I was in Cigar.com's Cigar of the Month ("COM") club for a year, from Dec 2010 to Dec 2011 for a total of 13 shipments. I emailed them to cancel and included the following letter to provide some feedback and posted it to BOTL at the same time.
Cigar.com COM Club:
Well, it's been a year and I've learned a lot; but I think it's time to bid farewell to the Cigar of the Month club. Please accept this email as cancellation of my Cigar of the Month club membership effective immediately.
Some feedback:
PROS:
I got some cigars I normally wouldn't even try out which was a nice change of pace.
The newsletter is a great addition, and I like learning about the sticks being selected. It is very, very well written.
Over the course of the year there were a few months that a bonus was included; I recall a couple of extra sticks, and a cutter once which is very nice and unexpected. {Ive since reviewed my newsletters and found I received 5 extra sticks and 1 cutter over the year.}
$29.95/month is a fair price for the sticks and especially for the newsletter.
CONS:
Not enough sticks from different makers. Gurkha, Cohiba, and a few others seem to be on constant rotation. Once I received the same Gurkha cigar twice in 3 months.
The COM doesnt seem to support the catalog and vice versa. There were several times that your catalog "cover story" touted a stick that I would be interested to try, but then the COM was the same old, same old.
No new releases. I can understand limited stock initially, so the COM isnt the newest thing, but I would hope in a couple of months then the new sticks get into rotation.
Please dont misunderstand me; I am not expecting limited edition $20+ cigars in the COM. The cover story stick Im referencing is selling for ~$2, and the new release Ive mentioned is ~$4. I dont expect $60 worth of cigars for my $30/month price.
Same sizes. Most of the sticks are Churchills which I can see some people liking, feeling they are getting more stick for the money, so this is really a personal preference. I don't often have time to smoke a Churchill size and (like many smokers I think) smoke outside, so if the weather isn't great you are fighting for 2+ hours trying to enjoy your new cigar. Some different sizes and especially different vitolas would be a great addition. Maybe Churchills in the summer, Robustos in winter?
$3.95/month s&h is a real drag. Other clubs give you free s&h after the first month. $4 may not seem like a lot, but it takes a fair price and pushes it to the point where Im thinking of spending my money elsewhere.
Ive been with the club for just over a year now; there was no anniversary acknowledgement, bonus, extra coupon for the catalog, nothing. You sent me a coupon for my birthday (the same 10% I was getting off for the COM club and they wouldnt stack) but it was the thought that counts.
Final thoughts:
The 10% off other orders is a nice bonus....if you have the sticks I want to order. You have been "on order" since one of my favorites (I tried at a local B&M) came out, I was hoping to buy a box but I can't keep paying $34 per month to save $14 on a box that you haven't gotten in for months.
Your customer service is GREAT. I cannot say enough about the people who I've spoken with over the phone and corresponded with in email. Every single person was professional and really seemed to like and care about what they were doing.
Thanks for everything!
Sincerely,
Monsterdg
