B&M Smoking....don't like it.

[kgoings]

Talked to a friend today whom I have recently forcibly pushed down the slope :r and we were talking about cigars from the humidor verses cigars directly from the B&M.

I have smoked in many a B&M, different states and parts of the country. And I just do not enjoy cigars directly from the B&M. They just don't taste as good as they do after a week or two in my humidor. :( I frown because my local B&M's don't like for you to smoke 'your cigars' in their shops...even if you buy some from them. And it is really just too damn hot right now to smoke outdoor anytime before 10pm, so for me that leaves out anything longer than a 1 hour smoke. (sure would like to have a smoking room in my house)

So what are your thoughts, feelings, likes, dislikes about Sticks straight from the B&M.

[CigarGuy88]

Every time I head to my B&M I make sure to pack a few sticks if I plan on smoking. Their humidor is usually kept low to mid 70% depending on how many people go in and out of the humidor that day. I usually keep my sticks at 65% and their humidity is just way too high for me to enjoy. I am a member of their cigar club so that might have something to do with it but they haven't said anything to me about smoking my own cigars. I do buy a few sticks every time I go in so that might also have something to do with it too. I just prefer my own RH for my sticks :)

[NCRadioMan]

Most places do keep their humidors on the wet side. Usually to compensate for the door opening all day long. I agree that smoking them straight away usually is a dissapointment. I convinced the owner of my b&m to keep the humidor closer to 63-65% and alot of customers have noticed that their cigars taste better now when they smoke them right away. :r

[DougBushBC]

I'm surprised that they have a problem with you smoking your own. I always bring my own, and just make sure that I buy an equal amount (I smoke 2 sticks I buy at least 2)

[troutbreath]

I usually do OK with sticks straight from the humi at my favorite stores. I will usually travel with my own sticks, and if I do take them to a B&M, I make sure I make an equivilant purchase or have purchased the sticks from them initially.

[kydsid]

Lordy how I emphasize brother. 105+ here for the last month. And no B&M's within a 2 hour drive to smoke at for me.

I have traveled extensively in the last 4 years and been in B&M's all over the place without any problems. I can't say that I have ever asked 'Mind if I smoke my own?' But I also always will buy at least one or two when I come in until I get to know the owner. Maybe you should pick a B&M you like and become a regular.

Or you could drive down to Tucson and go to Anthony's as I know they won't mind. Just don't ask them to put on the Sun Devil's game. :r

[shilala]

They're a bit wet for my liking, so i try to pick something that smokes good wet.

[shadow king]

I always have one already lit up when I arrive at the local B&M. He never says anything because I always end up buying $50-100 worth of smokes each time. As far as how they taste from there, its been mixed so far. Some are good, some are blah. I can usually tell when a cigar has been sitting around in the shop for a long time.

I don't really care for the prices of the B&M but it's a safe haven for a smoke, which is hard to find anymore. I too can't smoke in the house and makes it difficult to find a place that is still enjoyable.

[SeanGAR]

I heard gurkha legends smoke well directly from the B&M.

[G G]

I agree with you kgoings.:tu

[Waynegro1]

I always bring my 4 stick leather case with one or two sticks from my humi. When I get to my B&M I go into the humi buy a stick or two and sit down and smoke one that I brought (not bought). When I get home the sticks I bought go straight into my humi to rest (dry up, a bit).
I've been going to my B&M for so many years now, I could probably bring a caddy full of my own and smoke them right there, without a word. I just feel guilty smoking something from home and using there space without a purchase while I'm there. Even if I only buy one cigar, it puts my (self inflicted) "smoking home stogies at the B&M" personal guilt at ease. :tu

[icehog3]

This is going to be a LEGENDary thread. ;) :r

[Whee]

This is going to be a LEGENDary thread. ;) :r


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Kyi0WNg40

Sorry, I had to do it.:r

[pnoon]

this is going to be a legendary thread. ;) :r

again? :(

[icehog3]

again? :(

Maybe not, haven't heard anything LEGENDary in over a month. ;)

[Scottw]

I give this thread a 4.12987 on the Legend scale, .4432 points above a Gurkha (B&M not internet purchased).

[BlackDog]

I rarely smoke at a B&M, principally because I feel they do poorly at evacuating the smoke from their store. I drive past one nearly every day, and it has many nice attributes, but ventillation is not among them. I've been in some shops that make me feel nausous from the poor ventillation. I don't care how expensive they are, if your B&M doesn't have a good ventillation system, you're not getting my walk-in business.

[TripleF]

I work at a B&M and I see people buy and smoke on the spot and rarely are there problems.

I also see people walk in with their own sticks and buy a coke and stay to smoke. My feeling is since sooooooooooo few people do that, I suport the freedom to enjoy a cigar and I work at a place that allows that.

So, all in all, I'm for smoking cigars whenever and whereever one can! :ss

[kelmac07]

Have never smoked a stick at a B&M, as I too and of the mind set to bring em home and let em rest for a little bit.

[HK3-]

I think it's hit or miss depending on the place. Some are over humidified while others are just fine.

[Jimbo14]

I will always smoke straight from my B&M, I have never noticed a difference or problem.

