B&M Guilt?

[BenvolioMustDie]

I wish I had the luxury of choice....

I'm limited to retailers who can ship internationally and are willing to get "creative" with customs declarations. The duties and taxes here in the UK mean there are very few B&M tobacco shops and the ones we do have are extremely expensive, a 10-ct box of Epicure Especials is about $300 and I think nearly 75% of that is tax and duty. I feel for them because its not even about supporting local businesses, you're just lining government coffers.

So it's a no-brainer really, online all the way.

 

[jritman77]

Since we're on the topic of guilt, the more interesting question is if the B&M sold you the cigars without collecting the tax similar to the online retail shop, would you start going to the B&M all the time?

I dont think I would.. I might shop at a B&M more often... but.. I would still likely purchase online quite a bit... In addition to the better pricing I can almost always find online.. I like the convienience as well... I dont have to get up and go anywhere.. I can take a 2 minute break from work, hit the emerson/atlantic/federal/CI/famous/etc website.. make my order.. and be back to business as usual in less time than it would take me to walk outside to the truck and put the keys in it...

Ive gotten in the habit over the past few years of buying a large percentage of all the things I purchase online.... not just cigars..

It's like 8%in philadelphia. The tobacco tax each state charges is included in the price, then a separate sales tax. In Vegas, since the tobacco tax is high, a cigar that is normally 20 bucks retails for like 35. That's why I buy at Holts, either online or in the store because they have great prices because of their relationships with the manufacturers and the pa tobacco tax is low. holts owns Ashton, LA aroma DE Cuba, San Cristobal, and has tatuaje and rocky patel make a house blend for them. This means that they have a direct relationship with the Pepins, Fuentes, and rocky, giving them the ability to sell them less than anywhere else. This is why I have no BM guilt versus online, because I only deal with Holts. If others are not able to get such great pricing from their local BM then I would look online to places like CI, which has an operation in PA and benefits from the low tobacco tax, or Emerson, which benefits from VA low taxes. I would order online without guilt. Why should we pay more in taxes, that don't help the local shop owner but give more of our money to the government. If I go in a BM I do always buy a stick if I plan to smoke there.

Plus PA taxes are fairly cheap.

Unless things have changed in PA in the last 5 years, the tax on cigars is just the sales tax... For the Philly area that was 6% the last time I was there... If I had access to a B&M in PA, I don't know why I would ever order anything online... unless its an store released LE.

Since we're on the topic of guilt, the more interesting question is if the B&M sold you the cigars without collecting the tax similar to the online retail shop, would you start going to the B&M all the time?

I rarely buy cigars online if I can find it at a local B&M or a B&M that I visit when I travel. I prefer knowing how the cigars are stored prior to purchasing them. If I would buy from an online retailer, I would be very selective. Plus, when a HTF stick is sold, I know that the B&Ms will likely sell me a cigar since they know me as a good customer. The internet seems a bit impersonal. I feel guilty just contemplating the idea of buying cigars online... thanks.

 

[jcolan1]

I don't feel any guilt about buying online. When I'm shopping online, it is usually because there is either a deal/promotion going on or is for selections that my local B&M does not carry. I pay tax at the B&M, but shipping (unless I have a code) when buying online, so for single sticks I prefer the B&M if the carry what I'm looking for.

The interations with the staff and my the B&M's have been mixed. At the shop I frequent most often, the staff for the most part has been very helpful, great at making recommendations, and will just shoot the shit with me, however their is one guy who follows me throughout the store and comments on everything I look at. I'm not sure if he is just unknowingly overbearing, of if he thinks I don't know what I'm doing because I'm younger than most of the people that I see in there. Either way it kind of kills my experience when he's there.

The same B&M has another location about the same distance from me as the other. I recently tried that one and had a great experience, so I will likely start heading to that one more often.

 

[kkipp9]

My local B&M is Cigars International in Hamburg, PA. I have not really expanded to looking for any other ones. I know there are none that are within an hour drive so I head down there. I have been treated well so far. They offer a 10% military discount in the store. Online you have to do a call in order to get the discount. That is what they told me at the store. I have not ordered online in a few months though. I have noticed what others have that most of the B&M's that I have gone to are way over-priced. I am a victim of the retail system.

 

[marshall9779]

I don't feel any guilt about buying online. When I'm shopping online, it is usually because there is either a deal/promotion going on or is for selections that my local B&M does not carry. I pay tax at the B&M, but shipping (unless I have a code) when buying online, so for single sticks I prefer the B&M if the carry what I'm looking for.

The interations with the staff and my the B&M's have been mixed. At the shop I frequent most often, the staff for the most part has been very helpful, great at making recommendations, and will just shoot the shit with me, however their is one guy who follows me throughout the store and comments on everything I look at. I'm not sure if he is just unknowingly overbearing, of if he thinks I don't know what I'm doing because I'm younger than most of the people that I see in there. Either way it kind of kills my experience when he's there.

The same B&M has another location about the same distance from me as the other. I recently tried that one and had a great experience, so I will likely start heading to that one more often.

I believe I know who you are talking about with the guy following you if it's at the Shady grove location.

I do pretty much the same as most, singles at my B&M and 5vers and stuff online.

