Box VS Sampler
 

I have found a few cigars I am willing to buy by the box, But I am..... scared too.:sl

I like to have the variety of cigars. Any one else like me?

I keep debating on if I should make a coolidor and stock it up. When I think that I will have plenty of the same cigars, I 'worry' myself I might get tired of them.:hn

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I started off just like that, I had a pretty decent variety. Then I found what I liked and went crazy on boxes. I would just say find your favorites, ensure that they are indeed your favorites by smoking TONS of cigars.....

Then it's time to buy them by the box :D

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

No need to rush into buying boxes, lots of guys buy nothing but samplers and 5 packs and are perfectly happy :2

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I currently only buy singles and samplers or 5rs. After I really get my favorites figured out (and have room) I will make some box purchases.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

X2

I have however gotten a couple 2nds bundles. I use them as boat smokes after I finish a dive.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I bought a bundle once.. I liked it, but got tired of them. So those are the ones i was sharing with my good buddies.

But, I don't want to spend good money on good cigars and then just hand them out since I am tired of them.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Regardless of how you buy cigars, the coolidor is a good idea and you should pursue it. That way no matter what you do, you have room to store your sticks. Also, don't skimp -- get yourself a bigger cooler than you think you will need :)

When I am trying a new stick I always buy at least two -- after I try it I still have at least one more to help me remember the manufacturer, band, etc. as a reminder for what to buy or not buy. Once I find sticks I like I will get fivers or boxes as they become available at decent prices.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I currently have 3 different boxes of cigars in my humidors(I have 2). The rest are all singles or sample packs. So technically, I don't have that many boxes of cigars.

you could always pick your favorite of the few you liked and look into buying a box of those, and then just get samplers of the remaining.

I'm still trying new stuff all the time and I always say, I'd like a box of these. But then I find another cigar I like better and think back, good thing I didn't buy that box of other cigars yet.

Now if I had a big cigar cabinet humidor, that'd be a different story. haha.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I know what I like and what I will pay for most of them. I am usually more driven by a good deal on something I like rather than on packaging

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

There's really not a lot you need to "make" a coolidor. Buy a big cooler, buy some beads, put cigars in cooler with beads. Do the coolers with all the shelves and spanish cedar linings look and function great? Sure, but I have none of that and my cooler works just fine.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I don't have enough smokes for a cooler. My humi holds 50 cigars. I was thinking of just getting another humi.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I am different, :r alot of people here can attest to that, but I buy most everything by the box mostly even if I have not tried them before. It is just so much cheaper in most cases per cigar, although it is more expensive than buy a 5 pack.

If you buy a 5 pack for $25 or a box of 20 for $80 you are still spending more on the box but less per cigar so that is where you have to decide if it is worth it. For me if I don't like the cigar I either trade them, sell them for what I paid, or send them to someone I know likes them.

Most of the time I am able to trade them for other sticks to try though. You also can participate in box passes and other things of that nature and diversify your collection. It is all personal choice though.

I wouldn't suggest going this route though unless you upgrade your humi to a cooler.

Academy Sports and Outdoors sells a 48QT Coleman Cooler for $16. Then you just have to pick up beads and a hygrometer (optional). The whole setup cost me $16 for the cooler and around $20 for the beads. So for the price of a smaller humidor you have a big coolidor. There is plenty of threads on how to setup your coolidor but I just left it open for a few days then sprinkled baking soda all over in the inside and rinsed it out. I then let it air dry for a few days. You then can put the beads and the hygrometer in and let it sit for a day then up your boxes in. Sorry for being wordy but I just wanted to express, like others have said in the thread, that it is very easy and pretty cheap to get a good setup going. :tu

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I changed my Padilla and Cubao sale from boxes to 5-packs because I think this is the prevailing sentiment.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I went crazy buying boxes in the beginning. Now my tastes have evolved and I'm stuck with a bunch of cigars I don't want to smoke.

So my advice is to wait a little while and start adding boxes when you are more confident in your tastes.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I buy my staple cigars in boxes and always grab a few singles to fill the space. I like to buy samplers from time to time. I often find a great cigar that I wouldn't buy normally.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

That's how it starts. Trust the advice given here and go the cooler route if you're just looking for added space.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

That is what I was thinking..:tu Cooler, then box splits and 5 packs.. Fill it that way and keep it going that way.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

:r
Does this remind anyone else here of that day, long ago, when he (I) stood on the edge of a steep slope, innocently looking around, not knowing or fully understanding how far down there was to fall!!! An how complete that fall could be! :r

Been there, done that!