[Volt]

Hmmm, I concur with the cigars usually not smoking well/tasting good right off the shelf.

As to the bringing in a smoke, if I can't I will not shop there either. I always purchase a fiver to the one I will smoke. I don't argue with them or even bring it up if they disallow outside smokes. Their loss.

Locally, Bonds lost a Newport News herf this past spring that had about 18 people because they would not allow outside cigars. I can't imagine how much coin they lost that day. I had intended to buy a 30ct traveldor the day of the herf. Bailey's made out like a bandit with the food and beer sales. In this day and age, i would think any way to get people in a store is a good thing, but I'm not in retail either.

[loki]

i've never been to a shop that didn't allow outside cigars

[ChasDen]

Smoking straight from B&M - Depends on the the shop. There are a few locals I frequent on a reg basis. One I buy mostly my pipe tobacco from and a few cigars. Their stuff is always way too wet and the top end sticks sit so long they often begin to mold up (in separate cases from big walk in). Another shop keeps his stuff closer to 60-65, moves a lot of stock and often light his up right out of the door and they smoke great.

Smoking at shops - The second shop has a nice "hang out" area to smoke, never stayed and done it but there always is someone hanging around smoking. Think I heard he "asks" that you buy what you smoke, but his prices are reasonable, sticks are good to go and would bet based on the way he has treated me, if you buy something and smoke something you brought he would not say a word.

Chas

[JJG]

i've never been to a shop that didn't allow outside cigars

:tpd: I think if you are going to enjoy a B&M's lounge, its nice to go ahead and show some support by picking up a few smokes, but nobody has ever asked to see if I was smoking a store bought cigar.

also, it's probably hard to keep a large walk-in at the perfect humidity and I wouldn't be surprised if many places keep theirs overly humid to compensate for the constant traffic. :2

[WildBlueSooner]

I will always smoke straight from my B&M, I have never noticed a difference or problem.

:tpd: I do not have "a" B&M to call home, but when I have bought and smoked from B&Ms I do not taste a different. This is all very strange because I have always heard that B&Ms get the good sticks and the internet stores get the rejects :r

[Col. Kurtz]

I guess we're extremely lucky here in Raleigh to have several great B&M's to choose from. I recently had a wrapper problem on a stick I bought a week earlier. I took it back, no receipt, no questions, no problems, pick something else out and throw it in the chuck bucket. Oh, and the guy wasn't even there when I bought the stick.


Oh, and all his sticks smoke great right off the shelf.

Thanks Hal, David, and Derek!

[gnukfu]

Haven't had an issue with the sticks from my local B&M when I have smoked them right away versus sitting in non B&M storage. Sometimes I buy em and put em in my locker to smoke another time, sometimes I smoke right after I buy em, sometimes I bring em home and put em in one of my coolers. Never really noticed a difference

[rizzle]

Have never smoked a stick at a B&M, as I too and of the mind set to bring em home and let em rest for a little bit.

Never? You gotta sit down some time and have a smoke with the guys. Buy a PC or something less expensive if you wish to compensate for the humidity, but a lot of good conversation can be had at a B&M. Give it a shot sometime. You may find that you do it more often.

:2

[GreekGodX]

For as long as you buy some sticks from there you should be able to smoke whatever you want.. Bring your own sticks, buy some from there and take off the labels of the cigars you smoke. They will have no idea what you are smoking.

I have never had a problem with my local B&M's with their rH of the humi's. Everything fresh smokes great.

[thebiglebowski]

alright, let me get this straight. a cigar from my humidor tastes better than a cigar from the B&M, which also tastes better than a cigar bought on the interwebs (if i remember the hypothesis correctly). but, what if i buy a cigar off the interwebs and stick it in my humi for awhile? will that interwebby cigar then smoke better than a B&M cigar, or should the interwebbiness of that same cigar supercede any yummy legendary goodness imparted upon it by my humidor and still fall short of the cigar purchased at the B&M?

or, maybe i'm just confused... ?

[Volt]

:confused:

alright, let me get this straight. a cigar from my humidor tastes better than a cigar from the B&M, which also tastes better than a cigar bought on the interwebs (if i remember the hypothesis correctly). but, what if i buy a cigar off the interwebs and stick it in my humi for awhile? will that interwebby cigar then smoke better than a B&M cigar, or should the interwebbiness of that same cigar supercede any yummy legendary goodness imparted upon it by my humidor and still fall short of the cigar purchased at the B&M?

or, maybe i'm just confused... ?

[csbrewfisher]

We have two in town.

B&M#1 has a huge humidor, high prices, semi-friendly staff and a regular collection of old farts who can't stand their wives, or whose wives have already left them, and they will bore you to death. Bringing a cigar caddy in is frowned upon. Alcohol is verboten.

B&M#2 has a happy and upbeat owner. When you bring a caddy in he asks if there's anything in there for him to try. He tosses extra sticks into your order. At least once a month he has nickel cigar day (the 5th), caters in food and beer for a herf/vendor event, or has his band play. Bringing in your own adult beverages is encouraged, as is sharing. His humi is smaller than B&M#1, but I ask you...

