Supporting B&M vs. Saving Money

[JhnRls]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are concerning saving money and buying cigars online vs. supporting the local B&M. With the advent of online cigar shopping, I have yet to find a store that even somewhat compares to the prices I can get online. My favorite local cigar store has prices up to 50-100% more expensive than I get at CI.com or other sites!

However, you can't replace the atmosphere of a local cigar shop. Still, I no longer buy boxes at my B&M, just the occassional single. I feel bad, but with their prices and lack of online sales...what's a guy to do?

It begs the question...why do some stores charge 9 dollars for a Padron 2000 and some only 4-6? What prices are these stores getting these cigars for from the manufacturer??

Thoughts?

[nhcigarfan]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are concerning saving money and buying cigars online vs. supporting the local B&M. With the advent of online cigar shopping, I have yet to find a store that even somewhat compares to the prices I can get online. My favorite local cigar store has prices up to 50-100% more expensive than I get at CI.com or other sites!

However, you can't replace the atmosphere of a local cigar shop. Still, I no longer buy boxes at my B&M, just the occassional single. I feel bad, but with their prices and lack of online sales...what's a guy to do?

It begs the question...why do some stores charge 9 dollars for a Padron 2000 and some only 4-6? What prices are these stores getting these cigars for from the manufacturer??

Thoughts?

I'm loyal to god, country and family. Last I looked none of them ran a B&M.

That being said, I probably buy at least 5 singles a week at my local but the majority of my boxes come online when its on sale or if it is something, like a famous brand, that I can't get in a local shop. Having no taxes on cigars makes my b&m's per stick price about the same as the best of the online merchants so I'm not encouraged to buy boxes anyway.


Edit - but to address your post in particular. If my local was 50% to 100% more than an internet retailer I'd probably buy 1 cigar there if I planned on smoking there, otherwise I would buy everything online.

[guado]

you just have to find a good B&M....

[DeeDubya]

Those are good questions and could be debated into eternity. My friend who owns one of our local B&Ms sells me boxes at a discount that is below most internet prices. Then again most singles are higher. If they do some volume and are getting the best prices from the wholesaler or maybe direct from the manufacturer then they are paying no more than internet sellers.

It's all with volume and overhead.
How many times have you heard "I can't compete with Walmart because they can sell for less than what it costs me"?

But then again, even if you pay a little more for a stick at a B&M you might gain a little knowledge, share some thoughts, smoke with a friend. Isn't that worth something?

Finally there is a third option. You can buy on the internet and share your thoughts here on Cigarsmokers.com while you smoke.

[heftysmokes]

TAXES!! That's what kills the tobacco shops here, anyway. When I buy from an internet retailer located in states like VA or PA I'm not paying the 40 odd percent state tax MT puts on tobacco products.
Of course I always claim all tobacco purchases when I file my state taxes every spring.

Edit to add:
I probably spend 15-20% of my cigar money in the local shop (singles only). We aren't even allowed to smoke in there, but it's a cool place with the biggest magazine stand in town.

[ashauler]

Theres a pretty good discussion of this topic here:
http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t6005-ta...t-pricing.html

I'm pretty much like hefty, about 20% of my budget goes for singles at he B/M..........rest is for boxes/samplers on-line.

[Newfie]

I'm loyal to god, country and family. Last I looked none of them ran a B&M.

....snip

OMG Tyler, you crack me up!!!

being a Canadian, when I go into a B&M in Detroit (which is nearly a weekly occurrence) the prices look really cheap to me anyway. I always buy something, a 5er of Edge, or Oliva V or something like that. I sometimes take out something to smoke there from my own humi though because in usually find the smokes I buy smoke too wet right out of the B&M

[mrtr33]

I'm new, so a B&M really helps me out in choosing smokes. Plus, I enjoy supporting a local business. Perhaps, as my tastes become more refined, and I would actually want to buy a whole box of something, I will buy more online, but my purchases online vs. in a B&M are more like 50/50. Then again, I can smoke in my B&M, and they don't even really care if I bring in a smoke they don't carry. They do most of their business as a distributor of cigars to golf courses, etc., so the retail shop is kind of just like gravy for them. Sure, it's more expensive than online, but I can try different kinds, reps come in, they have sales, etc.

[cigar no baka]

I love the shop where I hang out constantly (and work at least once a month). I spend about 85-90% of my money there. I do one or two big buys of several boxes every year online, but usually stuff that my shop doesn't carry.

I value the community that the shop and the owner, Jerry, has built. So much so I don't mind paying a little more for my sticks. On average, he has very reasonable prices, definitely not 50-100% above the internet prices. Any retailer who is selling that far over MSRP, good luck to them, that's quite a mark-up.

[Mizicke5273]

Ive been starting to give most of my premium box purchases to my B&M, because I want to support the business. But for everyday cigars I turn to online sites. For the amount that I smoke in a week, Id go broke in a month buying everything from my B&M. Besides, most of the everyday cigars that I smoke are house brands or such, that I dont think my B&M could get anyway.

So in essence, it all comes down to what Im buying, as to where Ill get it from.