Get the cooler. And keep your eyes out for more coolers, at cheap prices!

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Started with a desktop

Then a few desktops

Then a VinoTemp

Then my girl bought me an end-table sized cabinet

Then another VinoTemp

Then an Avallo

Then an Aristocrat

And most recently supplemented with a 120 quart cooler

Yeah, I remember ...

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I think I need to get a cooler! I have no room for a box. currently my purchasing cigars is on hold for a couple reasons, so I am just smoking down my small inventory so I can add a box.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Im going to do a cooler.. SET!

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I used to only buy singles ... until I found some cigars that were so consistently pleasing I had to have a box.

http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/a...BoxesSized.jpg

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Boxes are the only way for me to go. I get a hint of a new cigar I might like, usually off this board or in sales emails from my favorite discount e-tailers. Then I read three pages of Google output of reviews of a cigar, which usually nets me a half-dozen or so opinions that would seem reliable. Any cigar that costs more than $180.00 a box requires multiple rave reviews.

I almost invariably order from 1 of 2 discount e-tailers. Both operations get my orders right, charge me the price they said they would and ship same day if the order is in by noon; sometimes later.

The trouble with 5-ers, for me, is that while I can get a decent idea of whether I like the cigar or not from 5 cigars 50% of the time, the rest of the time it takes 5-10 cigars. For instance, the Don Carlos-I think it took 11 cigars.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I buy a lot of samplers. I'll buy boxes when I find sticks that are inespensive enough to stock up on that I like, but I do like having variety in my humi...

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Desktop -> Trunk style humidor -> trunk style humidor + 80 qt cooler -> trunk style humidor + 80 qt cooler + 60 qt cooler -> 6 feet tall, 5 feet wide, 2 feet deep cabinet humidor.

All that in under a year :r

It isn't a "steep slope" - it is jumping out of an airplane.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Wow.. Busy. In a year, I have had my humi, 50ct and will be buying a cooler this weekend.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Post pics and price if you don't mind.....everyone here has convinced me to get the cooler....now to convince the wife.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I just got mine started, I recomend the Shilala beads. I got one 8oz bag and put it straight into my cooler and everything has been perfect since day one.
I was concerned that I needed twice that amount, I PMd CigarNut and he said just put that in for now and see if I need more. It worked perfect.:noon-(P

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I went with heartfelt. Should be here later this week. Wed or later, I will be on the search for a cooler. Im only going with a 52 or so quart.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I currently smoke 2-3 aday, usually 1 bundle/1 premium. I always keep 2-3 different types of bundles to keep from smoking too much of one kind. some of My premiums are usually bought 1box at a time. These are often given out to friends. Most other premiums are bought in fivers or in samplers. I love samplers, I get excited to try a new smoke. Last month I smoked 30+ different smokes. Some were great, some were nightmares, but all were fun. Lastly I still go every week to hang and smoke at my local b&m.

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

I will echo many sentiments already stated in the thread.

When I first started expanding my collection I would see GREAT deals on boxes, so I'd buy them. Well, turns out that one cigar I smoked or that review I read really didn't tell me how I'd like the cigar or not in the long term. Or they were a cigar I enjoyed a few of and then 6-8 months later I just didn't smoke as much of anymore.

Really what could have saved me money and humidor space, would have been to buy 5'ers of whatever cigar I was interested. Smoke them. Buy another 5'er if I still wanted to smoke that cigar. 10 cigars and a few months later if I'm still interested, then buy a box.

As it is I'm finally getting my collection down to what I like, enjoy, and still find myself reaching for to smoke regularly. Yeah, I have favorites and I also have some I don't reach for very often, but I'm glad I have boxes of them. Unfortunately I still sometimes fall for the "great deal on a box" trick and find myself with a box of cigars I don't enjoy as much as I though, but I'm getting better ;)

Re: Box VS Sampler
 

Yep. I smoked samplers and 5 packs for about 6 months before I took the plunge on a box. I still rarely buy them.

But having the storage space (2 90 quart coolers) was instrumental in my comfort level. I've got one dedicated to box storage and the other for "rotating stock." Buying a box of something I love (Jaimes, PH681s, Ashtons, Olivas, CAOs) when they're not something I want all the time makes a lot of sense now that I can "put them down for a year" and just sorta pick at them.

Hmm... now that I've started wood working maybe it's time to build a chest for the coolidors rather than spend umpteen bagillion dollars on a huge humi.

Err... But yes. Smoke 5 packs of things you think you'd like a box of first. Hate to end up with 23 out of 24 sticks that you don't really like. Of course, rolling the dice is fun sometimes too ;)