How much shopping around do you do before you purchase, or do you just order from one source? I tend to search but usually end up ordering from the same place.
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How much shopping around do you do before you purchase, or do you just order from one source? I tend to search but usually end up ordering from the same place.
Mostly just from one source for CC and one source for NC. Just seems like alot of hassle to shop around since I don't smoke multiple sticks per day like some of the bums, so I don't need to be overly frugal.
I'm a sale/auction kinda buyer for everyday cigars. If I'm looking for something special/rare I'll do my homework no reason to overpay!
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I shop around a bit if I am looking for something specific. For example I am lookimg for a specific cc and have more or less decided on who to order from. Now I just decide on what else I want in order to hit the free shipping mark.
If it is some widely available cigar I just order from the first place that seems reasonable. I have a few NC vendors in particular I mostly use over the last few years.
I check a few sources on widely carried sticks. If it's a sale on a boutique smoke i may check one or two places then pull the trigger before they run out.
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Personally, I think it can still be of great mutual benefit to find a one, or perhaps two, trustworthy, reasonable, consistent vendors and stick with them. Retail, even over the interwebs can, if conducted wisely, still be a "relationship" business. I'm also a big fan of frequenting a good B&M. In terms of relationships and their benefits, you just can't beat that.
good point Don, I frequent the B&M near me and have for several years now. They call me when hard to find stuff comes in and I get a crack at it before it hitsQuote:
Originally Posted by Herf N Turf
the shelves. Plus my regular buys get a 10% discount because I shop there often even if it's a few dollars more. the relationship is worth it the extra cost in my mind.
Lot of good online retailers to choose from, I usually go with the one with free shipping.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dj1340
And... there'ya havit!
I buy from a B&M most of the time. Everytime I travel I look up reviews for the cigar shops in the area and try to hit the best one. I have bought from a couple different sites online for NC. The mood has to strike me to buy something from the auction sites as I still haven't hit thag wow deal like I see everyone else hitting. I should probably look into their methods a little more.
B&M for singles and online for 5 packs and boxes.
I did forget about the b&m while making this thread, I try to stop in every other month and pickup a couple cigars. Not a frequent spot as I live in NY and the taxes are horrendous. I paid $11 for a single Hemingway. Which in the middle of typing this post I realized wasn't so horrendous. I found them online as singles for around $7-$8
Alan (A.K.A The Shadow) S has only to slip away from his every day Lamont Cranston like identity and put his Mind reading ability to use to determine when a dealer's planning to list a good deal,Quote:
Originally Posted by oleballcoachtn
Then as soon as it's available he pounces. A case or two of "The Water Of Life" might just get you a tip., from time to time.
Al I ask of you is please don't tell him you heard this from me.
For online shopping, I am driven by sales - I usually only buy when there is a good sale going on. I get emails from the major cigar and tobacco dealers and try to jump on good prices. I compare the sale prices with other online sellers to see if it really is a good deal. I don't buy from the same retailer always but the majority of my cigar purchases are from one online store. My pipe and tobacco purchases are from a several online dealers, whoever has a good sale. At my local B&M, I usually buy only what is unavailable elsewhere or what is a good deal; but that still accounts for quite a bit. My B&M can get rare items like Pelican, Stonehaven, and Penzance whereas it is almost impossible to buy these online unless you are very lucky. He also has good prices on bulk blending tobaccos of good quality - like McClelland's Perique and Latakia.
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Haebar
As far as pipes and the requisite baccy, I usually pass, even on the sales. I have way more pipe bakky than I'll ever smoke but if something is on clearance that sounds good that I haven't tried before (like the G&H whiskey twist a few weeks ago) I may spring for a small stockpile just to add even MOAR variety to my stash. For me it's all about variety. I have no 'desert island tobacco'. Were I confined to one blend I'd lose interest and probably abandon the 'hobby'.
I now do most of my shopping at my local shop. It is way too easy to overspend online and can get out of hand pretty quickly.
Would love to be able to hit a local B&M but here in the land of insane taxes I can't. Usually 1 or 2 US online retailers for nc sticks. There's not alot willing to ship up here and only a couple I've dealt with. For cc theres a small company based on a reserve in Ontario that has found a loop hole allowing them to ship tobacco inter-provincially and being on a reserve they're not killing me with taxes. Higher prices than ordering from over seas but no worries about $2-300 suprise terrifs added on.
With the beauty of tabbed browsing, I can quickly compare prices online. What I found is most retailers are all in the ballpark on prices, so it boils down to who offers the best discount. Two sites offer 10% through the ID Me program. One of those sites allows you to stack discount codes, so that's usually where I order. As far as a B&M, there's a cigar bar I go to monthly for tastings, and boxes are usually 20-30% off. There are a couple tobacco shops I'll browse when I'm nearby. When I travel, I always look for a local shop. Pricing in that instance is usually not a consideration, as I'm only looking for a few sticks and am willing to pay for the priveldge of using their lounge.
CBid is my go-to.
But here's where I have all you guys beat - I work with a BOTL who shops online all the time, and is a sucker for every good deal that comes along. He tells me about the really good deals and if it's something I want, I'll just go in with him on an order. All the benefit, none of the hassle. It's nice having a personal shopper who works for free :)
For pipe tobacco, I usually use P&C, but that's pretty much past tense - I did an inventory of my tobacco cabinet a few months ago and concluded that I have a couple lifetime supplies of mostly pretty good stuff, therefore I'm not buying anymore.
Most of my cigars I acquire from B&M anymore. I have two or three that get most of my business. Only buying a handful at a time. Haven't shopped online in quite a while, but when I do, again, stick with a couple vendors that I like; so not too much shopping.