Calling out SomeGuy

[Lukasa]

[quote name='Social Smoke']Right
before replying to lukasa’s post, I decided to see if anyone else had
posed a response to the thread. I was a little surprised to see that
were multiple new posts which made my original text obsolete… So 15
minutes later, I have a new very different reply…
The reputation
of H-S.com in not directly in question; however, as it appears that
SomeGuy is affiliated with H-S.com his actions do reflect back on H-S.  
My motivation
for making this post should be clear as should be my calculations which
are easily summed up by the title “Calling out SomeGuy”.
My motivation: To bring out into the open SomeGuy’s shadiness and obvious affiliations.  
My calculation:  Someguy will be forced to come clean, making the forum a place where real members can voice their opinions and reviews honestly and equitably.  
The second part of my last statement “members can voice their opinions and reviews honestly and equitably”
is what always keeps me from taking a more active role on the forum
even though I read basically every post by each member. My low post
count is a testament to the importance I place on this forums continued
existence as an impartial resource for Hookah Lovers around the world.
Social Smoke/My reputation: I doubt it is in question…  
Thanks to members: [b]mushrat, Smashraj84,[/b] and[b] SanguineSolitude [/b]for voicing support of Social Smoke/me.
On a side note:
Just to clarify, because I find my original post might be easy to misinterpret if read quickly. In this statement:
“I try my best to not post my own opinions, directly market Social Smoke or its [url="http://www.socialsmokehookah.com/"]Hooakh and Shisha[/url]
products, or try to influence or sway the board. Like most other
vendors that visit these boards such as Tangiers and MYA Saray, when I
do post I post it under our trade name so that there is no mistaking my
post for an impartial third party's voice.”
I really meant this:
“Even though I
constantly visit Hookahforum.com and read the many discussions and
posts including reviews on our company or products that we carry. I try
my best not to try to influence or sway the board by posting my own
opinions and directly marketing our products.
When vendors
like Tangiers, MYA Saray, Taqseem, H-S.com, mountainsmoke,
persianhookahs, Hookah Kings, or Social Smoke (I hope I didn’t miss any
vendors that do post here) do post we post under our trade names so
there is no mistaking our posts to be impartial… This is fair to the
members seeking unbiased reviews and recommendations, and it is also
fair to the other vendors.
Regards,
Ali NadimiSocial Smoke, Inc[/quote]

Ali, I really do want to apologize if i have offended you in any
way.  I am not a very frequent poster here, and have never seen
you post before.  I was just reacting to a few things that were
apparent.  I was completely wrong, and i misjudged your
character.  I hope you'll accept my apology.

[sheeshabum]

I'd imagine that "Someguy" and Hookah-Shisha central are laughing themselves crazy." When someone urinates on your head, don't say its a warm rain".  Sooner or later SomeGuy will be told by  a boss or the boss himself  at Hookah-Shisha will write in and explain all to  our benefit. But, basically they would call this "a storm in a tea cup". Which it is since WE take things seriously (more often than not) and to the big boys; well they will always have there way anyhow. I saw the letters by "SomeGuy", realized that they were pretty dorky and didn't take his stuff to heart. I do think that the first letter by Ali Nadimi at Social Smoke was in line, not mean or spiteful and anyone has a right to  write in here no matter how many he's posted before.(Maybe now we'll hear him more often).

[mushrat]

Recall we didn't hear much from the woman I mentioned earlier after she was called out either. I like to think of this as more "policing our own" than anything else. Lets face it, so many new people read about hookahs and companies here, we really have to do our best to make sure the information supplied is as accurate and reliable as possible. Don't want someone who's come in for their first time and is merely reading around to think this person's thinly veiled advertisements represent an impartial opinion.
The unsponsored nature of this forum is what makes it quite useful as an educational tool.
oh and Genuine..quit making wise arse remarks and READ what sanguine said to you.  You continue to riddicule when you should be LEARNING.

[steve07]

Where are you at someguy step up to the plate.

[surfpico]

I swear...sometime I think this forum is filled with a lot of PMSing females.I mean that's what I think whenever this drama comes around.

