Just lost a customer/Letter from a lady in Maine

The Bangor Daily News ^ | 13 July 2002 | Donna George

[SheLion]

Today, I sent my son-in-law to the Maine Smoke Shop in Brewer to buy some tobacco. He is 19 years old, and is in the military. The person at the counter asked for his ID, which I can understand. When she saw it, however, she showed it to the owner, and the owner said, “That’s no good, get out of here.”

My son-in-law told me several places in Bangor will not accept his military ID. What is wrong with this town? I will ask everyone else just as I asked the owner of that shop when I called him: Do you not appreciate having your country protected by our boys?

I am from a military family. My father was retired military, and I was born in Bangor, but I am ashamed of how most of the businesses in this town act and treat their customers. This is the most unappreciative town I have ever lived in, and I have lived in many.

Our military men and women should be treated with respect, as should any customer. To tell someone to get our of their store because of their ID is an embarrassment. Do they treat all military personnel that way? Judging by the economy around here, they should be kissing their feet, for more reasons than just that they are protecting us. I informed the Maine Smoke Shop that they just lost a customer because of their attitude, and if I didn’t live here now, and need some of the other stores around here, I would tell them the same.

Donna George

Carmel

[SheLion]

So, now even the MILITARY ID isn't good in the Republic of Maine..........

[SheLion]

Oh! But the Republic of Maine taxes my husbands military retirement! They sure know when to GRAB THOSE TAXES, though, don't they!

[LibKill]

As my old drill instructors used to say, "That's mighty effing humble!".

Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who put their lives on the line for us.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hmmm... Not accepting military ID... Have your son spread the word on base, or contact someone in authority at the local baseand watch how fast that jerk's business is put on the 'Do not patronize' list... Then we'll see how long that store's policy lasts...

[Japedo]

Good post Shelion, Do you happen to have an email, snail mail, or Phone Number were as freepers can send letters of protest to this outrageous Maine Smoke Shop???

I would love to send my 2 cents worth of comments!
God bless!

[jimtorr]

I see a lot of ID cards, picture ID is required where I work. I wonder if he had one of the new military ID cards? The ones with the computer chip? I saw one for the first time a few weeks ago, and it does look odd, like it's fake.

[SheLion]

For starters, you all can send a letter to the Editor:

letters@bangordailynews.net

I will look into finding out the email of this Smoke Shop(if the ignoramous) has one.

[Owl_Eagle]

Probably just bowing to the maddening pressure not to sell tobacco to anyone who might possibly be under 18, thanks to the moronic uses of the cash from the Tobacco settlements (not that it mitigates the ignorance on the part of the shop owner).

I’m curious, in PA we have an embarrassingly stupid “Compliance Alliance” campaign to identify and fine shop owners who sell smokes to under aged people (or those without ID). Is this a national thing or just something that Pennsylvanians are subjected to (the Compliance Alliance campaign)?

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[rustbucket]

How old does one have to be to purchase cigarettes in Maine? 18? 21? Never having smoked, I don't know the answer.

Are the military IDs easy to fake? Do they have no picture? Or is it just anti-military prejudice on the part of the store owner?

[doug from upland]

Maybe he could get an ID from Mexico. Apparently in our insanity, those are going to be okay.

[SheLion]

Do any of you know the address, phone number or email address of this Smoke Shop??? The posters here really would love to have it.

As well as I!

[sweetliberty]

"Are the military IDs easy to fake? Do they have no picture?"

I don't know, but this reminded me of the time I was fired from a job...many years ago, for having a"fake" ID. I was 18 years old and the ID was a military dependent ID. It was NOT fake. Maybe some civilians just aren't familiar enough with it. It's hard to belive that there could be such extreme prejudice. I don't know why this would surprise me though, given the insanity we see all over this country, thanks to the psycho liberals.

[Japedo]

How old does one have to be to purchase cigarettes in Maine? 18? 21? Never having smoked, I don't know the answer. Are the military IDs easy to fake? Do they have no picture? Or is it just anti-military prejudice on the part of the store owner?

