy, respect, and first-rate customer service.
While I had intentions to purchase a fishing vest pipe, I was told that there were none available, but that some would be made within the next week or two. However, this certainly did not deter me from eyeballing the new, just-off-the-workbench pipes that Alex had brought out in a cart. I immediately fell in love with a lovely egg-shaped pipe in a very handsome red finish topped with a golden-colored stem. I’m ashamed to say that the pipe never saw the display cabinets as I plucked it from its resting place in the cart rack quick as could be.
I quickly followed this by picking up a classic sitter style pipe, finished in a nice cream color with a black stem. Both pipes represent my second and third Boswell-made pipes, and I couldn’t be more pleased with their quality and craftsmanship. The 2+ hours I spent at Boswell’s last week Friday was as enjoyable as the wonderful people who took the time out of their busy day to help me. With this experience, I have a favorite destination, a place where I can relax, browse, and visit with the staff and other customers who share the same passion for pipes as I do.
All the best,
David M. Montez"