[Lukasa]

[quote name='surfpico']I swear...sometime I think this forum is filled with a lot of PMSing females.I mean that's what I think whenever this drama comes around.[/quote]

Things get dull without a good brawl now and then

[steve07]

Come on Surfpico say something with some substance your one liners are killing me.

[surfpico]

Steve...that was a two liner.
Get it righttttttt.
 
K? Thanks.

[MixMasterRomman]

Dear Hookahforum,

 

I would first like to introduce
myself as an owner in Hookah-Shisha.com

 

This is my first time actually
participating and honestly, aren't even sure if I have been to this particular
forum (I know, I am sorry, but I am here now) and I started this as a blog, as
a rambling of my thoughts and expressions of emotions but I decided to try to make
it brief, then it got really long again…

 

But anyways, I want to start off
by clarifying some facts and giving the correct (not made up) explanations.

 

SomeGuy is a long time customer of
ours and is a diehard Hookah-shisha.com fan. AND he is now (as of mid-April)
working at Hookah-Shisha.com

 

I feel his comments were in no way
conning or deceitful, he just didn't announce to everyone that he was now
working with us, but CLEARLY used the words "we", "us"
after working with us, and made no attempt at hiding his connection with us by
making a 15% off tag line. Never before Mid April did he once mention a “we” or
“us” and I think even all of them were since May, and the 15% discount tag line
was there since mid April. So it doesn't take a genius to notice that he is
working or us (if that was a concern of theirs). He was never trying to hide
anything. That is why he used the words “we”, “us”, but I suppose was unfairly
called out…

 

We at Hookah-Shisha.com are
extremely honest and stand true to our word and commitment. We have NEVER and
will NEVER knowingly upset a customer. If we have ever upset anyone (and I am
sure we have, cause no one is perfect) it is purely by mistake and we ALWAYS
attempt to solve the problem no matter what the cost to us.

 

There was no conning or deceiving
going on as Ali attempts to promote. However, I do see an attempt by him to
slander another company before actually seeking the truth (if the truth is what
u were after). The truth however has now been mis-construed and indirectly made
to form a cloud of doubt around a competitor (convenient that a competitor
brought this up as a malicious act).

 

A much wiser explanation of the
posts is that SomeGuy is a diehard fan of our site (we are a really good
company, so it didn't surprise me to know we have diehard fans that know we
will take care of them). He has/does buy a ton of hookah/shisha supplies from
our store (more than me). And since he is such an amazingly knowledgeable
(knows almost as much as me) hookah guy, he has naturally found a place in our
company… Our company is dedicated to helping the world learn about hookahs and
having an expert hookah guy on board that is in touch with what you all want is
only natural for a company that really cares about what their customers want...

 

I bet SomeGuy didn't think it
right to promote to everyone he recently joined with us. I wouldn't think I
needed to tell everyone where I worked to be able to give honest opinions on
the forum. You can just ask who he is if you are so concerned about that.

 

The simplest way to satisfy your
curiosity was to have posted:

 

>>>>>>"Dear
SomeGuy, Do you work for Hookah-Shisha.com?"

 

Instead of posting the un-fair
statement:

 

>>>>>> "I
hate the feeling when I know someone is trying to con me"

 

Or another, such as:

>>>>> "There is no reason to pollute this
wonderful venue with thinly vialed advertising tactics that done by attacking
the products other companies carry."

 

I suppose this is in reference to
SomeGuy's previous post of:

"Stay away from those " Pumpkin Pipes " I
call em' (the middle picture) The base is too small and water runs up into the
hoses rusting them instantly, that’s why [u]WE DON'T CARRY THEM @ H-S(www.hookah-shisha.com)[/u]"

 

Notice, that SomeGuy never once
has attacked another company or said anything bad about another company, just
the product.

 

Well, you know what, that comment
about that pumpkin hookah is 100% true. I would stay away from them. The bases
are too small (in my expert, and evidently SomeGuy's expert)
opinion/experience. However, SomeGuy also failed to mention that when passing
the hose around, it tips and knocks the hookah over (even with water in the
base) because it has such a light center of gravity, that the force of the hose
is enough to spin/tip the hookah. We’ve thought about carrying it. But, I will
NOT sell products that I feel will disappoint our customers. But we aren't lying
to anyone, or inserting “thinly vialed advertisements”, we are just giving our
honest answer.

