Guilt over a discount?

[TheFoosh]

Ok so I am fairly new to the brotherhood, and I've been on a tour of cigars over the last few weeks. I am about to get my bonus from work and decided I wanted to get my first box of cigars as a gift to myself. I go to my local B&M twice a week and buy a cigar or two and smoke it. However Spec's (the liquor retailer of texas basically) also has a humidor and they have the same box for what will be 20 bucks less....

Should I feel bad if I don't buy from my B&M on this one?

 

[mmchugh84]

No...I wouldnt.....you could see if your bm will price match though...dont see why they wouldnt...

 

[stukibuilt]

Are you going to stop buying at the B&M all together? If not I don't see the issue. You're not married to your local. You can take advantage of other deals. Your B&M is likely making more on your consistent single purchases (and drink purchases, etc.) than they would selling you one box. Look online, you might find it cheaper still... I support my local B&M. Hell, I spent a grip there today. If they don't have something I want, I'm going to buy it somewhere else. If there is a significant sale somewhere, I'm probably going to take it. Just me though...

 

[Senor Perfecto]

If you can show your B&M the price, and your B&M is still making any kind of profit after that, they will price match or they are dumb. No guarantee they're making more than $20 a box in profit I suppose (I know margins are thin) but give it a shot. It's not disrespectful, and I'm sure they will appreciate your giving them the opportunity to remain your sole provider.

Alternately, they may just offer you a different, better box, for the same price, because they have a better margin on it. Guy like you? They'd be crazy not to try to form a relationship. That's the lifeblood of local places.

Enjoy that bonus, Brother!

 

[StogieNinja]

A couple of alternative suggestions that don't at all address your original question:

Don't put the cart before the horse... are you set up to maintain a box of cigars? Additionally, if you're new to cigars, I might recommend putting off that box purchase and spending the money on various singles or samplers to further widen your horizons before you commit to an entire box of anything.

If you're committed to spending some cash on cigars from your bonus, might I alternately suggest you put the money towards a nice setup. Maybe a small coolidor with custom trays from wineadors.com, or maybe a high-quality desktop humidor?

 

[dharbolt]

Don't be silly, It's your money spend it where you wish, if your b&m will price match awesome, if not well save your 20 bucks for a few beers while you smoke one of your new sticks in their lounge. Problem solved.

 

[Cigary43]

Understand that cigars are something YOU enjoy and will enjoy for years to come and that means you will be purchasing them for years to come. Do you buy everything from only one source or do you spend your money where you want? You can contact your local B&M and ask them if they want to be your only source if they will price match....that's a big deal and if the B&M says they will then you have got yourself the perfect Vendor...if they don't agree then why would you feel guilty?

 

[SmokinNukie]

1. Don't feel guilty about where you spend your money.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for the price match or a discount from your B&M. In my experience, most discount 10-20% without too much effort on your part, especially if you aren't trying to buy a hard to find cigar.

3. Enjoy your choice on your first box!

4. Life's too short to smoke bad cigars, so make sure that you've picked a real winner.

 

[averagejoe]

Thanks to the OP for posting this, I was thinking about this the other day!

Like others have mentioned, give'em a shot to match or give you a deal on something else first. If not I'd shop online, you can probably get a better deal.

 

[Deathskin]

hey buy where you want to. creates competition which is healthy

 

[NCost]

I think some clarity should be shed...but margins aren't as thin as most think.

Most B/M's I know keystone their sticks. So if you're buying a stick at $10, they paid $5. That $200 box is $100 to them. I know 6 B/M's in my area that all work on this model, so a $20 discount on a decent box is ~10% discount. My primary B/M gives a 10% discount on all box purchases anyway.

Think about it...that is why JR/CI/Atlantic can sell so much cheaper on most things than your B/M...they move more volume so they don't have to keystone...they can do a 50% markup and still make money.

 

[icehog3]

Most B/M's I know keystone their sticks. So if you're buying a stick at $10, they paid $20.

How do they stay in business like that? :skew:

 

[Mr.Maduro]

It's not like you are buying them and trying to smoke them at your regular B&M. No guilt, plus you support the B&M weekly. All good.

 

[Skitalets]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say buy from your local. This is your first box purchase--use it to establish some additional cred with your B&M as a customer who appreciates them. (Though I agree with the suggestion to ask how much they can do in the way of price matching.) On top of that, B&Ms where you can smoke are getting to be few and far between--if your B&M is a place where you sit and lounge, consider the $20 a contribution to the lounge side of the business.

Now, if and when you get into buying significant numbers of boxes, as some brothers do, or if the price difference really starts to pinch, consider online purchases or other ways to find a discount. But to me there's a value in a little loyalty if you really like the shop.

 

[mjohop]

Ok so I am fairly new to the brotherhood, and I've been on a tour of cigars over the last few weeks. I am about to get my bonus from work and decided I wanted to get my first box of cigars as a gift to myself. I go to my local B&M twice a week and buy a cigar or two and smoke it. However Spec's (the liquor retailer of texas basically) also has a humidor and they have the same box for what will be 20 bucks less....

Should I feel bad if I don't buy from my B&M on this one?

Honestly, I think you should see if your B&M will price match it for you. $20 is a reasonable amount.

 

[NCost]

Doh...typo.

Most B/M's I know keystone their sticks. So if you're buying a stick at $10, they paid $20.

How do they stay in business like that? :skew:

 

[Kantucky]

"Guilt" and "discount" don't fit in the same sentence. I like to give my not-so-local b&m some cash when I can. And if I'm on the road I like to swing into a random one here or there and throw a buck their way out of appreciation for what they do.

But I'd never feel guilty for buying something as cheaply as possible. Would you do it with a car purchase? Bottle of liquor? Loaf of bread?

 

[TheFoosh]

thanks for all the replies guys, I'll definitely ask them to price match. And I know I shouldn't feel guilty but to the point that its paying a bit more too keep the place open I do agree and that's why I feel a bit guilty, because in the grand scheme of things, we are talking 130 vs 150 here, so I'll give them the opportunity to price match, and if they don't then I won't feel as bad.

 

[TheFoosh]

well....talked to them, and they straight up said no pricematching so Specs here I come...

 

[averagejoe]

Terrible, oh well. Like I said before check online also, may find an even better deal.