+1 on the propane. I have to smoke outside and I have a single burner heater that attaches to a propane tank that is great for smoking in the winter. Would gladly pay a reasonable fee to a lounge but we don't even have a decent b&m within an hour drive.danthebugman said:
B&M Lounge Fees
- Thread starter JimmyC
- Start date
Im surprised to see how lenient some shops are. Here in the northeast if a guy came into a shop with a cigar he didnt buy there he would get kicked out in a heartbeat. With the way taxes are up here there is no room for those actions to fly.
I guess that makes sense. While reading this thread and thinking about B&Ms in Hawaii it almost make sense that an owner would have to in the very least enforce a no outside cigar policy. Lease rates are extremely high here. If a shop was going to commit square footage to a lounge, that space has to generate revenue.
I am sure they will be using some sort of key cards or dongles to get in which if something does go South you will know who keyed themselves in at that time. If a member quits and doesn't hand his key in you can shut just that one persons key down without effecting the rest. You can also make it so certain members do not have access after certain times too. Add a couple security cameras and be a little smart about who you allow to join and it probably won't be too bad. I personally would put new guys on a probation where they do not have 24 hours access until xxx amount of time until the owner and other members get to know them and make sure they will not be an problem.
We used these types of keys in my old Firehouse and they worked great. If guys were put on a suspension they couldn't even get into the Firehouse unless someone else let them in which never happened. If anything did go awry they knew who had entered the Firehouse at the time in question and everyone who was there at the time got blamed until the guilty party stepped up which didn't take long usually.
My B/M is only smoke what you buy here type of shop. I follow their rules but will bring my own stick if I bought it there. I'm such a regular they know I'm good for it. Hell, I even work a couple days a week from their lounge.
We have a pretty lenient lounge policy. Most of our customers know how I feel. It's no big deal to smoke a cigar purchased elsewhere just do the right thing and buy a stick. I own 4 B&M's and I always buy a stick when I visit another shop and I expect my employee's to do the same (I'll cover the purchase).
As far as bring in a CI catalog now that's my hot button. If you choose to support a company that answers to shareholders, pushes swill, and rub it my nose in it... You have no place in my lounges. Last I knew CI's catalog didn't provide the consumer a great place to hang out with friends and watch a game.
Long story short, support a B&M. Just my 2 cents
As far as bring in a CI catalog now that's my hot button. If you choose to support a company that answers to shareholders, pushes swill, and rub it my nose in it... You have no place in my lounges. Last I knew CI's catalog didn't provide the consumer a great place to hang out with friends and watch a game.
Long story short, support a B&M. Just my 2 cents
Last edited:
thejavaman
BoM December 2012
Can you explain what you mean by that? Being the newbie cigar smoker that I am, I've made several purchases from CI (I spend the vast majority of my cigar budget at my local B&M though). Are CI's cigars subpar? Is there another online retailer that sells better cigars at still reasonable prices? Not calling you out, I genuinely want to know...
In our area we have a mix. The big chain stores have lounges and require you to purchase a stick or rent a locker. ($250 a year for one I think) Most don't have tv's but do provide wi-fi. The nicest lounge is downto-- ahem excuse me.. "in center city" (gotta use the right charlotte buzzwords) and is a cigar bar. It has a 5 dollar cutting fee, or sticks for sale if you don't bring your own. There is also a club that has 2 locations. They have 3 membership levels that I know of, each one gets you more access to stuff. (larger lockers, annual parties, early access at events). It's also BYOB and there are restaurants that will deliver food to the lounge.
Now to your question about paying. To me, the club doesn't offer any benefit for the 60 bucks a month (lowest price) to use their facility. Some B&Ms actually have nicer lounges. I think requiring the purchase of a stick or paying a modest cutting fee should suffice.
Now to your question about paying. To me, the club doesn't offer any benefit for the 60 bucks a month (lowest price) to use their facility. Some B&Ms actually have nicer lounges. I think requiring the purchase of a stick or paying a modest cutting fee should suffice.
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2011
- Messages
- 77
There's one that I frequent in TX that charges 60-65/year, and then gives you 10% off anything else for that year. It more than pays for itself, and ensures that the people who smoke there usually buy there, too. Not to mention the lounge is really nice, clean, well ventilated, has amazingly comfortable leather sectionals (2 horseshoe shaped back to back) and two 40-50 inch flat screens. It's really nice to go to after a stressful day on the road and I'm happy to support a SBO.