 

So, please, next time, if you are
so concerned about the forum members, then lead be fair to all forum members
(try not to exclude our). Just ask: "SomeGuy, do you work for
Hookah-Shisha.com?" If he was a liar, he would say, "no" and
then you could then “call him out”. However, regretfully, you weren't very fair…
and if anything I feel embarrassed to have to post a response.



But I am kewl with things now, and
feel good that the truth is out. And I want everyone that has read the bottom
of this post to know that I thank you for your interest in the subject and
appreciate you hearing me out and reading my post. If you decide to order with
us, I assure you, you will not be disappointed and for the next couple months,
we might just give you a little something for free (on top of the 15% discount)
when you mention this post Cause it shows me that you care about learning
the truth and trust us, and we like to reward acts like that. And if you don't
know if you trust us yet, and mention it just to get the discount and free
stuff, well… Its kewl… Cause I am sure you will trust us once working with us,
and your trust is more important than any size order you could give us.

 

laters…

ronnie

 

P.S. I typically dislike
signatures, and hope you won't force me to put in a signature… it feels more
social/personable/real this way… But, I will if it will make you all (excluding
certain competitors) happy... I personally thought SomeGuy’s taglines and
verbage were more than enough to give the impression that he works with us, and
if it really bothered me, I would have asked…

 



 

[dikydave]

really dont think it was neccessary to attack Ali just because he was the messenger to bring it to everyones attention.p.s. you cant buy me

[Joseph]

It seems like everyone is making much ado about nothing.  This fourm is (somewhat) anonymous, so I read every review thinking "is this an ad?" unless it is from a poster who has a long history.  SomeGuy seemed to be quite clear about who he worked for though, if he said "we don't carry them at H-S", then anyone should understand that the poster works at H-S, and there was no trickery.  In the end, this seems like a big misunderstanding, and no one was wrong and no one was right.  Sorry for rambling.

[djnick]

regardless i hope we can just end it at that. social smoke brought up a great point making us aware that we should be careful what we read and ronnie romman stated his opinion on the matter and i think everyone should just take it however they want. Both H-S and SS are very good and popular retailers on the board and neither has the intention of hurting each others business its just good to bring awareness sometimes, all poking aside i say we just call it a day.

[DrunkenWizard]

Another 15% discount is awesome.  Although, I tried it a while back and it didn't work.

[surfpico]

See..no more "brawlin'" my little men. Everything is all better.Thanks Ronnie.

[steve07]

Hey, theres that one liner I love you for surfpico

[steve07]

Hey all I got was A 10% discount from them and a faulty hose but I'm sure they will fix the problem as they do have good customer service now looking at my bill from my last order I don't think I even got the 10% will have to do some research.

[Social Smoke]

Thanks dikydave, Lukasa, no offense taken.

I’m not going to respond in a similar fashion to Ronnie’s personal
attacks or accusations. My intentions were not to have a debate on this
issue, but there are a few points that I have to make.

“SomeGuy is a long
time customer of ours and is a diehard Hookah-shisha.com fan. AND he is
now (as of mid-April) working at Hookah-Shisha.com”

SomeGuy’s first post was on 4/10/06, making his mid-April employment
start date only a few days after his first posts? I’m fairly certain
from this post that I know exactly who SomeGuy is.

“I once owned my
own business, a hookah business actualy... Untill a narrow minded
Austin Smoking Ban affected Bars and just about everything else
(except: bingo parlers, and Semi- Privatized retirement homes)
Close a Door and Open a Window, scratch that 2 Windows!
I am goin Rooftop with my lounge! Ha ha, good luck climbing a bunch of stairs to complain about my hookah smoke - old fogies!”

He’s been known to go around saying that he was selling for or
otherwise representing H-S/Hookah Wholesalers around the Dallas area
for much longer than the past three weeks he has been an “official”
employee. Maybe it was charity toward H-S? Maybe he was on contract or
commission?

