Depends on your B&M and even the stores he owns/runs.
My B&M has 3 or 4 locations, and at one of them the
employees have NO CLUE about running a humidifier.
At another location we sometimes smoke inside the
walk-in, particularly if there is an event. IMHO this
doesn't help the open box stock.
I've been to both CI stores. The downtown location
is very small with a somewhat limited selection. The
new Superstore is modern with a nice lounge in the back
and a very good selection. The cigars I bought were OK.
And their mail order smokes are quite serviceable.
I also go to Holts several times each year. They know
how to treat cigars.
I've got dry cigars from the big guys and my local B&M.
If I let them recover in my humi, they will be good,
except for the one local location with poor humi habits.
I never worry about smokes from Holts. In fact they
might be a bit moist for some, but I smoke at least one
right there on every trip and never had a bad one.
Once I get them home and in my humi they remain in
top condition.
I think it's a matter of knowing how to deal with what
you get, rather than how they were kept at the store.
If you buy from a store and they consistently sell you
dry smokes, just let them recover(if possible) in your
humi, or find another store.
Many mail order smokes seem to be over humidified before
shipping, IMHO. This lets them dry out, a bit, while in transit.
Nothing wrong with that, except that OTT they might plug
a bit more.
Some people/brands prefer slightly drier smokes. To me they
burn a bit hot, but that's a personal preference.
YMMV
Chemyst
