CBid vs the others....

[Rupe]

As long as you stick with stuff that you know and REALLY want to buy you can get some pretty sweet deals. Lately I have picked up some boxes and fivers of stuff for less than half of what I could have gotten it elsewhere. I have had to train myself to stay away from the off brands and other things that look like a great deal though. Unless I have tried them and like them I will no longer bid since 9 times out of 10 they end up being dog rockets.

I have bought more than my share of name brand cigars at excellent prices while living by these two rules:

1. I always research pricing for what I am bidding on first using multiple sites to determine how much I am going to bid.

2. When I place my bid I set a max bid that is the most I am willing to pay and then walk away. If I get outbid, so be it. There will always be another box or fiver for sale. If the price is consistently past the point of being a deal (generally Padrons, Fuentes and Ligas) I make my purchase from Atlantic, Famous or one of the other site sponsors.

Living by these 2 rules has helped me stay away from the stupid purchases I made for dog rockets when I first stared using Cbid. (think Garo, Sosa and Bahia)

Only problem I had with cbid was remembering to account for shipping that was added for every item, no matter what the size. A large cbid order could end up costing you $20+ in shipping charges with their actual shipping only costing them around $8

This is actually not correct. if you buy 7 items (for instance) they will charge you the assigned shipping charge for the most expensive item in the order and then add an incremental charge for each item above and beyond that. The information below is copied and pasted from the Cbid site.

Shipping Cost of Additional Units - Instead of paying individual shipping charges for each product, multiple items shipped to the same address won during the same shipping period (either DAILY or WEEKLY), only the greater of the shipping charges apply, plus an amount for each additional item:

•Singles Category: $0.25
•5-Packs Category: $0.50
•Boxes Category: $1.00
•Merchandise Category: $1.00
•Samplers Category: $1.00
•Free Fall Category: $1.00
•All Others: $1.00

 

[ChefBoyRG54]

As long as you stick with stuff that you know and REALLY want to buy you can get some pretty sweet deals. Lately I have picked up some boxes and fivers of stuff for less than half of what I could have gotten it elsewhere. I have had to train myself to stay away from the off brands and other things that look like a great deal though. Unless I have tried them and like them I will no longer bid since 9 times out of 10 they end up being dog rockets.

I have bought more than my share of name brand cigars at excellent prices while living by these two rules:

1. I always research pricing for what I am bidding on first using multiple sites to determine how much I am going to bid.

2. When I place my bid I set a max bid that is the most I am willing to pay and then walk away. If I get outbid, so be it. There will always be another box or fiver for sale. If the price is consistently past the point of being a deal (generally Padrons, Fuentes and Ligas) I make my purchase from Atlantic, Famous or one of the other site sponsors.

Living by these 2 rules has helped me stay away from the stupid purchases I made for dog rockets when I first stared using Cbid. (think Garo, Sosa and Bahia)

Only problem I had with cbid was remembering to account for shipping that was added for every item, no matter what the size. A large cbid order could end up costing you $20+ in shipping charges with their actual shipping only costing them around $8

This is actually not correct. if you buy 7 items (for instance) they will charge you the assigned shipping charge for the most expensive item in the order and then add an incremental charge for each item above and beyond that. The information below is copied and pasted from the Cbid site.

Shipping Cost of Additional Units - Instead of paying individual shipping charges for each product, multiple items shipped to the same address won during the same shipping period (either DAILY or WEEKLY), only the greater of the shipping charges apply, plus an amount for each additional item:

•Singles Category: $0.25
•5-Packs Category: $0.50
•Boxes Category: $1.00
•Merchandise Category: $1.00
•Samplers Category: $1.00
•Free Fall Category: $1.00
•All Others: $1.00

I second this, shipping is negligible as long as you but more than one thing

 

[cgraunke]

I understand that, Rupe. But you DO get an added shipping charge for every item. (Never said it was the full single item charge, just an added charge) Whether it's $0.25, $0.50 or $1.00, it does get added, and can add up fast. (I've got some painful invoices to reference!)
My point is, some people don't look at that portion of cost when planning their bids. Cigarauctioneer is a flat rate shipping charge no matter how much you buy. Many direct purchase e-tailers will give you free shipping if you spend a certain amount. It all factors in to the overall cost of your purchase.
And if you do use cbid, you can choose the WEEKLY shipping option and play with your dates so that it actually holds over for multiple weeks at a time if you want to maximize your shipping cost savings.

