B & M vs. Internet?

[76GTFan]

The modern B&M has almost turned into one man/woman's lifetime dream of having the shop. I really don't see how the profit is there. I make purchases to my local out of respect, but would never buy bulk there. No offense, but money is money. There are also a large percentage of smokers who truly aren't familiar with online vendors, and could probably care less. There is a market for B&M owners, but it doesn't include me.

[Lear31MX]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies. I'm kind of the same thought, i'll buy sigles at the B&M and boxes from the internet. BUt I do enjoy walking in to that big humi and picking up new stick to give them a try or just to satifiy my cavings that day. aslo enjoy talking and meeting new people there and learning about new cigars and getting some go suggestions. Your right althought money is money.

[Kreth]

Kreth is of the opinion that sticks obtained from an online vendor are of lesser quality, no more than a 40 on the Kreth rating scale.


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[Starz26]

While I buy a lot of cigars online, I tend to buy just as many at the B&M (just not a crazy prices). Developing relationships with vendors helps one to get in on limited and HTF releases. I have one vendor that gets a shipment of Opus in and will sell it all to me if I would like...try that from an online source.

More and more cigars are also B&M only. Build relationships with your local B&M and the prices they are willing to sell to you can be competitive with online prices.

Plus, its a great place to meet people!

[wolfandwhisky]

Originally Posted by Starz26

While I buy a lot of cigars online, I tend to buy just as many at the B&M (just not a crazy prices). Developing relationships with vendors helps one to get in on limited and HTF releases. I have one vendor that gets a shipment of Opus in and will sell it all to me if I would like...try that from an online source.

More and more cigars are also B&M only. Build relationships with your local B&M and the prices they are willing to sell to you can be competitive with online prices.

Plus, its a great place to meet people!

It's good to have a relationship with the local B&M - best way to get Opus boxes and other HTFs.

But... for any standard issue smokes, it is hard to beat online prices. If the online is also a B&M, that's a plus.

There are alot of online retailers that are B&M's as well. They're just B&M's somewhere else. I support everybody I can...but the retailers that are members on the forums will go out of their way to take care of fellow BOTL's.

[The Poet]

My nearest B&M of any note is JRs in Whippany, which is where I order virtually all my cigars online. They don't have a problem with me there, at all.

[Goldie]

Singles - B&M
Boxes (When ever it is that I get to buy one) - Internets.

Also Anthony, check out my contest (http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...648#post865648) if you 4 months or less experience with smoking cigars. You might win yourself some freebies.

Ironically, one local shops here in Reno has Opus X prices at like half of what the internet has them for. $15-$20 per stick for most of the Opus X line. Seen internet prices up to $40 per stick in some cases.

Of course they limit you to 4 per visit..

[wolfandwhisky]

Originally Posted by Dark Jester

Ironically, one local shops here in Reno has Opus X prices at like half of what the internet has them for. $15-$20 per stick for most of the Opus X line. Seen internet prices up to $40 per stick in some cases.

Of course they limit you to 4 per visit..

Authorized Opus dealers (B&M only) will sell at MSRP plus tax... you won't find that online (except maybe in rare instances).

Originally Posted by wolfandwhisky

Authorized Opus dealers (B&M only) will sell at MSRP plus tax... you won't find that online (except maybe in rare instances).

Didn't know that, that's pretty cool. I looked on the net for them a couple weeks ago and saw the avg price as $30+ each and said screw it. I was surprised to walk into the shop last week and see the whole line fresh out on display at 'half price'. I jumped on picking some of them up to try out.

I use both. I stock up online of sticks I know I like. And I stop by most any cigar shop I come across when time allows just to take a look. I enjoy taking day trips to B&M's to find new locations and new smokes. Living a the rural midwest this can be a real adventure.

Oh and BTW in case nobody else mentioned it don't bring up ex-girlfriends around your current either, m'kay.

As usual there will always be the discussion of B&M vs Internet cigars. I buy from both and I like B&M's for the comfort of being able to find what I want when I want it and to be able to smoke in their establishment. When I want a deal I will use Internet sources and if I know the B&M well enough I will give them first crack at supplying me with what I am looking for. If they can give me a good price and sometimes they do I will buy from the B&M. As far as which cigar tastes better from a B&M vs Internet ...they don't segregate cigars according to where they are going. A lot has to do with storage procedures and how they are kept. I like the idea of how B&M's ( good ones will store them in optimum condition) will store them in a humidified environment instead of a storage room. I understand that Internet sales warehouse their products and while they are not in the best of storage places cigars are pretty resilient and they stay in my humidor for quite some time before being smoked so they are every bit as good as any B&M.

That being said an Internet Provider cannot serve you a drink, light your cigar, bring you a cup of coffee and clip your stogie like a lot of B&M's I used to frequent did. A few in particular had some amazing cigar hostesses that made you forget you were there for cigars.

[md4958]

I dont mention cigars Ive purchased online in front of a B&M owner, especially if its something they carry in their store.

It would be like somebody coming into my bakery and telling me how they buy their cakes at Costco.

[timo]

Originally Posted by md4958

I dont mention cigars Ive purchased online in front of a B&M owner, especially if its something they carry in their store.

It would be like somebody coming into my bakery and telling me how they buy their cakes at Costco.

The thought makes me want to puke

Originally Posted by Spitnchew

The thought makes me want to puke

The Costco here makes a great strawberry cheesecake. That's the only type of cake I buy from them though.

It's really like a slap in the face to tell a guy that works extra hard
(in a lot of cases) for his money to hear that guys are taking their
business elsewhere and they could have gotten him...

Just don't do it.. Unless he pisses you off. then that's another story!

[captain53]

I don't mind one bit telling them their prices are too high, if they don't like it then maybe they should lower them. It is a business and I am a customer just that simple.

[md4958]

Originally Posted by captain53

I don't mind one bit telling them their prices are too high, if they don't like it then maybe they should lower them. It is a business and I am a customer just that simple.

Thats easier said than done.

Most of the difference is the state and local taxes that these B&Ms have to pay. Internet based companies with the best pricing are usually found in tobacco tax friendly states.

The customer isnt always right. Somethings are better left unsaid

[captain53]

Originally Posted by md4958

Thats easier said than done.

Most of the difference is the state and local taxes that these B&Ms have to pay. Internet based companies with the best pricing are usually found in tobacco tax friendly states.

The customer isnt always right. Somethings are better left unsaid

Success in Business is largely related to location so if someone chooses to open in an overtaxed location then they made a stupid business decision. And that is BS about most of the difference being taxes, I am in a relatively low cigar tax state yet cigars i buy are more than double (sometimes 4 times higher) than I can buy for online.