Smoking age is 18, Military ID's are a valid form of ID and do have Pictures. *IF the store owners thought it to be fake they could have confiscated it and called the police. The actions of this store are well beyond acceptable.I find them to be of like minded Leftist that are quickly consuming the Northeast!

[SheLion]

How old does one have to be to purchase cigarettes in Maine? 18? 21? Never having smoked, I don't know the answer.

Are the military IDs easy to fake? Do they have no picture? Or is it just anti-military prejudice on the part of the store owner?

You have to be 18 in the state of Maine to buy cigarettes.

Military ID's require a picture. Even dependents. (I would scan mine and post it here, but I'm not telling my age)heh!

It states on the top "UNITED STATES UNIFORMED SERVICES

Has the Seal of the branch of service one is in. Has your social security number. Has your signature. Has the expiration date. Has a bunch of holograms under lamination.

On the rear, it has color of hair, eyes, height, weight. It states DD Form 1173. Then states PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT.

There is NO way anyone can tamper with or change this ID in any way shape or form.

Or is it just anti-military prejudice on the part of the store owner?

IMHO - YES

[Great Dane]

Bastids.

[Illbay]

Is it possible that this guy is just kinda slow, and didn't recognize the thing, so he thought "maybe this is a sting"?

Without knowing the facts, I'd be slow to be incensed by this. It's not like he was asking for medical treatment, for goodness' sake.

[mombonn]

Maybe he could get an ID from Mexico.

Or Visa Express.

[Japedo]

Well Illbay, that's highly doubtful, beings though the STATE issues posters (that places are to hang so consumers can view it) what forms of ID's are acceptable. Passport is also acceptable, even though many people don't use it.

If this "guy" is that slow, he has no business running a business in the first place. A place called the "smoke shop"? LOL Pulezzzz

[SheLion]

Is it possible that this guy is just kinda slow, and didn't recognize the thing, so he thought "maybe this is a sting"?

I realize some people in Maine are "slow," but she stated that he went to several other places, showed his military ID and was turned away there, as well.

We have always been told if stopped by law enforcement, produce your drivers license AND your military ID.

This military ID has always been well respected throughout the US and Europe. It would take a dumb yokel not to respect an ID from the military, but in this day and age, there is a lot of "disrespect" for the military.

And they will show their "true colors" one way or another.

The Military ID has his PICTURE, his BIRTHDATE, and all the information I listed above.

I am outraged over this.

[Illbay]

Well, that might be, but some people just don't want the hassle. You can find an anti-gov rant in that someplace, I suppose.

If this "guy" is that slow, he has no business running a business in the first place.

Er, I didn't realize there was I.Q. testing required before you could open a business. You ARE anti-gov regulation aren't you?

A place called the "smoke shop"? LOL Pulezzzz

Well, that's no worse than the literally-titled "Indian Smoke Shop" in Broken Arrow, OK, where I used to live, that was a giant Teepee on the side of the road.

[vannrox]

Have you contacted the representatives and Senators in Maine?

Senator Susan Collins


Web Page: www.senate.gov/~collins/
E-mail:  Senator@collins.senate.gov

Washington Address:

The Honorable Susan Collins
United States Senate
172 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20510-1903
202-224-2523


Maine Address:

1 City Center
Portland, Maine  04101
207-780-3575

202 Harlow Street
Bangor, Maine  04401
207-945-0417

Senator Olympia Snowe


Web Page: www.senate.gov/~snowe/
E-mail: Olympia@snowe.senate.gov

Washington Address:

The Honorable Olympia Snowe
United States Senate
250 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20510-1903

Maine Address:

3 Canal Plaza
Portland, Maine  04101
207-874-0883

In Maine Dial Toll Free:
1-800-432-1599

1 Cumberland Place
Bangor, Maine  04401
207-945-0432

First District Congressman Tom Allen


Web Page:  www.house.gov/allen
E-mail:  TBA

Washington Address:

The Honorable Thomas Allen
United States House of Representatives
1630 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515
Phone:  202-225-6116
Fax:  202-225-5590

Maine Address:

234 Oxford Street
Portland, Maine  04101
207-774-5019
Fax:  207-871-0720

Second District Congressman John Baldacci


Web Page:  www.house.gov/baldacci
E-mail:  baldacci@hr.house.gov

Washington Address:

The Honorable John Baldacci
United States House of Representatives
1740 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515-1902
202-225-6306

Maine Address:

157 Main Street
Lewiston, Maine  04240
207-782-3704
Fax:  207-782-5330

P.O. Box 858
Bangor, Maine  04402-0858
207-942-5907

445 Main Street
Presque Isle, Maine  04769
207-764-1036
Fax:  207-764-1060

500 Main Street
Madawaska, Maine  04756
207-728-6160
( Open Tuesdays and Fridays )

Contacting your State Representative or State Senator


Complete information about contacting your State Representative may be found at:

www.state.me.us/legis/house/reps.htm

Complete information about contacting your State Senator may be found at:

www.state.me.us/legis/senate/senators/senators.htm

Here, you may also find information about your Senator's or Representative's voting record.  When the Legislature is in session, two toll free numbers permit you to leave messages for Senators and Representatives.  After hours, these numbers connect to answering machines.  When talking to the machine, be sure to give your name, the town/city where you live, who the message is for, and your opinion on a particular issue.  Please be as brief as possible; the machine quits taking messages when the tape is full.  Give other people a chance to express their views!

The Toll - Free Numbers are:

Senate -  1 - 800 - 423 - 6900

House of Reps -  1 - 800 - 423 - 2900

For persons with disabilities, the House TTY number is:

207 - 287 - 4469

Senate TTY number is:

207 - 287 - 1583

[Texas Mom]

How old do you have to be to buy tobacco in Maine? I think here it's 21. The owner could have been referring to his age rather then his military ID.. I was in a tobacco store here and a mother and her 15 year old daughter came in the store. The owner told the mother her daughter would have to leave. The mother looked surprised ( so did I) and asked, even if I'm here? The owner told her yes, if the anti tobacco folks walked in they could shut him down.

We have one restaurant that added a whole different area on a restaurant so he could have a smoking section. I know even with a parents permission kids can't go in that section.

[verity]

Donna George should buy her cigars elsewhere!

[SheLion]

vannrox, thanks so much for taking time to post all of that.

I have those, maybe the others do not! Thanks so much.

Donna George of Carmel, Maine, down around Bangor is the gal that wrote the above letter.

I did a ping to our people living down around Bangor, and hopefully, they will see this thread soon, and get some kind of ball rolling. Find out which smoke shop, and maybe find Donna's phone number and give her the URL to this thread.

Somebody down there needs a good swift kick in the pants.

[Tacis]

Perfect example of something I've urged before. Next time your son-in-law is in Los Angeles, have him stop at the Mexican Counsulate there and pay the $20 bucks at a nearby stand to get the necessary documents and then, pay the Mexican government official the $10 bribe necessary to get one of those ID cards that illegal aliens are using . I guarantee that places in Maine and all over the country will accept this ID card, especially in states held captive by the extreme leftists. To the ultra-liberal, crypto communists in this country, an ID card issued by the Mexican goberment is worth a lot more than a US military ID card.

[SheLion]

How old do you have to be to buy tobacco in Maine?

18

[He Rides A White Horse]

I never had trouble showing my military ID; it was as widely accepted as a VISA card fer cryin' out loud. This shop owner has ulterior motives.

[SheLion]

I never had trouble showing my military ID; it was as widely accepted as a VISA card fer cryin' out loud. This shop owner has ulterior motives.

I think your right!

[who knows what evil?]

As a former resident, I can tell you that Bangor is "Democrat Central"; from rabid anti-conservative Stephen King right on down...

[He Rides A White Horse]

When she saw it, however, she showed it to the owner, and the owner said, “That’s no good, get out of here.”