[BunkyX]

Strange this should be brought up. I was wondering about it myself as I made my weekly purchase from my B&M. The owner who has become a 'friend' of mine will give me a break on boxes of my daily smokes. Comparatable to buying them on line. His per stick price is definately higher than most on line shops. He explains it over and over to people that he has a keystone mark up on all his cigars. I happen to know it is 100% over his retail price.
And I have flatly told him I would not buy certain cigars from him because he is $1.00 too high on them. He always asks how I know this and I tell him - because I use the internet. Some of the other B&M's I visit are 110% to 140% mark up, They only get my business on a few select cigars.

Anyway I spend about $40.00 at my local B&M every week, but I spend many times this on line. I work too hard for my money to burn it all up.

[The Korean]

I buy 80% of my sticks from online. The other 20% I split between two B&Ms. One has horrible prices on just about anything, but has the best enviroment in my town. I feel the need to spend some money there to justify my usage of the lounge. The other place has better prices and is a smaller mom&pop. My hopes in spending a little bit of money there is to get establish a relationship with the owner and some of the patrons. Everyone seems nice, but I can tell that they are very protected in who they allow into the "Circle". I admit, the fact that they seem close but guarded actuallys draws me to want to become one of them more. That truely sounds like high school, but one of the things I like the most about smoking cigars is the people you smoke them with.

I also, look at it this way, both of these shops are against some big competition, and I want to always be able to on a whim stop by and pick up a smoke, so I do my little part.

[Corvin]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts are concerning saving money and buying cigars online vs. supporting the local B&M. With the advent of online cigar shopping, I have yet to find a store that even somewhat compares to the prices I can get online. My favorite local cigar store has prices up to 50-100% more expensive than I get at CI.com or other sites!

However, you can't replace the atmosphere of a local cigar shop. Still, I no longer buy boxes at my B&M, just the occassional single. I feel bad, but with their prices and lack of online sales...what's a guy to do?

It begs the question...why do some stores charge 9 dollars for a Padron 2000 and some only 4-6? What prices are these stores getting these cigars for from the manufacturer??

Thoughts?

Being in Canada, the land of ridiculous taxes on all tobacco, I spend 80% of my cigar money online. Unfortunately the one decent B&M in Ottawa has the same craptacular prices as everywhere else. They do however have a decent selection of ISOMs so I occationally make purchases there since I just can't justify a box of ISOMs from an online retailer, yet.

[cigar no baka]

I buy 80% of my sticks from online. The other 20% I split between two B&Ms. One has horrible prices on just about anything, but has the best enviroment in my town. I feel the need to spend some money there to justify my usage of the lounge. The other place has better prices and is a smaller mom&pop. My hopes in spending a little bit of money there is to get establish a relationship with the owner and some of the patrons. Everyone seems nice, but I can tell that they are very protected in who they allow into the "Circle". I admit, the fact that they seem close but guarded actuallys draws me to want to become one of them more. That truely sounds like high school, but one of the things I like the most about smoking cigars is the people you smoke them with.

I also, look at it this way, both of these shops are against some big competition, and I want to always be able to on a whim stop by and pick up a smoke, so I do my little part.

I hung out at my shop about six months before I became a "core" group member. I sat around, minded my mouth, didn't piss anyone off, made it clear I was here to stay, smoked my cigars, and was as friendly as I could be.

After about six months, I got christened (as part of the CCC, that has special significance for me) with my own nickname and my own coaster made from a cigar box lid with my nickname on it adonred with various affectations from the group. By now, four years later, I have been called a "hardcore core group member" (never called myself that but others have). So it just takes time for guys to figure out if you're gonna be a fit for the group and you're not a weenie and you can take it as well as you give it.

Best of luck to you in your quest to join the group!

[Cabaiguan Juan]

working at a b&m, i get a decent discount, which basicly puts cigars at the internet price. That being said, if i can buy a bot at the shop, I'll do it. However, if its a box that we dont have I'll buy the box at the cheapest internet store. I know this probably doesn't answer your question so let me put it this way: Obviously, buying sngles at your local B&M is more cost efective then online. Buying a box, if its close to B&M prices, go with your B&M. Remeber, they provide you with costomer service, and recomendations on cigars and a nice smoking area. If you can get on line for way cheaper, then do it, its America afterall. You are fighting for freedom and with freedom comes really good deals on stuff. My lasting words are, support your B&M on box sales unless it costs you substancial money. But suport your B&M for single sales.
PS- pardon the misspelling, i just got back from a horse race, and i was in the in-field!

[islcigar]

As a owner / opereator of a cigar store we are the "testing center". Many people come in and use our knowledge of cigars and try some sticks. That's ok. We have a very good mail order business to many out of state customers (that appreciate the care and quality- and can not find back home), and when you remove tobacco tax, sales tax and give box discounts (and are able to put together mixed boxes together) it makes a difference.

We are a speciality store and specialize in boutique brands (Davidoff, Ashton ESG etc) . Many of the brands we carry are contract only pieces and can not be sold or even available to the large discount companies......never mind a deep discount numbers. That being said just be careful........some companies sell seconds (advertised as premium line) and list cigar lines that they do not carry just to reccommend the customer to another "just like ------" cigar. And- they can not maintain the care and quality one gets at a local store that is passionate about their store and products. Either way, I look at the big guys as one of my great advertisers.