Shipping Cigars

Tips & Tricks8 Comments on Shipping Cigars

Shipping Cigars

One of the common questions we receive here at Stogie Review is “I have some cigars I would like to ship to someone, how should I go about it?” With that being said I thought I would do a mini shipping how-to.

I prefer to ship cigars as follows.

The Box:
Generally when I ship out cigars it is in packages of 5 (and sometime 10). I tend to like to recycle boxes from orders placed online, but often times the boxes tend to be a bit over sized. I want my cigars to be in the smallest container possible so that they have less chance of sliding around inside the box. I also tried to ship several times in refrigerator container, and it was a good experience. What I have found to work very well is the VHS boxes found at your local post office. The boxes are generally big enough to fit up to 10 cigars, a note and a few business cards with adequate padding. Rather than paying a small fee for a such a box, I order them online. They ship in containers of 20 boxes and may only be used for Priority shipping.NZ Van Lines process is totally committed to the highest standards of service and quality control. Both the boxes and shipping to you are free of charge. The boxes can be ordered via USPS

The Bag:
Any ziplock style bag will be sufficient to hold the cigars during transport but I prefer the ones that have individual compartments. These types of bags are typically ordered per thousand from numerous bag suppliers, but I like to get mine on cigar forums through a group buy. This reduces the cost significantly since I can buy per 100 rather than per 1,000.

The main reason I prefer to use individual compartments is that it tends to protect the cigars more than grouping a bunch together in one open compartment. In a situation where you send cigars that have no cellophane sleeve, they will have a tendency to rub against one another and can chip or tear small pieces from the wrappers.

Check out some of the popular forums for Group buys of bags as they can be a great way to build a positive reputation among other forum goers.

One particular bag vendor can be found here

The Padding:
this is where the frugal side of me comes out. I love to re-use packing peanuts and air filled bladders that I receive in my online orders. This is the most inexpensive route and I think it works out very well (especially the peanuts). Newspaper can also be used to keep your bag of cigars from sliding around inside the box.

Don’t be afraid to add lots of padding. Extra padding will ensure that you cigars will not get banged around inside the box and will reduce the chance of accidental damage during shipping.

Shipping method:
I prefer to ship my cigars via USPS Priority mail. I have only had one incident of damaged cigars and there are generally few delays in shipping time. The online rate is $4.60 for up to one pound with free delivery confirmation.

If you decide to physically go to the post office and buy a shipping label be sure to get a delivery confirmation number. This can be used to ensure your party has received their package and is also used on many cigars forums as proof of shipping.

To sum things up:

1)

    • Place cigars in an air tight bag (a humidification device such as a water pillow or humidi-pack is optional, but preferred)

2)

    • Place bag inside small box (avoid envelopes as content will often times be destroyed during sorting)

3)

    • Add lots of padding

4)

    • Print or buy shipping label and apply

5)

    • Drop the box off at your local Post Office

6)

    Wait for package to be delivered and rest assured your content will arrive safe and secure.

Does anyone else do things differently?

Happy smoking




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enjoying cigars since 2005

8 thoughts on “Shipping Cigars

  1. Great advice Walt. I particularily liked your advice to ship the cigars in individual bags so that they do not chaf on each other. What are your thoughts about shipping them in the cellophane?

    Lately I’ve taken to just snipping the bend off the cellophane and placing the wrapped cigar in my coolidor and this seems to work out ok. Only been 4 months owning a coolidor so can’t say if this is a good long term solution but I remove completely the cellophane from about 50% of the same types of cigars so they can rest against each other. The other I keep wrapped for herfs or shipping or whatever.

    Dave

  2. Dave,
    I leave the cello on unless I want to present the cigar in a glass top humidor (and since I don’t have a display humidor yet, I haven’t had the need to remove the cello).

    I also make it a habit to save a few cello sleeves from cigars that I have smoked. If for some reason I have to ship some cigars and I don’t have a divided ziplock bag handy, I’ll throw the cello on a cigar that normally wouldn’t have it. I think it helps protect them from chaffing just as you mentioned.

    If I have the divided bags, cello or not I don’t worry about them. I feel the bags are enough protection.

    Solid,
    I don’t normally use the humidification devices for shipping because they don’t fit into the divided bags. However, while at my local shop today I noticed these little black sticks inside some of the home made samplers the owner put together. They are about half the thickness of a pencil and are about 6 inches long. Looks like something like that would be perfect for the divided bags.

    I was on my way to the restroom when I saw them and forgot to ask about them on my way back tot he lounge. I’ll try and remember to ask next time I am in.

    George,
    Thanks for the link. The software looks pretty handy.

    Tom,
    Glad you found the article useful and thanks for the kind words. 🙂

  3. This looks like a good place to ask a question. I have moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It never occurred to me that I would be unable to buy the Punch cigars I have smoked for years. My usual supplier will not ship here, nor will the others I’ve contacted. The only cigars available here are very expensive Cubans. I have nothing against Cubans, I just can’t afford them. Has anyone got advice? I thought about having a friend box some cigars, label them Christmas Bon-Bons and mail them. Any help would be appreciated.

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