Either way, there was nothing unfair about calling him out; and there is certainly no need to make a victim of the poor guy.
It does not take a genius to realize that he was violating forum rules
with basically every post he made. I find it hard to believe that there
was no relationship between the fact that be became officially employed
by H-S only days after he joined the forum and immediately started
linking to, mentioning, plugging, or in other words spamming the forum
with H-S ads with every post

It was actually this post on a thread associated with Layalina (that
was said at the time as an official employee of H-S) and not the post
about the pumpkin hookahs that prompted me to respond:

“MMM - Saturated Red Dye Shisha, does wonders for your thyroid cancers of the world...
I recently
purchased some of this, and I have to tell yall- watch out, if only for
your health's sake. Romman is all natural by the way.”
Originally Found [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3366&PN=2"]Here:[/url]

What would your reaction be a totally unsubstantiated claim about
Romman Tobacco by either myself, a Social Smoke employee (hidden or
disclosed), or any other companies employee such as this:

“MMM – Romman, Overpriced Shisha, does wonders to empty your wallet...
I recently purchased some of this, and I have to tell yall- buy Al Waha, since both brands come in the same flavors just add some honey and glycerin and save your money. StarBuzz, Havana, or Layalina is better by the way.”

I doubt you would not take notice, and I doubt you would not respond.
 
If SomeGuy as an employee of Hookah-Shisha has information pertaining
to health risks of red dyed tobaccos you might want to share this with
the general public, your customer, and hopefully me (considering how
much red dyed tobacco I smoke). I would recommend immediately taking
off the market all red dyed or dyed tobaccos in general such as Al
Fakher, Havana, and even Nakhla Double Apple (all of which are carried
on H-S). If no such risk exists, and I have yet to hear of any (and
will continue to smoke Al Amir, Havana, Layalina, etc), then SomeGuy
should not imply groundless health risks in a brand or product carried
by other retailers.

I did not attempt to slander anyone or any company. I simply brought
attention to his comments. The truth is clear; there was no slandering
or anything cruel or malicious about trying to keep spam off the forum.
There is nothing malicious about calling something as you see it.

Had I been curious as to his affiliations I probably would have asked
if he worked for H-S. To put it simply, I was not curious, I just
wanted him to come clean and stop. I admit that initially, I was
curious to find out if he was acting without your knowledge, maybe
trying to increase sales to get commission or otherwise increase his
numbers. But I’m not curious anymore…

As far educating the world about hookahs, I doubt there is another
commercial website in the world with more write-ups and general hookah
information than Social Smoke. We were the first to write a “Hookah
101” to encompass more than just Frequently asked questions, we are
still the only company with in depth hookah, Shisha, and charcoal
guides, guides on how to light natural charcoal, how to salvage a bowl
of tobacco, etc which been on our site for years.

Interesting how the one thing SomeGuy was nice enough not
to promote was, “Hey by the way, I work for Hookah-Shisha”. And yes,
honesty should require someone to state if they work for or are
otherwise affiliated with a hookah company before they start to post
their “honest” opinions in an open forum like hookah-forum.com.

In the end, this is pretty clear cut and there is no reason to drag
this out any more. I really was not expecting this large of a response
from members of hookah-forum.com, but obviously many members either
noticed, were annoyed, or otherwise left unhappy about the comments and
actions of SomeGuy. Hopefully these types of actions will go away with
SomeGuy’s diminished presence.

Thanks for the support Hookah Forum, your support is always appreciated
and never overlooked. Because my post was not an attempt to market our
company we will not be using this thread to announce any new products,
bribing customers by increasing the Hookah Forum discount, or anything
else that would taint the purpose of our message.

Sincerely,
Ali Nadimi
Social Smoke, Inc

[steve07]

Hey maybe the email I sent them last night will get answered in less than a week this time. And the question I asked them about my bowl only gave me a temporay solution when what I wanted was a permanent sollution. Hopefully H=S will step up and have just as good customer service as you have. because both sites offer something different. Thats why I order from both.