 

[c.ortiz108]

I feel guilt about the one I likes, yeah, and hope they'll stay in business...(two are just so elitist and overpriced). But I can't justify paying sometimes 50-75% more than online. I'll buy the occasional single, though. Same with book shops - I used to spend hours in them browsing, but if they're selling something for $30 i can get on Amazon for $7.99, forget it.

On the flipside, I read that if CVS stopped selling cigars a few years ago, small companies like Avanti would have folded. But now they have a large enough internet clientele to keep them going.

 

[LikeAPuma]

I feel guilt about the one I likes, yeah, and hope they'll stay in business

That's what it is. This new shop was re-opened in April by the new owner. The last place was a dump..
Dirty, terrible selection, chairs that I could find on the side of the road... And the owner would rather be left in silence.

The new owner is constantly cleaning, has a filled walk-in, got new seating that I wouldn't worry about contracting fleas from, & is a pleasure to talk with.

Makes me want to see them succeed! But if I bought all my sticks there's, I'd be lucky to smoke one or two a week lol. I really do like the idea of buying accessories there though, & singles... With hopefully more lounge time this winter

 

[mdwest]

On the flipside, I read that if CVS stopped selling cigars a few years ago, small companies like Avanti would have folded. But now they have a large enough internet clientele to keep them going.

Good thing they got their internet client base established when they did since CVS has all tobacco products on 75% clearance now.. and will no longer be carrying anything pipe, cigar, or cigarette related once their current inventory is gone

LOVE the bargains I picked up at CVS a few days ago! Not sure when Im going to find another MM pipe for less than $2.. or a can of butane for less than $0.50 next

 

[KcJason1]

The big online retailers dont have a lounge you can smoke in.. Support the local guys!

 

[plumber1965]

My local's don't have a ;ounge we can smoke in. Damn state laws. but still try to support them.

 

[mdwest]

The big online retailers dont have a lounge you can smoke in.. Support the local guys!

Actually... Most of them do... You just have to be local to it

 

[YodisMatt]

I can be a bargain shopper at times, like the best of us, but I like supporting my local. Other than buying from individuals, I haven't really purchased anything online in quite some time. I totally understand where you're coming from, and I am sure they do as well. But as you seem to already have built a good rapport with your local, it will sometimes lead to "deals". They will show appreciation for your loyalty in more than just discounts at times. Inside info on releases, when shipments will be in, notified of new stock with first dibs and such. I think it is worth it for sure.

 

[Trackmyer]

I buy mainly online, but do make B&M purchases. On rare times I will buy a box if the price is decent with my discount.

Overall though, our NY taxes coupled with B&M overhead just make single sticks prices much higher than online.

A buck or so doesn't sway me. But a $6 stick selling for almost double or more is always a no from me.

 

[Fia]

Don't know about guilt, I like to help the local guy out. It's a very nice, comfortable place, so I'll go in and buy a couple of sticks, smoke the ones I bring and then stash away or gift out those that I bought.

oh and taxes here in CA, I believe are about 63%

CA taxes are 31%. They slightly change every year but last I heard is around 31%. Hawaii is 50%

 

[jrtaster]

Here on Cape Cod, the nearest B&M, is in Hyannis, about an hour away in summer traffic. Even if it were closer, doubt I would frequent it and probably would buy only what I'd smoke there, maybe
a few more singles to bring home. Retail prices, including high MA taxes, are stiff!
Before retiring here, my "B&M" was JR's in Whippany. The bar, "grill," and smoking areas were clean, quiet and comfortable. Retail prices, due to stiff NJ tobacco and sales tax, were quite a bit higher than
JR's online prices. Nonetheless, I would often shop there for singles and for in-store promotions and "gift sets." Their retail prices on a limited selection of spirits were competitive, as were those on smoking accessories, an odd selection of garments/clothing and women's fragrances. Even when buying just a few sticks, my other purchases could still be taken as "supporting" the B&M as a whole.
Someone running a local shop would surely be aware of factors like taxes and online competition; he would then emphasize his own unique competitive advantages (location, smoking lounge, personalized attention, selection or whatever) as part of his business model. The customers would either support the shop or not..."guilt" would largely be irrelevant IMO, as a factor on whether or to what extent the shop deserved my custom.
Just my humble viewpoint.

 

[c.ortiz108]

The big online retailers dont have a lounge you can smoke in.. Support the local guys!

I'd love to....! But they charge $100 a month to use it!

 

[Undercrown509]

I buy 99% of my cigars from my b&m. They have great prices, I can smoke there..usually do on Fridays with a group of friends. They only serve coffees, pop and smoothies cuz they are on a dry Indian reservation. But they have at least one event a month. Great place for Yakima. It's been there since the 1960's. Believe it or not but Lil Brown Smoke Shack is one of the largest tobacco sellers in the country. I keep telling the owner to get on here as a sponser.

 

[JuzCallMeDee]

i def feel guilty sometimes but i go for the convos and fellowship there. They also carry a line of cigars i cant find online.

 

[SailorAg]

With perhaps the exception of Famous and CI, all of the online tobacco retailers are small businesses, just like your local B&M. These days, a B&M has to offer something the online guys can't, fellowship. We all need to a place to smoke with other fans of the leaf, sample singles and enjoy vendor events.

 

[StocktonJohn]

I try to buy most everything from Tower Cigars, which is my best local B&M. Great people and great prices for California. Mark was the first person to introduce me to high quality boutique cigars and I've never forgotten it.