Online vendors, the good, the bad and the why.

[gomeitsmybday]

Thanks for this post T.G, wishing I had found this site a bit earlier, as I’m unfornately one of the newbies you mentioned that was formerly unaware of the downside to Thompsons. (They already have my address lol)
Have otherwise dealt with CI, Cigar Federation & Famous Smoke. Famous handled an issue I had about a month ago and I have to say, they were excellent.
Pretty well stocked atm, but I’m going to give the other retailers you’ve suggest a shot once I need to reorder.
Thanks to all the older members here helping out the new guys!

[T.G]

Originally Posted by gomeitsmybday

Thanks for this post T.G, wishing I had found this site a bit earlier, as I’m unfornately one of the newbies you mentioned that was formerly unaware of the downside to Thompsons. (They already have my address lol)
Have otherwise dealt with CI, Cigar Federation & Famous Smoke. Famous handled an issue I had about a month ago and I have to say, they were excellent.
Pretty well stocked atm, but I’m going to give the other retailers you’ve suggest a shot once I need to reorder.
Thanks to all the older members here helping out the new guys!

Michael,

This thread was not meant in any way as calling you or anyone else out.

I started smoking cigars in 1992. My first cigar was either an Onyx or a Macanudo. I can't remember which. It was just a formal military thing back then. The cigar that hooked me was a Cuban Cohiba Robusto in June of 1993. I got serious sometime in the early mid 2000's. It wasn't until around 2006 or so that I started to figure it out.

I smoked a lot of crap in those 14 years, but I didn't know any better.

This thread was meant with the intent of those of us that have been around or even through similar as a way of maybe helping new guys avoid the pitfalls we found.

Please accept my apologies if this came across in any way other than its intent as stated.

-a

[Tio Gato]

Adam, I liked that you said "pitfalls" of our hobby. Back during the 90's boom I bought so much crap for cheap when the boom went bust. I smoked a lot of really bad cigars. Thankfully I knew so many moochers I was able to gift most of it away.

New smokers are fortunate today that there are so many good cigars available today. My feeling now is the one pitfall I see is the "fever" to chase the newest hot cigar releases. Sometimes I'm astounded by the prices. There are so many truly great cigars from some older makers that are a much better value. Padron, Fuentes, Pepins come to mind.

My advice to newbs would be to do a little research and read lots of reviews. Identify tastes you enjoy and hunt them down, put them away for a nap and reap the longterm benefits.

As far as online retailers I've always loved JR, Holts, and Atlantic. Once I've found a cigar I love I use Cbid and Famous Auctioneer and bid when the prices are right. The beauty of the old favorites is they are almost always up for auction.

I'd like to throw Mike's Cigars in the ring. Always great service and fair prices. Since they are located in Miami they have access to brands enjoyed in that area. Corona Cigar is very good but I avoid their house brands.

[gomeitsmybday]

Originally Posted by T.G

Michael,

This thread was not meant in any way as calling you or anyone else out.

No worries the other Adam, I didn’t take it that way, but I definitely was one who was unaware about Thompson’s. But I do appreciate the heads up about some of the various vendors. I remember reading another sticky when I first joined about the different vendors but if memory serves correct, it seemed a bit dated.