[gunsboy]

You guys just have too much time on your hand ... I guess for a couple of guys that own hookah products you must be doing damn good to come personally to the site and discuss something like this and go into so much details.
But I did not read every word I kinda scanned through this post but it sounds like Israel/Palestine issue wiht no solution.
Let me ask you a question, for both SocialSmoke and Hookah Shisha.  Since none of you has business in Canada.  Are you interested in opening a branch here and I would for you for a comission. Canadian love hookahs and shisha would sell so easily. The stores where I live ran out of Al-Nakhla eventhough they sell them $25 for a 250 g a box. If so then just give me a buzz.  To avoid paying the US/Canada border customs twice we could order directly from source to Canada. 

[Social Smoke]

Gunsboy,
I wish I had free time on my hand... I practically live at our
warehouse. I have not had a vacation since I went Skiing in April 2003.
Hell I did not even have a weekend from Jan 15 till the middle of March
this year...

As far as Canada supply goes, the taxes in Canada make the relatively
small amount of US tax negligible. PM me directly if you would like to
discuss this in more details.

[surfpico]

[quote name='gunsboy']But I did not read every word I kinda scanned through this post but it sounds like Israel/Palestine issue wiht no solution[/quote]
hahahaa....
Really though some things just need to be let go of. Steve07, I shall make this a multi-line post, just for you.
Both sites have great customer service - so what if SomeGuy looked to hype up the products of Hookah-Shisha Central? If you don't want to listen to what he has to say, then don't. But contrary to popular belief just because one guy may have went a little too far doesn't mean the whole company needs to be bashed. Hookah-Shisha, much like Social Smoke, supports the forum and therefore it is only proper for us to support them.
As for Steve's post regarding the lack of response via email - then call them. Everytime I've contacted Hookah-Shisha Central via telephone they've promptly answered, and if not, they at least returned my phone calls in a timely manner. I got my first hookah from them and it was an immense pleasure doing business with such a "cool" company. I say "cool" because anything from Austin, Texas is super rad. If everyone now hates SomeGuy so much then they should just kick him off the forum - otherwise let it go, really. This forum is supposed to be a place to relax and talk about your everyday hookah experiences - good and bad, but not to argue over what some guy (pun intended) said in regards to products.If I wanted drama I would be living in a dorm full of crazy females, not off campus with my chihuahua. -Heather
 
P.S. I can only imagine what the responses shall be to this post...

[DizzyGuy]

[quote name='surfpico']P.S. I can only imagine what the responses shall be to this post...[/quote]I think you'll give Steve a heart attack from using more than two lines

[steve07]

Yep, I'm dead now but she is right.

[ioannisds]

[quote name='mushrat']Luksa, i have to say i think you are out of line..while Ali has not posted very often, Socail Smoke has always been a friend of this forum. They were the first to offer us a discount and Ali has always been helpful both in the forum, occasionally in the chat, and ALWAYS on the phone. Just because SS was the first to mention it doesn't make it any less valid a point, as several members have also said they'd noticed this as well. It seems that UNLIKE H-S, there is no NEED for SS to try to "tarnish" the reputation of another site to increase their business and I for one resent your accusation, and I DON'T work for SS.[/quote] I don't know what the flip is going on in this thread, but I have to agree with mushrat on this one. Social Smoke has always been GREAT to me, even when I posted a less than stellar review of some of the problems I had with the first hookah I purchased from them... they made things right for me in the end. I don't smoke a ton, and I don't order online too often, but when I do it is from them, unless they don't have the flavor or brand of shisha I want. They kick untold amounts of hookah ass, IMHO.  

[Sonthert]

I have a few opinions, here, if everyone will forgive me, for a moment.Two retailers with reputations as impresive as yours don;t need to argue, wherever the truth lies is unimportant. There are completely dishonest, scum sucking retailers out there that rip customers off on a daily basis. These are the people we should be laying into, not the other honest dealers. We will always have a few moments of competitive spirit and make ourselves look a little silly, but the jack-asses of the hookah world are the ones that really cut into our reputation as an industry...these are our enemies. I'm sure Ali and Ronnie can both agree that moreorless, both of them are more or less reputable, so lets put this baby to bed.