I have only been smoking cigars for about a year now and I have moved through a bunch of different ways of buying my cigars.
I started with samplers and then moved to 5ers, mostly so that I could trade and share with others.
I still get 5ers or bundles if the deal is right but lately I have started buying boxes, this is mostly because I bought a nice end table humidor and wanted to fill it up.
Most of the boxes I have bought are sticks that I have had and really liked and just couldn't stop thinking about, but there are a few where I found a really good deal and just couldn't pass it up. Luckily those good deals I couldn't pass up have turned out to be some good sticks only one was what I would consider a yardgar and that is only because it is a bit more mild that I tend to like them.
I have temted a couple of my friends to the dark side now and I like stearing them in the direction of 5ers, mostly ones that I haven't had so I can trade with tem.