Local B&M vs buying online?

[smokinghole]

Believe me, I wish I had a place like that around me. The place that I have been to a few times has a card table with 4 folding chairs and an ashtray in the middle. I automatically know nothing about cigars because I am in my 20's and the older gentlemen laugh when I ask about Tatuaje or Illusione... They like to point out cigars like Camacho, CAO and Fuente curly heads and laugh as they say "If you want to spend a little for a real cigar, Gurkha is the way to go.. Although its not the type of cigar to fool around with on the golf coarse.." Free lighter refills? Nope. Accessories for sale? Yes! But Xikar X2s cost around 100 bucks..
I really would love to go to a nice B&M, sit down and experience everything Wade described. Some places don't have things like that and for me, I would rather take my money elsewhere. :crytears:

What the hell store are you going to up there? I don't know how far it is for you but I would suggest El Humidor in Wilkesbarre near the Wyoming Valley Mall. It has a great lounge. Then if further north maybe in Scranton I believe there is an Atlantic Cigar up there. Other than that I don't know what to tell you other than to come to where I work.

 

[twenty5]

What the hell store are you going to up there? I don't know how far it is for you but I would suggest El Humidor in Wilkesbarre near the Wyoming Valley Mall. It has a great lounge. Then if further north maybe in Scranton I believe there is an Atlantic Cigar up there. Other than that I don't know what to tell you other than to come to where I work.

I just found out about El Humidor not too long ago. It is like 45 min from my house but not too far from where I work. I will get there over the winter.

 

[tedp]

I buy all my boxes on line ($50 - $100 per box savings) but I stop at the local B&M at least once a week to buy a couple of singles. Just another way to try new sticks. I like to patronize them. They're nice guys, sell at a reasonable price & may be the only place besides home I'll be able to smoke soon enough.

 

[hank_612]

My local B&M does not have a lounge nor do are they thinking of adding one when they move to their new location because "that will cause to many headaches" Have I had my lighters filled for me, sure when I bought all 4 or 5 of them there. Do I get good conversation? Not really it is sad when I am in there making a purchase and the manager gets a question from another customer and asks me cause she does not smoke cigars. I ask a question about a brand or such and get the well all I know is what I read in CA. I would love for there to be a b&M around me that cared about more than a purchase. I have made roughly $9000 in purchases from them this year. After seeing prices on RP's onling I would have saved $500 ish. Am I going to stop going to them no. But I wanted to see others opinion about this subject. Moro thanks for letting me know of other groups out there as I am a noob to this forum and never knew they were there. Sorry I posted a topic about such a sore subject.

Next time you are in the STL come and see me. I own the Tinder Box in Des Peres. My prices are usually less than MSRP and we carry Illusione,Cruzado,Eperney,Cubao,PDR Padron,LFD, and more. Tat we do not have because they are not opening new accounts but when they do I will open an account.
I have a full bar a lounge with a 60 inch flatscreen and comfy leather chairs. The problem is I am 3 hours away. Anyway if you are in the neighborhood I would love to meet ya.

 

[Boosted]

I buy 90% of my cigars at my local B&M. Fortunately for me, they have one of the best selections of cigars I have ever seen. They carry just about everything. Davidoff, Zino, every Padron, every Illusione product, just about every Tat line, all of DPG's stuff. They are pretty cheap too, and sales tax is only 5%. They will work with you on the price if you buy a box. They always have great events like Don Pepin this past Saturday and the Zino Platinum event a few weeks back.

On top of all that, the people that work there are very knowledegable and friendly. The lounge in the back has 2 big screen tvs, 1 leather sofa, 7 leather chairs, a couple sets of table and chairs. No wonder it's my home away from home.

 

[Cigahs]

I just found out about El Humidor not too long ago. It is like 45 min from my house but not too far from where I work. I will get there over the winter.

Say hello to Melanie for me when you stop in. I haven't seen her in a long time. Great lady.

Humberto

 

[Poriggity]

Personally, I buy singles and 5ers at my local shop, but most, if not all of my box purchases get done at out of state or online retailers. I have good relationships with a few retailers in other states, and they treat me well, so my box purchases go to them. I save a few bucks, even after paying shipping, and they make a little $ so everyone wins.
Scott

 

[VillageIdiot]

I buy 90% of my cigars at my local B&M. Fortunately for me, they have one of the best selections of cigars I have ever seen. They carry just about everything. Davidoff, Zino, every Padron, every Illusione product, just about every Tat line, all of DPG's stuff. They are pretty cheap too, and sales tax is only 5%. They will work with you on the price if you buy a box. They always have great events like Don Pepin this past Saturday and the Zino Platinum event a few weeks back.

On top of all that, the people that work there are very knowledegable and friendly. The lounge in the back has 2 big screen tvs, 1 leather sofa, 7 leather chairs, a couple sets of table and chairs. No wonder it's my home away from home.

What shop is this in B'ham? I travel there some for work. I'm always looking for a new shop to visit.

 

[RonC]

I was a very good customer of a local shop on Long Island. This was back in the days when I used to be active on Cigar Family, and collected all the "hard to get" Fuentes. This is going back to around 2000. He would get in Sungrown 858's, Original release Anejo, BTL, Hemi Maduros. His regular customers didnt even look at those cigars. So poor me, I pretty much got them all at a great price. I got myself a pretty awesome collection in a short amount of time. Anyway, he closed down, and its been hard to replace.