BradMc
<b>Charity Liaison</b><br>BoM September 07
I have been to a couple shops that will charge a cut fee if you bring your own cigars or buy there smokes.... I look at it like this, Buying a Cigar from a B&M helps keep it open for yourself and other to enjoy....I still order lots of cigars online and always have a few with me, but I will support my local shop, I go to the local B&M about 3 or 4 times a week..... It is worth it to me to go relax, enjoy the smoke.......
I have been to alot of different states and none of the charged any fees. In fact one I went to in Mississippi gave me free coffee and a beer. Some of them I did buy a cigar while I was there but not all of them. Even so I am not sure why they would charge a cover charge just to smoke unless they had a band or something.
I've seen the gamut.
The one I am considering joining is $75/M
Stocked bar that the members bring, 2 LCDs in the main lounge with big chairs, and a poker table, a kitchen, and a separate room with PS3 and XBOX, and a separate walk up computer with fax machine.
The one I am considering joining is $75/M
Stocked bar that the members bring, 2 LCDs in the main lounge with big chairs, and a poker table, a kitchen, and a separate room with PS3 and XBOX, and a separate walk up computer with fax machine.
Very common in the Phoenix area - mostly it gets you a locker rental and access to a nicer lounge than the non-members would get, as well as access to events, first offer on new products, etc.
Prices are generally $300-$750 a year. Very reasonable if you are looking to escape the Phoenix heat, have a place to store your cigars, etc.
Prices are generally $300-$750 a year. Very reasonable if you are looking to escape the Phoenix heat, have a place to store your cigars, etc.
In CA it's legal to smoke inside retail tobacco shops and "private members only lounges attached to retail tobacco shops". We charge a life-time membership fee of $1, but then take that dollar of your first tobacco purchase. If the State ever wants confirmation of our status as a Members Only lounge, we simply show them our paid membership list. We do have Cigar Club Memberships available that provide discounts, VIP Events and other special privileges too.
Bringing your own cigar into a cigar shop is like bringing food into a restaurant. You just shouldn't do it. Would you walk into a pizza restaurant, sit down and have a pizza delivered? Never...so why do that in a tobacco shop?
However, I don't have a rule forbidding it. I usually ask them what they are smoking and what they think of it. Then I say something like, "What cigar would you like to pick out and smoke next?" Usually they get the point. If they are still clueless, I'll say something like, "Most people buy a smoke from the humidor. If I don't carry something you like, (pointing at their smoke) I only ask you donate a similar stick to the house next time." :cbig:
Other shops in the region strictly forbid outside cigars and one shop even forbids you walking in with a stick you bought at the store previously! I think the quote somebody told me was, "Since you bought that cigar off the internet, go and smoke it on the internet."
As far as charging high fees to walk in the door, I'm just glad my business model doesn't require that! :innocent:
Resurrecting an old thread. I searched to see what others were doing.
My local has a non member smoking lounge and a member lounge. It's not snobby - most times (during regular shop hours) the members are hanging with non members in the non member section. I pay $300 a year to be a member. Membership gets me 10% discount on purchases, 24hr access to the lounge area, a locker, 2 big screen tv's to watch, free wifi, weekly poker nights (still need to pay to play - obviously), monthly member appreciation food spreads and deeper discounted cigars, free draft beer on tap, refrigerator, microwave, plenty if seating and bathroom access after hours.
For me it's a no brainer for all they offer with membership. I try to buy all of my cigars there because i want them to be around forever - but they don't carry all the smokes i like so sometimes I'm forced to buy elsewhere.
My local has a non member smoking lounge and a member lounge. It's not snobby - most times (during regular shop hours) the members are hanging with non members in the non member section. I pay $300 a year to be a member. Membership gets me 10% discount on purchases, 24hr access to the lounge area, a locker, 2 big screen tv's to watch, free wifi, weekly poker nights (still need to pay to play - obviously), monthly member appreciation food spreads and deeper discounted cigars, free draft beer on tap, refrigerator, microwave, plenty if seating and bathroom access after hours.
For me it's a no brainer for all they offer with membership. I try to buy all of my cigars there because i want them to be around forever - but they don't carry all the smokes i like so sometimes I'm forced to buy elsewhere.
That's an awesome deal!!!
Don't have too many that you have too pay for lounge use; but when I travel I have yet to find a place that won't let me use the lounge if I purchase in-store.
There is only one place in my area (strict smoking bans but its in a casino) it's 100 a month but there are a few cool perks and since they are the only ones that's where I can go and drink,smoke,make friends in a super nice lounge so I believe if you can justify it then its worth it.