Comments on: stogie castillo and the centro ybor conundrum http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/ A very loose interpretation of the news and happenings in and around Tampa Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:02:10 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michael Dunn http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-282322 Michael Dunn Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:50:32 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-282322 Yes, Christian. His complaint, lodged with me personally, gained him my humble apology and his product delivery with additional merchandise for compensation. If you move back two comments, you see that my issue with Mr. Gonzalez dealt with his comment on this blog, posted prior to my being given an opportunity to learn of the issue, that I did not read until months after I already resolved the issue. However, I am not so upset by his comments now. Mainly because I see that I see that in the past two years, only three people have ever read it. LOL! Too funny. Not exactly the circulation of the New York Times this hot Sticks of Fire thing. Yes, Christian. His complaint, lodged with me personally, gained him my humble apology and his product delivery with additional merchandise for compensation. If you move back two comments, you see that my issue with Mr. Gonzalez dealt with his comment on this blog, posted prior to my being given an opportunity to learn of the issue, that I did not read until months after I already resolved the issue. However, I am not so upset by his comments now. Mainly because I see that I see that in the past two years, only three people have ever read it. LOL! Too funny. Not exactly the circulation of the New York Times this hot Sticks of Fire thing.

]]> By: Christian http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-281862 Christian Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:33:52 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-281862 It worked, didn't it? He complained, then he got satisfaction. It worked, didn’t it? He complained, then he got satisfaction.

]]> By: Michael Dunn http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-206655 Michael Dunn Mon, 19 May 2008 16:59:44 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-206655 Interestingly enough, this is the first time I have ever read this article and the following comments. Great piece. I will respond to the previous comment, however. The delivery of Mr. Gonzalez' cigars and wine, as well as additional cigars as compensation for the delay was made shortly after the apparent date of his post. The miscommunication between my staff and I during a life threatening illness in my family was explained to Mr. Gonzalez' satisfaction after the merchandise was shipped. I have since left Stogie Castillo's, as an officer anyway, due to my business partner, Ivan Castillo engaging in less than ethical business practices. It is unfortunate that Mr. Gonzalez should so rashly choose to recklessly attack my name and character publicly and then not have the decent character himself to send a retraction after his grievances were dealt with in an honest and fair manner. Michael Dunn Formerly of Stogie Castillo's Ybor City, Florida Interestingly enough, this is the first time I have ever read this article and the following comments. Great piece. I will respond to the previous comment, however. The delivery of Mr. Gonzalez’ cigars and wine, as well as additional cigars as compensation for the delay was made shortly after the apparent date of his post. The miscommunication between my staff and I during a life threatening illness in my family was explained to Mr. Gonzalez’ satisfaction after the merchandise was shipped. I have since left Stogie Castillo’s, as an officer anyway, due to my business partner, Ivan Castillo engaging in less than ethical business practices. It is unfortunate that Mr. Gonzalez should so rashly choose to recklessly attack my name and character publicly and then not have the decent character himself to send a retraction after his grievances were dealt with in an honest and fair manner.

Michael Dunn
Formerly of Stogie Castillo’s
Ybor City, Florida

]]> By: MIchael Gonzalez http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-142266 MIchael Gonzalez Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:00:40 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-142266 Michael Dunn of Stogies Castillo is a crook!!! On NOvember 2nd I spoke with him on the phone concerning having Stogies Castillo create a private label cigar for me. At the end of our conversation I ordered 4 of his Cupa Rico cigars. He suggested a bottle of wine which he stated would go nicely with the aforementioned cigars. I ordered one to go with the cigars. On November 5th my card/account was charged $59.91. Today is December 3rd and I have, as of yet, received the cigars and wine! I have called Stogies Castillo several times and left several messages for Mike Dunn. He, nor anyone one else at Stogies Castillo, have acknowledged or returned my phone calls. Since they refuse to return my calls adn contact me, I have to assuem that they are crooks and cheat customers regularly. Athough I currently live in another state, I am originally from West Tampa/Ybor City and still have family in that city. I guess my only recourse is to make a personal visit to collect the merchandise which I have bought and paid for. If this is the type of customer service one can expect from Mike Dunn and Stogies Castillo, I would suggest that others spend their hard-earned money at one of other deserving establishments in Ybor City. Michael Gonzalez Delphi, Indiana Michael Dunn of Stogies Castillo is a crook!!!

