I agree, and I make several purchases each month at my local shop, though mostly for singles to try different smokes. In my earlier example, I purchased the single from my local guy and didn't buy the on-line 3 pack.
Locally, we have 5 shops that sell premium cigars......3 are "discount" smoke-shops that also sell cig's, chew, etc....and the other 2 are only cigars and pipe tobacco. The three smoke shops are cheaper than the other 2, but I avoid them most times since the quality of conversation and suggestions etc...is lacking..only in it for the money. But, a RP Edge at the discount is $4 and at the premium shops is $5.75......can't avoid a quick in and out for that price difference.
Also the cigar only stores have a wider selection, even among the same brand, like A Fuente's, which I was told by one of the discount guys is due to Fuente being "difficult" to deal with.
I know virtually nothing about how the cigar "biz" works so I don't know if this is bs or not.
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