This sounds a bit, err, hostile........I'm wondering if this isn't some liberal Pali sympathizer supporting the troops........their troops.

[He Rides A White Horse]

You know......in the vein of "Let's spit on the returning Vietnam vet". That mentality.

[VOA]

Oh! But the Republic of Maine taxes my husbands military retirement!
They sure know when to GRAB THOSE TAXES, though, don't they!

Friendly suggestion:
Leave.
Move to Texas (San Antonio is loaded with military types) or Florida.

Don't stay/move to any state adjoining Massachussets.
Too many "Mass-Holes" are infiltrating those areas.

[calvin sun]

Maine Smoke Shop
407 Wilson Brewer Shoppng Cntr
Brewer, ME 04412
207-989-6971

I called this number and spoke to the actual woman who was involved in the incident. She said that she was following store policy, which was set by the owner. She gave this number for the owner, a gentleman named Mike:

207-879-4529

I called this second number, but Mike was unavailable. The person I spoke to said that he thought they DID take military IDs. I therefore asked him to clarify with Mike, and to double check with the store. I also gave him a "heads up" that this incident is on Free Republic.

[Japedo]

Well, that might be, but some people just don't want the hassle. You can find an anti-gov rant in that someplace, I suppose.

Perhaps, but why even have a SMOKE SHOP store to begin with? The people are obviously in the business to sell Smoking items. Again, I'm sure they are UP TO DATE on the State laws in Maine pertaining to SMOKING, the proper form of IDs n such.

Er, I didn't realize there was I.Q. testing required before you could open a business. You ARE anti-gov regulation aren't you?

Please point out any reference where I said as such, People have the right NOT to give him business, What I stated has nothing what so ever to do with the "gov. allowing him". More so the "PEOPLE" not supporting his Business. To answer your Question.. YES I am "Anti-Gov Regulation", It is past the point of absurd the "over-Regulation" Of the American People.

[He Rides A White Horse]

I also gave him a "heads up" that this incident is on Free Republic.

bttt

[jmax]

Shop owner should be famliar with Military I.D. Cards, as Brewer / Bangor is just up the road from Naval Air Station, Brunswick (lots of military, military dependents and military retiree's there) and Bath, home of Bath Iron Works, builders of US Navy ships. Lot of BIW workers are military retiree's AND a lot of active duty Navy men and women live in the Bath area that are assigned to the ships' pre-commissioning crew.

[Bob]

The Maine Smoke Shop is listed as having "protections/assurances" from the VRAP program (whatever that is) by Maine's Department of Environmental Protection.

Its address is listed as 123 College Avenue in Waterville.

[who knows what evil?]

She said that she was following store policy, which was set by the owner.

What was that policy? Not to sell to anyone under 21, or not to accept military ID's? This needs a little clarification.

[Bob]

Scratch my previous post. Wrong Maine Smoke Shop.

[Vermont Lt]

I am glad someone finally went to the source. We are ready to write congressmen and mayors, put the store on the "do not patronize" list. When the problem may be a lot more local than that. Lets not use a sledge hammer where a meat tenderizer will work.

I find that in most customer service issues--not all--the problem is,as the movie said, "A failure to communicate."

My guess is that some clerk was given specific instructions and she followed them. My guess is that this place is constantly being tested by the tobacco control folks, so they are very, very strict.

Lets not be so quick to jump on the small businessman.

[willyone]

You are describing the old id. The new CAC card is quite different. It is poorly designed with the digital scan area on the back obscuring information. It is not meant as id except inside the military. When the card readers are installed on base it will make things easier but will not be much use in town. It would be much better to get a Mexican consular card.

[willyone]

Bangor is a Navy friendly town. The new CAC(Common Access Card)cards are not meant for use except within the military. We even had gate guards on base not accept them when they were first issued. All information is on a chip and of little use in town.

[willyone]

I think it is Brewster not Brewer.