On NOvember 2nd I spoke with him on the phone concerning having Stogies Castillo create a private label cigar for me. At the end of our conversation I ordered 4 of his Cupa Rico cigars. He suggested a bottle of wine which he stated would go nicely with the aforementioned cigars. I ordered one to go with the cigars.

On November 5th my card/account was charged $59.91. Today is December 3rd and I have, as of yet, received the cigars and wine!

I have called Stogies Castillo several times and left several messages for Mike Dunn. He, nor anyone one else at Stogies Castillo, have acknowledged or returned my phone calls. Since they refuse to return my calls adn contact me, I have to assuem that they are crooks and cheat customers regularly.

Athough I currently live in another state, I am originally from West Tampa/Ybor City and still have family in that city. I guess my only recourse is to make a personal visit to collect the merchandise which I have bought and paid for.

If this is the type of customer service one can expect from Mike Dunn and Stogies Castillo, I would suggest that others spend their hard-earned money at one of other deserving establishments in Ybor City.

Michael Gonzalez
Delphi, Indiana

]]> By: matt http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-63787 matt Tue, 16 Jan 2007 20:41:22 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-63787 I've never been to the cigar place in Centro Ybor before, but we pretty regularly go to King Corona for cigars and drinks. King Corona for the most part is rarely what I'd call crowded, so I can only imagine how slow it is for that newer shop. I think Tampa Bay Brewing Company is going to regret where they chose to move, but we'll see I’ve never been to the cigar place in Centro Ybor before, but we pretty regularly go to King Corona for cigars and drinks. King Corona for the most part is rarely what I’d call crowded, so I can only imagine how slow it is for that newer shop. I think Tampa Bay Brewing Company is going to regret where they chose to move, but we’ll see

]]> By: Anonymous http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-63739 Anonymous Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:48:50 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-63739 Being a part-time resident in Ybor, I would love to see Ybor get its sexy back!! And many of the full-time residences feel the same way….. Being a part-time resident in Ybor, I would love to see Ybor get its sexy back!! And many of the full-time residences feel the same way…..

]]> By: Jose http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-63482 Jose Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:16:19 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-63482 i agree with you. i dont think there is anything inherently wrong with centro ybor. its ybor itself and its reputation problems. if you took centro ybor and plopped it in south tampa, say, it would be another story. ybor will get its sexy back. but its gonna take a lot of work from the chamber, ycdc, and the people who live there. i agree with you. i dont think there is anything inherently wrong with centro ybor. its ybor itself and its reputation problems. if you took centro ybor and plopped it in south tampa, say, it would be another story.
ybor will get its sexy back. but its gonna take a lot of work from the chamber, ycdc, and the people who live there.

]]> By: dreaming http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-63448 dreaming Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:37:13 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-63448 im beginning to thnk that centros problem really is just a question of marketing of which there is presently not much or none. i cant see much difference betw it and channelside which has managed to eclipse ybor for a long time now with basically the same type of offerings: bars, restaurants and movies without much retail. if a genius can figure out a way to make out ybor as sexy again, the kids will come back and by kids i mean the 20s and 30s who patronize these places, not the juvenile delinquents. i hope the cigar guy hangs on, but isnt he competing w exactly the same thing across the street at king corona which has the benefit of selling booze plus comfy sidewalk chairs and tables? im beginning to thnk that centros problem really is just a question of marketing of which there is presently not much or none. i cant see much difference betw it and channelside which has managed to eclipse ybor for a long time now with basically the same type of offerings: bars, restaurants and movies without much retail. if a genius can figure out a way to make out ybor as sexy again, the kids will come back and by kids i mean the 20s and 30s who patronize these places, not the juvenile delinquents. i hope the cigar guy hangs on, but isnt he competing w exactly the same thing across the street at king corona which has the benefit of selling booze plus comfy sidewalk chairs and tables?

]]> By: Jason http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/comment-page-1/#comment-63182 Jason Sun, 14 Jan 2007 13:09:56 +0000 http://sticksoffire.com/2007/01/13/stogie-castillo-and-the-centro-ybor-conundrum/#comment-63182 BTW, I finished this story Friday and went to Stogie's that evening and it was busier than ever. I guess just the little publicity the Times article provided was enough to help a slew of new cigar lovers find the joint. BTW, I finished this story Friday and went to Stogie’s that evening and it was busier than ever. I guess just the little publicity the Times article provided was enough to help a slew of new cigar lovers find the joint.

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