Greetings everyone

[razrbakcrzy]

I am also fairly new to smoking cigars, But I have bought my whole collection over the internet, I use Thompsons, White ash, Famous, Corona Cigar Company and many others. You will eventually find a batch of fakes or counterfeits but not from the larger companies.

The age of a cigar is not the reason you will pay more in a tobacco store as opposed to over the internet. It is the markup of Retail versus Wholesale. The large companies sell 400 to 500 boxes a week and that little home town store sells 2 a month. He still has to pay the rent, electric, insurance.... He has to have a 100% markup just to stay in business.

Now that being said Cigars that are aged in a large humidor that has been monitored and maintained are very desirable because of their smoking charteristics. Some people prefer to buy very expensive sticks for special occasions one at a time to keep from having $500.00 invested in 1 single box that it will take you 10 years to smoke. Instead you could have 5 boxes @ 100.00 each and a large variety of smoking sensations.

There are many reasons to buy from your local guy, but if you are looking for the best all around value I would suggest you shop the internet and make you purchases with some of the larger companies. While you are at it buy yourself a couple very nice 150 to 200 stick humidors and age those babies yourself.

There are also many alternative to fancy high priced humidors if you need a less expensive strorage facility try using a coolerador, Buy a large igloo cooler get some spanish cedar peices, a hygrometer and a large humidifier and filler up. many people use this method including me. I have (1) Coolerador (2) Humidors and (1) Tupperador. I have in my possition about 450 cigars right now.

You have a lot to learn but it is not impossible, and the learnig curve is fast. Get to buying and have some fun.