Comments on: Buying Cigars Online

By: soicuw

soicuw — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:48:02 +0000

I guess i have to say online all the way…

cheaper is better for me now. And besides, if you buy from for example JR, CI, etc… you are helping all the people packing cigars there!

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:10:33 +0000

I agree with you 100% Walt. I tend to do the same thing as you, buy about $30 worth of smokes a week from the B&M and use online for a great deal, like Joe’s Cigar deal, Monster Deals, or something on Cigarbid.

Support the locals!

By: Gene

Gene — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:08:26 +0000

Well said Jim. As a novice, my Tobacconist has given me great advice. For Christmas, my wife bought me a humidor from his shop. I feel obliged to give him my business even if I have to spend a few pennies more.

By: Jim Luftman

Jim Luftman — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:25:44 +0000

Walt… thanks for supporting and promoting the B&Ms!

It really irks me that retailers are using S-CHIP as a marketing tool. Here are the facts (as I see them):

- S-CHIP is going to be passes and consumers will likely see an increase of $.40 – $1.00 on all cigars (The higher number depends on where in the pipeline the tax will appear… pre or post distributor)

- There will be no floor tax, so there is no incentive to clear a retailers inventory to prepare for S-CHIP. In fact, the opposite strategy is more sound… retailers stocking up now (pre-tax) can use post-tax pricing after April 1 for higher margins!

- There is an incentive for consumers to stock up now to beat the tax increase

- Post-Christmas Inventory Clearance is a sound strategy. Retailers examine their inventory and try to move the slow items out to make room for new, or hot items.

I am also having an Overstock Sale in my shop. While I do suggest to customers that they may want to fill their humidor pre-SCHIP., I certainly will not profess to having an “SCHIP SALE”! The SCHIP Tobacco Tax if unfair to smokers and, as a smoker, I object to the profiteering on bad news.

My $.02

Jim

By: Joan

Joan — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:23:09 +0000

Props to you for supporting local b&m’s. Nothing quenches that gotta-have-one-now craving like a stop at the local store!

And since I do buy online when the local places don’t have what I’m craving, I can appreciate your short list of online retailers.

I have bought from each of them, and my favorite is Fumee. Wow! That place is at least a step above the others in speedy delivery, careful packaging, great deals and perfect cigars. Did I say wow? WOW!

By: The Tom half of Ed & Tom

The Tom half of Ed & Tom — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:11:53 +0000

Amen Walt. If I find a cigar I want to try, the first place I go to is the local shops. You can’t deny the savings of Internet retailers, but they do not provide the experience that going to your local B&M does.