[MississippiMan]

Before you crucify them, be sure this is their fault. Sometimes governments impose ludicrous restrictions on what qualifies as a "valid" ID. I know this from firsthand experience; there are ID-requiring businesses in MS, for example, that can only accept a driver's license or a state-issued ID that comes from the driver's license bureau. A military ID will not suffice. I don't know that this is the case in this particular situation, but you might want to check the facts just to be sure before going off on a tangent.

MM

[pabianice]

The airline at Boston Logan Airport refused to accept as proof of identity my Navy ID last time I flew from there.

[SheLion]

As a former resident, I can tell you that Bangor is "Democrat Central"; from rabid anti-conservative Stephen King right on down...

Oh! Don't think I don't know it! Independent Governor and a house ruled by the DemocRATS. No wonder the conservatives in this state can't get ahead or have our rights protected.

[A. Morgan]

29 State House Station
101 Hospital Street
Augusta, Maine  04333-0029
Tel:   207-624-9000 ext 52119
Fax:  207-624-9186
TTY:  207-624-9105

Maine State Identification Cards

Any person who is a Maine resident, or a nonresident temporarily domiciled in the State with a mailing address in the State may apply for an official state non-driver identification card. 

State Identification Cards are issued at all motor vehicle branch offices.  The fee is $5.00. 

Please bring with you two of the following documents for identification. One must indicate your date of birth and the other must bear your written signature. 

            Drivers License                       Drivers Permit
            Driver Education Card              Social Security Card
            Passport                                Birth Certificate
            Military ID Card                       Citizenship Papers
            Military Dependent ID Card       Divorce Papers
            Certificate of Marriage              Baptismal Records
            Court Order                             School Records/Transcript (certified)
            Unemployment Card                Concealed Weapons Permit
            Adoption Papers
 

It looks like in the Great State of Maine being in the United States Military is the same as being unemployed, licensed driver, or merely being having a birth certificate.

As long elected state officals are writing laws which result in this utter disrespect for our service men and women, it is no wonder that a store owner would follow suite.

Recalling the Ken Burns Civil War series were he recounts stories soldiers from the Great State of Maine.. my eyes fill with tears, for that once Great State has lost it's way.

[OldSmaj]

Oh! But the Republic of Maine taxes my husbands military retirement!

Do they also tax the retirement pay of the state workers that have retired from the state payroll?

If not, the taxing of other retirements may be disallowed.

Here in Alabama, my military retirement cannot be taxed by the state, simply because the state does not tax retired state workers.

A court case from a few years back. Don't know all the details, but I do know that the state had to refund a few million to those that they had previously collected from.

Check it out, it may have been a precedent-setting case with application to other states.

[gorush]

They're lucky that they don't live in Madison, Wisconsin...he'd have been imprisoned as a subversive. :{)

[SheLion]

Friendly suggestion: Leave.

Move to Texas (San Antonio is loaded with military types) or Florida.

Bless you! However......we came up here for Loring Air Force Base in 1983. Bought a home in 1984. I landed a job with SATO, a government travel agency for TDY's and PCS moves. I worked there 8 years, right up until the base closed on September 30, 1994.

Hubby retired from the military in 1992, but went back to work on Loring as a civilian. When the base closed, a Government Finance Agency moved in. He was really lucky to land a job there as an accountant for the government.

We are pretty well dug in here, and he is just working so he can retire for good! So, at this stage in our lives, we just want to pass on through with some peace.

But........they say hind sight is 50-50. If we had known back then what we know now, you can bet we would never have settled way up here at the top of Maine.

When we first came to Maine back in 1983, we had a Republican Governor, and taxes were pretty fair. But over the years, the lawmakers became more and more liberal, and now since King has been Governor, taxes have gone through the roof, he has allowed a LOT of pet programs for the DemocRATS, and the whole government has gone to hell.

At least, living this far north, we should be pretty safe from terrorists, though. Nothing UP here. hehe! Unless they want to blow up potato fields. LOL!

Now my moto is: "It's their world, I'm just passing through." :(