 

[RobZip]

WTF!!!! Im done with Cbid. Although, i just got some 601 red labels that are awesome smokes. I dont know what to think now. Getting the HC series today. I will report back. I didnt know they own this label. Im gonna have to check out Atlantic and Cigars at your price. I knew therre had to be some catch, prices are waaaay to cheap. Live and learn. thats why I joined this forum. Knowledge is power

How bout Perdomo, Padron, Drew Estate.....you think these are safe bets?

 

[RamzaFreak20]

WTF!!!! Im done with Cbid. Although, i just got some 601 red labels that are awesome smokes. I dont know what to think now. Getting the HC series today. I will report back. I didnt know they own this label. Im gonna have to check out Atlantic and Cigars at your price. I knew therre had to be some catch, prices are waaaay to cheap. Live and learn. thats why I joined this forum. Knowledge is power

How bout Perdomo, Padron, Drew Estate.....you think these are safe bets?

All of those yes. 601 are fine, too. As long as you know which labels they own now, you know that you MAY be buying garbage. If you know they own that label, stay away. And never buy the discontinued. There's been a couple times when the acquired the label that I've been duped. That being said, if you can snag some non-discontinued cigars for cheap, do it. If you're paying WAY under MSRP you MAY have a copy (or a Gurkha). Just do your research and you'll be ok.

I know a lot of people are iffy about CI's/Cbids seconds and overruns. But I know that if I'm paying for ~$1 a stick and its not complete crap, its worth it to me. YGWYP

 

[RobZip]

Well, perfect timing for this conversation. Just received a shipment today that included RP Olde World Reserve Toros, and as I was unpacking and storing, I noticed they were overrun with tobacco beetles, through the cello and all. First time Ive ever experienced this in my couple years of smoking. I guess this can happen from anywhere, but I am done with this seller. Needless to say, will be returning!!

Also got my box of HC Habano Colorados 6x60's. Man, they look and smell great. Cant wait to tear into one!!

 

[RamzaFreak20]

Despite them having a horrible sales reputation, IMO they have good customer service.

 

[LBuzzer]

Shipping Cost of Additional Units - Instead of paying individual shipping charges for each product, multiple items shipped to the same address won during the same shipping period (either DAILY or WEEKLY), only the greater of the shipping charges apply, plus an amount for each additional item:

Just a FYI on multiple items. If one of the items is a butane lighter, it will take several weeks to deliver. In early April I won a box, a fiver and a lighter. They shipped on April 10th and they arrived today. Lighters can't ship by air or some such nonsense. Not happy about my cigars being 3 weeks in transit.

 

[King Kill 33]

Picked up a box of Tres Reynas Coronas that should be here tomorrow. A little worried because they don't show the coronas on their website, only the original 3 larger RG sizes. I guess we'll find out tomorrow. A great stick too BTW.

And I got them for less than half of MSRP...

 

[RobZip]

Shipping Cost of Additional Units - Instead of paying individual shipping charges for each product, multiple items shipped to the same address won during the same shipping period (either DAILY or WEEKLY), only the greater of the shipping charges apply, plus an amount for each additional item:

Just a FYI on multiple items. If one of the items is a butane lighter, it will take several weeks to deliver. In early April I won a box, a fiver and a lighter. They shipped on April 10th and they arrived today. Lighters can't ship by air or some such nonsense. Not happy about my cigars being 3 weeks in transit.

Now that the warmer weather is coming up, Im gonna stop mail ordering because of the hot conditions during shipping. Im freaked out after this beetle episode today.

 

[Argus17]

Well, perfect timing for this conversation. Just received a shipment today that included RP Olde World Reserve Toros, and as I was unpacking and storing, I noticed they were overrun with tobacco beetles, through the cello and all. First time Ive ever experienced this in my couple years of smoking. I guess this can happen from anywhere, but I am done with this seller. Needless to say, will be returning!!

Also got my box of HC Habano Colorados 6x60's. Man, they look and smell great. Cant wait to tear into one!!

Rob, sorry to hear about the beetles. Out of thousands and thousands of cigars purchased online, I've only had beetles once, and yes, it was from Cbid.

 

[Argus17]

As long as you stick with stuff that you know and REALLY want to buy you can get some pretty sweet deals. Lately I have picked up some boxes and fivers of stuff for less than half of what I could have gotten it elsewhere. I have had to train myself to stay away from the off brands and other things that look like a great deal though. Unless I have tried them and like them I will no longer bid since 9 times out of 10 they end up being dog rockets.

I have bought more than my share of name brand cigars at excellent prices while living by these two rules:

1. I always research pricing for what I am bidding on first using multiple sites to determine how much I am going to bid.

