B&M Lounge Fees

[JimmyC]

With the cold weather coming on here in Jersey smoking outdoors will come to an end soon… at least smoking comfortably! There is a local B&M that has what looks like a nice lounge, but as with most things in the Garden State its pay to play. I’m curious if that is the norm in most places.

One would think buying their cigars is payment enough to sit in their chair and enjoy a smoke without forking over a monthly fee.

Am I off base here?

 

[andy]

heard of cutting fees but not lounge fees. they must be hurting to charge for that.

 

[CigarSaint]

I've seen it before. Most place do not do that.

 

[neoflex]

Most shop lounges who charge a membership fee will usually charge you a fee to smoke in their lounge while some of those shops will give you a free pass if you spend x amount on sticks.
I have seen day pass fees range from $5 to $20. Yearly private lounge fees can range anywhere from a couple hundred to $1,000+ depending on what they have to offer. There are also shops that offer free seating in the general public area but most shops with a lounge do often charge some sort of pay to play fee.

 

[Herfin' Harg]

There's one shop here in Austin that charges a $10 fee to non-members. On the bright side, it's definitely the most comfortable lounge in town - BYOB with an extensive set of glassware, free set-ups, and they don't mind if you bring your own sticks in.

Other shops in town have memberships, but I think they only entitle you to discounts on purchases. They also frown on folks bringing their own sticks.

If it's a "members-only" atmosphere, I don't have a problem with a shop charging a fee for use of a nice lounge - and that goes double if they don't require that you buy your sticks there.

 

[bmony]

I think some shops do this to prevent people from bringing their own sticks in to smoke and not purhcasing anything. I've brough my own stick into a couple lounges before but I've always made sure to buy some cigars from them.

 

[Skitalets]

I think this can go both ways. My regular shop is free as long as you don't bring in sticks from home. I like that 80% of the time, as I enjoy having an excuse to browse and try something new. That said, if a shop can't make the numbers work out without charging a fee, I'd rather have someplace to smoke that's pay to play than no place at all. Also wish I had a backup place where I could pay but bring my own sticks.

 

[Fitze55]

I have 3 locals by me and this is the deal (go figure)....

1) Annual membership to smoke in back room.
2) If you bring a cigar with you to smoke you need to buy one or more.
3) Small lounge that you can only smoke store bought cigars in.

I go for option(store 2). Its the furthest away BUT they sell beer and wine which is a major major plus!!!

 

[WhiteWolfIndulgence]

Grants doesn't charge a fee but they do require shop purchases. Most people usually buy a few sticks.

 

[Jfire]

Casa de Fuego in Yorkville charges a one time fee of 15K. It comes with a 50inch plasma behind a 11'ft bar. A 8 person poker table with a 32 inch LCD. Also has a closet for all coats separate from the lounge itself. Has heated wood floors and a ton of extra leather seats for general theater viewing. Scheduled to open in Jan 2012. This thread is exactly why I'm building it..... I'll update the thread again, most of the walls are framed and up.

 

[andy]

r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s. for 15k, they better let me walk off with that 50inch plasma and fill my coat pockets with bhks.

Casa de Fuego in Yorkville charges a one time fee of 15K. It comes with a 50inch plasma behind a 11'ft bar. A 8 person poker table with a 32 inch LCD. Also has a closet for all coats separate from the lounge itself. Has heated wood floors and a ton of extra leather seats for general theater viewing. Scheduled to open in Jan 2012. This thread is exactly why I'm building it..... I'll update the thread again, most of the walls are framed and up.

 

[Jfire]

It's my basement cigar lounge I'm currently building and forgot to add that 15k also paid for a full downstairs bath........

 

[Cyrann]

r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s. for 15k, they better let me walk off with that 50inch plasma and fill my coat pockets with bhks.

I'm pretty sure he is talking about his basement and its a joke.

 

[andy]

thanks for pointing that out dildo

I'm pretty sure he is talking about his basement and its a joke.

 

[tsimonitis]

Casa de Fuego in Yorkville charges a one time fee of 15K. It comes with a 50inch plasma behind a 11'ft bar. A 8 person poker table with a 32 inch LCD. Also has a closet for all coats separate from the lounge itself. Has heated wood floors and a ton of extra leather seats for general theater viewing. Scheduled to open in Jan 2012. This thread is exactly why I'm building it..... I'll update the thread again, most of the walls are framed and up.

Heated wood floors? Awesome touch.

You should have an eternal butane flame to light cigars off of. :headroll:

 

[andy]

i read that way wrong.

It's my basement cigar lounge I'm currently building and forgot to add that 15k also paid for a full downstairs bath........

 

[GoingPostal]

I'd rather have someplace to smoke that's pay to play than no place at all.

Where i live there really isn't a lounge nearby love to have somewhere to go and enjoy a smoke, nearest one is 45minute drive no fee but you got to buy there, and the selection is a bit limited.
All comes down to if you feel that you're getting value for your lounge fee.

 

[The EVP]

I've seen a number of lounges charge a lounge fee if someone's not a member. It's ranged from "x" amount of purchase to $30 on top of your purchase. I've seen some lounges that have a general area that's free and a member's area that has a bit nicer accommodations.

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, some lounges do this to prevent people from bringing in their own sticks and using the lounge for free. Most cigar stores don't make much, if any, profit and they gotta make ends meet somehow. It's either charge to use the lounge for non-members or raise prices.

I'd rather pay to use the lounge as it's an option. Don't have a choice when prices go up on cigars.

 

[thebayratt]

The shop I frequent the most has a super swanky lounge and it goes for $800 a month for a basic 24hr access. Up to about $1500 for all kinds of perks and such. Neither price is feesable for me.

There is a B&M/liquor/beer store by me that has a new smoking area. I've bben to it once and was nice and free. They since then have said they are thinking about going to $120 a year. But you get free beer and spirits when you come in im thinking.

 

[lbowles2]

Theres one not too far away from Topeka that charges a yearly membership fee or it's $10/day for own smokes and $5/day if you buy a cigar from them. Very nice lounge.