 

[ahbroody]

It is no secret that online retailers generally are cheaper than B&M stores. I have a huge disadvantage with my high state tobacco tax and cannot compete with online shops in low or no tax states.
Before I had the shop I did buy from local only just for the sake of building relationships and supporting local business. With that, there are some guys that do not have a good local shop to buy from so I get the online habit completely.

I try to support my local B&M. Here in Cali were in the same boat Drac. 40% tobacco tax 9% sales tax. Example our dracs will be 20 a stick. I usually buy singles and good stuff at the B&M. Bundels online for smoking at work and at home. I try to go to the B&M three times a week and buy a stick. Its tough now though with 3 little kids in the house and a mortgage. Its horrible but for many of us CCs are so cheap because of how badly we are taxed in our state. As a result I have been buying more CC lately.

 

[tsimonitis]

Believe me, I wish I had a place like that around me. The place that I have been to a few times has a card table with 4 folding chairs and an ashtray in the middle. I automatically know nothing about cigars because I am in my 20's and the older gentlemen laugh when I ask about Tatuaje or Illusione... They like to point out cigars like Camacho, CAO and Fuente curly heads and laugh as they say "If you want to spend a little for a real cigar, Gurkha is the way to go.. Although its not the type of cigar to fool around with on the golf coarse.." Free lighter refills? Nope. Accessories for sale? Yes! But Xikar X2s cost around 100 bucks..
I really would love to go to a nice B&M, sit down and experience everything Wade described. Some places don't have things like that and for me, I would rather take my money elsewhere. :crytears:

I am lucky in this regard. When I started smoking in my early twenties the owner of the local shop was awesome. He would sit and talk to me and answer any questions I had. He would always throw me an extra cigar and say "Try this one too". Really helped me get more and more into cigars. Unfortunately he shut down. Now I'm still trying to find a good spot to go to.
None so far within 30 minutes and with a 1 1/2 year old time is no longer in abundance. It is just easier now for me to order online.

PS What does B&M stand for?

 

[tedski]

B&M = Brick + Mortar

 

[tedski]

I was a very good customer of a local shop on Long Island. This was back in the days when I used to be active on Cigar Family, and collected all the "hard to get" Fuentes. This is going back to around 2000. He would get in Sungrown 858's, Original release Anejo, BTL, Hemi Maduros. His regular customers didnt even look at those cigars. So poor me, I pretty much got them all at a great price. I got myself a pretty awesome collection in a short amount of time. Anyway, he closed down, and its been hard to replace.

This is sort of my story as well ... but a few years further back (1995-1998). Then Calif voters began passing the first of several tobacco tax laws which basically doubled / tripled the price of cigars and put many shops out of business.

I've been buying online ever since ...

 

[Liteumup]

When I was in college I lived on the Est side of Providence...........Amazing shops, great friends, a new event at least once a week...............Monday night football - oh how I miss Monday night football at my local shop. Here in Maine the closest place I can go to get a quality cigar is at least 45 minutes away............Zero atmosphere. Im pushing hard to get some varience changes and im hoping, at the very least, to have a lounge open up in my county within the year. Which I know will do well!

 

[ealfotd]

My local B&M opened an "annex" in a town a few miles south of me and I stopped in this morning since I happened to be in town. I was hoping they had some Tatuajes but no such luck. This annex also has a liquor license so they had a good selection of beers and liquors down there as well as some "man gifts". Apparently they're going to be doing beer and liquor tastings down there (The grand opening is going to feature Glenmorangie (I'll have to reserve a cab)). Picked up about 10 single cigars that I haven't tried yet. I love that place (she's even trying to find the rum that I love for me).

 

[Boosted]

What shop is this in B'ham? I travel there some for work. I'm always looking for a new shop to visit.

The one I go to the most is Cigars N More on Hwy 280. They have another shop located in Trussville near the I-459/I-59 interchange. The 280 store is the shop where they carry Davidoff, Zino Platinum Crown, and WC. If you ever swing on through here, contact me.

 

[tmoney2007]

The one I go to the most is Cigars N More on Hwy 280. They have another shop located in Trussville near the I-459/I-59 interchange. The 280 store is the shop where they carry Davidoff, Zino Platinum Crown, and WC. If you ever swing on through here, contact me.

I'm pretty sure I've been to that Cigars N More... Aren't there 2 in Birmingham?

 

[Boosted]

I'm pretty sure I've been to that Cigars N More... Aren't there 2 in Birmingham?

Yeah, they have two shops. The one on Hwy 280, and the other store in Trussville.

 

[tmoney2007]

I went to the one on 280, I think.

There was a lobby area then the humidor was in the middle and the lounge was in the back? Nice guys there :applause:

 

[Boosted]

I went to the one on 280, I think.

There was a lobby area then the humidor was in the middle and the lounge was in the back? Nice guys there :applause:

You're right, the people there are fantastic. Their setup reminds so much of the B&M I used to frequent when I lived in SoCal. I was so worried when I moved back from Socal to Bama that I would never find that kind of B&M again. It's damn near impossible to find a quality, local smoke shop.

The setup is kinda similar at both stores. The Trussville store has kind of an L-shaped lounge in the back. The 280 store is a more traditional room setup.