Which would you rather patronize?

There is a third, but it's insignificant and struggling.

[SchizoFilly]

We have two in town.

B&M#1 has a huge humidor, high prices, semi-friendly staff and a regular collection of old farts who can't stand their wives, or whose wives have already left them, and they will bore you to death. Bringing a cigar caddy in is frowned upon. Alcohol is verboten.

B&M#2 has a happy and upbeat owner. When you bring a caddy in he asks if there's anything in there for him to try. He tosses extra sticks into your order. At least once a month he has nickel cigar day (the 5th), caters in food and beer for a herf/vendor event, or has his band play. Bringing in your own adult beverages is encouraged, as is sharing. His humi is smaller than B&M#1, but I ask you...

Which would you rather patronize?

There is a third, but it's insignificant and struggling.


nobody said anything about a quiz at the end of this thread...I should have paid more attention :bh

[scoot]

alright, let me get this straight. a cigar from my humidor tastes better than a cigar from the B&M, which also tastes better than a cigar bought on the interwebs (if i remember the hypothesis correctly). but, what if i buy a cigar off the interwebs and stick it in my humi for awhile? will that interwebby cigar then smoke better than a B&M cigar, or should the interwebbiness of that same cigar supercede any yummy legendary goodness imparted upon it by my humidor and still fall short of the cigar purchased at the B&M?

or, maybe i'm just confused... ?

I think it would smoke better than a cigar straight from the B&M but not as good as a cigar from the B&M that has been resting in the humi. :hf

[King James]

I always buy something at the B/M I'm smoking at and if they give me troubles for giving them business, but smoking something I bring I don't go there anymore. There is a b&m around my area that heckled me for doing it and I haven't been back there since.

[lightning9191]

alright, let me get this straight. a cigar from my humidor tastes better than a cigar from the B&M, which also tastes better than a cigar bought on the interwebs (if i remember the hypothesis correctly). but, what if i buy a cigar off the interwebs and stick it in my humi for awhile? will that interwebby cigar then smoke better than a B&M cigar, or should the interwebbiness of that same cigar supercede any yummy legendary goodness imparted upon it by my humidor and still fall short of the cigar purchased at the B&M?

or, maybe i'm just confused... ?

Yes

[Savor the Stick]

alright, let me get this straight. a cigar from my humidor tastes better than a cigar from the B&M, which also tastes better than a cigar bought on the interwebs (if i remember the hypothesis correctly). but, what if i buy a cigar off the interwebs and stick it in my humi for awhile? will that interwebby cigar then smoke better than a B&M cigar, or should the interwebbiness of that same cigar supercede any yummy legendary goodness imparted upon it by my humidor and still fall short of the cigar purchased at the B&M?

or, maybe i'm just confused... ?

I have a headache. Thanks....:(










:D
I a have always brought my own cigars; and then bought 2-3 from the local B&M while I was there.

I have walked into a B&M with a lit cigar and been asked to put it out and smoke something I buy there. I left and only go back for events that interest me.

[WildBlueSooner]

Yes

You, sir, are wrong.

The answer is no! But hey you had a 50-50 shot! :tu

[alley00p]

I usually do OK with sticks straight from the humi at my favorite stores. I will usually travel with my own sticks, and if I do take them to a B&M, I make sure I make an equivilant purchase or have purchased the sticks from them initially.

:tpd:

I'm fortunate to have two excellent B&Ms nearby that keep their humidors at 65% or so, so anything that I have bought and smoked there has been fine. I also always bring a 5 stick caddy, and sometimes a bottle of scotch which gets left at my "regular" B&M (the other doesn't condone drinking on prem).

My regular B&M owner doesn't mind if you smoke your own sticks there, but I feel that I should buy at least a stick or two, to sort of pay "rent" while I am smoking and enjoying his air conditioning (or heat, depending on the season).

There are some people who come in carrying their own sticks, smoke them while watching the game on the big screen tv, and then leave without even thinking of buying one stick. B&M owners who have nice smoking lounges and encourage smoking in them are not running Man-caves for the public - they are in business, and anyone who wants to use their stores for a while should buy at least a stick or two! :2


:dance:

[The Poet]

Yes, no, maybe - if we had minds, we should make them up.

For my :2, it is normal for a supplier to ship his cigars too wet, for obvious reasons, which is why OTT is so hit-and-miss. As for in-shop, well, that depends on the shop too much for me to offer even :2 - you know your local place better than me. My JRs in East Hanover NJ sells sticks that almost always smoke and taste just fine, thank you very much, and I've never had a problem with them when I bring my own. Now, I was once invited to a holiday herf at Club Macanudo in Manhattan - snooty place, no jeans, no sneakers, famous for once turning A-Rod away for violating dresscode - and they made everybody buy at least one stick from them. My pal and I went for the $6 Hoyo Excaliber IV, which was only twice what it was worth. But after that out came the baggies and travel-hummies, and we did not hear one peep.

Bottom line, if this really concerns you all that much, then follow the sage advise of Blaise Pascal and stay at home in your own room, where you belong. :ss