2. When I place my bid I set a max bid that is the most I am willing to pay and then walk away. If I get outbid, so be it. There will always be another box or fiver for sale. If the price is consistently past the point of being a deal (generally Padrons, Fuentes and Ligas) I make my purchase from Atlantic, Famous or one of the other site sponsors.

Living by these 2 rules has helped me stay away from the stupid purchases I made for dog rockets when I first stared using Cbid. (think Garo, Sosa and Bahia)

Only problem I had with cbid was remembering to account for shipping that was added for every item, no matter what the size. A large cbid order could end up costing you $20+ in shipping charges with their actual shipping only costing them around $8

This is actually not correct. if you buy 7 items (for instance) they will charge you the assigned shipping charge for the most expensive item in the order and then add an incremental charge for each item above and beyond that. The information below is copied and pasted from the Cbid site.

Shipping Cost of Additional Units - Instead of paying individual shipping charges for each product, multiple items shipped to the same address won during the same shipping period (either DAILY or WEEKLY), only the greater of the shipping charges apply, plus an amount for each additional item:

•Singles Category: $0.25
•5-Packs Category: $0.50
•Boxes Category: $1.00
•Merchandise Category: $1.00
•Samplers Category: $1.00
•Free Fall Category: $1.00
•All Others: $1.00

Yes, but those shipping charges can sure add up. Back when I was purchasing most of my cigars from them, I had shipping charges as high as $28.

 

[plumber1965]

OK so you guys have me a bit confused about which brands CI owns. Do they or do they not own the Ramon Bueso Brand.

 

[thejavaman]

OK so you guys have me a bit confused about which brands CI owns. Do they or do they not own the Ramon Bueso Brand.

I'm pretty sure Ramon Bueso is a CI owned brand. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's one of the ones that they're allegedly "remanufacturing" though. I'm almost positive that it's not a discontinued line too as it seems pretty popular.

 

[plumber1965]

OK so you guys have me a bit confused about which brands CI owns. Do they or do they not own the Ramon Bueso Brand.

I'm pretty sure Ramon Bueso is a CI owned brand. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's one of the ones that they're allegedly "remanufacturing" though. I'm almost positive that it's not a discontinued line too as it seems pretty popular.

well that's good to hear. it is one of my go to sticks

 

[Argus17]

OK so you guys have me a bit confused about which brands CI owns. Do they or do they not own the Ramon Bueso Brand.

I'm pretty sure Ramon Bueso is a CI owned brand. That doesn't necessarily mean that it's one of the ones that they're allegedly "remanufacturing" though. I'm almost positive that it's not a discontinued line too as it seems pretty popular.

well that's good to hear. it is one of my go to sticks

Yes, it's one of mine, too. I always considered it a CI exclusive, just like all of AJ's blends, which I also enjoy. Whether or not CI actually owns it is not an issue to me, as long as the blend and quality does not change. With that said, one of my buds over there posted that the recent ones he received where different then the ones he had before. He described them as having a musty, barnyard note, like George Rico's (Gran Habano) stuff. I sure hope they haven't turned production over to him. I'll have to monitor the boards to see if anyone else starts to complain about them.


Ha, someone resurrected the very first Cbid thread on the Genesis Project. Some of you fans of this cigar may find it interesting, but then again, maybe not, lol.
http://www.cigarbid.com/Forum/c/posts/619649/The-Project

 

[Sirspanksalot]

Mmmm AJF. Any idea why his stuff is exclusive to them? Is he employed/under contract with them?

 

[RobZip]

I want to make sure Im understanding this whole label-owning thing. CI buys the rights to a cigar, say Xikar Series. They can then change the blend to their own specifications without telling the consumer. Also, I checked the Xikar website, and they still produce the Habano Series, so does this mean they still make their own cigars and just distribute them through CI? This has me concerned and kinda ticked at the same time. 99% of my cigar buying is through Cbid and CI, so I really need to understand whats going on here.

Most of my cigars are well-known names like Padron (not as many as I would like), RP, AB, DE, Pepin and some other well-known brands. Does this practice go on with these labels also?

Any enlightenment would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Argus17]

Rob, the HC thing has me a little confused. So far, every CI owned label is no longer listed on the manufacturer's web site. We've heard reports and rumors that the HC is now CI owned. Maybe those are not true.

If you stick with current production name brands, you should be fine. Just be leery of any "resurrected" labels, no matter what the ad copy claims.

 

[Whtwtrman79]

As in how they get so many Gurkha beautys when only 500 boxes are made a year at a cost of 15$ each cigar