Box Pricing at B&M's - Page 2

RevSmoke · 12-27-2008, 08:28 AM

Just some info regarding my local B&Ms.

Closest is the one in Shawano, 10 miles up the road. It is a Book World, selling books, magazines, pipes, tobacco, and cigars. As you might guess, the selection of tobacco related items is very slim. If I took a 30 mile radius population survey, I'd guess maybe 30,000 people (if that many).

As I move out even further, there's another Book World about 22 miles away in New London.

Then, about 45 miles, I have either Green Bay or Appleton.

In Appleton, there are two "bookstore" tobacconists of the "Book World" variety. And, a real tobacconist (Appleton Souvenoir & Cigar) with a walk in humidor and a couple bookshelf humidors - decent selection - prices are much inflated.

In Green Bay is Boss's, a newsstand tobacconist. However, he has a decent walk-in humidor, and his prices are a bit better. But they are nowhere near the online prices.

Appleton Souvenoir & Cigar is the only one with a "cigar lounge" and the last two times I stopped in, it was populated with hookah smoking 20-somethings, and the salesperson tailed me into the humidor and tried pushing the "super-premiums" on me, "these are the best, you should try these - Cigar Afficionado gave them a ** rating."

So, I asked, "Which cigars do yous smoke?"

"I don't smoke cigars."

Anyway, when I do get to Appleton, it is usually to do pastoral visits, so if I do stop in a the shop, I don't linger long.

shilala · 12-27-2008, 10:57 AM

I think someone made an excellent point. B&M's provide an experience that comes at a cost. My online vendors don't provide a comfy couch and a nice atmosphere to hang with my buds.
Mind ya, I haven't come across a B&M that charges excruciating prices on their cigars, and I can count my B&M smoking experiences on one hand.
What I can say is that when I'm traveling and I see a B&M I stop and play cigars, then I sit and have a smoke. It's an oasis. A totally cool oasis.

I always buy a handful of sticks because there's always something I haven't tried and there's no B&M anywhere near here. The few bucks I spend is honestly a value.

duckmanco · 12-27-2008, 11:59 AM

My local chain of B&M's prices are high, but I use them mainly for singles as box prices tend to be WAY over anything close to internet retailers. On some smokes, like Oliva and Padron, they are pretty close to internet box prices which allows me to use gift cards from them on certain boxes. Either way, its nice to peruse a cigar shop now and then, if not just for the aroma and the sight of it.

RichardW · 12-29-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilala

[snip]

What I can say is that when I'm traveling and I see a B&M I stop and play cigars, then I sit and have a smoke. It's an oasis. A totally cool oasis.

I always buy a handful of sticks because there's always something I haven't tried and there's no B&M anywhere near here. The few bucks I spend is honestly a value.

Rabidsquirrel · 12-27-2008, 12:03 PM

Nothing beats coming out of a store with a few new purchases in your hand.

ucla695 · 12-29-2008, 01:16 PM

My B&Ms will cut me a 10% discount for box purchases. It’s hard to get a bigger discount….especially with hard to find cigars. I’ll buy locally if the prices are close. Otherwise, I’ll pull the trigger online.

Sauer Grapes · 12-29-2008, 10:46 PM

The boxes I buy locally aren't discounted at all. I'm fortunate though that I get them pretty close to MSRP on the hard to finds, when I finds them.

karmaz00 · 01-03-2009, 03:07 AM

deffintly not in canada...the prices here are retarted...i do 99 % of my shopping online or in cuba!!

GoatLocker · 01-03-2009, 12:41 PM

CA has a 45% tax on the wholesale price (the price to the shop), plus 7-3/4% sales tax. Seeing as shops here pay 45% more for the cigars, there is no way they can match online retailers. There are some notable exceptions, like Tatuajes, which are about the same price at my b&m as online. I guess that means either the online vendors are making a killing on cigars like tats, or my local has worked out a very good wholesale price...

That said, my local takes 10% off on full boxes and another 10% for military.

chippewastud79 · 01-03-2009, 12:57 PM

I know I am spolied living in Kentucky where there is no tobacco tax, but like BengalMan stated in the first response, it just isn't in the profit margin for B+M's to match online vendor prices. Online vendors move large(r) volumes and don't pay state taxes (which you are supposed to pay yourself when you buy). If we all reported out online purchases and in turn paid the taxes we were supposed to the prices would become a wash.

B+M's are an integral part of the cigar world, and I know it isn't fun walking into a store and paying well over double what a stick could be had for online, but keep in mind that you are paying for the atmosphere. Online vendors do not provide you with conversation, a place to sit, or the opportunity to see/smell/touch/smoke the cigar as soon as you buy it. Instant gratification

Quote:

Originally Posted by karmaz00

deffintly not in canada...the prices here are retarted...i do 99 % of my shopping online or in cuba!!

Sure you could have used a different adjective, even with the spelling

Texan in Mexico · 01-03-2009, 01:05 PM

I agree with what has been stated here.

1). B&M tend to give you a 10% discount on box purchases.

2). We should support our local B&Ms as they are one of the havens we still have to smoke in public

3). They offer us a great way to try out new sticks without doing the guesswork on a box

4). The Chat on this site is great but face to face conversation with BOTL is tough to beat

The only B&M I have been to where the discount was better than 10 or 15% is Corona Club in Orlando.

I have bought boxes there that reflected a 30% discount more than once.

12-27-2008, 08:28 AM	#1
RevSmoke Ain't Never Gonna Leave Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Todd Location: Northcentral woods of Wisconsin Posts: 6,887 Trading: (51)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's Just some info regarding my local B&Ms. Closest is the one in Shawano, 10 miles up the road. It is a Book World, selling books, magazines, pipes, tobacco, and cigars. As you might guess, the selection of tobacco related items is very slim. If I took a 30 mile radius population survey, I'd guess maybe 30,000 people (if that many). As I move out even further, there's another Book World about 22 miles away in New London. Then, about 45 miles, I have either Green Bay or Appleton. In Appleton, there are two "bookstore" tobacconists of the "Book World" variety. And, a real tobacconist (Appleton Souvenoir & Cigar) with a walk in humidor and a couple bookshelf humidors - decent selection - prices are much inflated. In Green Bay is Boss's, a newsstand tobacconist. However, he has a decent walk-in humidor, and his prices are a bit better. But they are nowhere near the online prices. Appleton Souvenoir & Cigar is the only one with a "cigar lounge" and the last two times I stopped in, it was populated with hookah smoking 20-somethings, and the salesperson tailed me into the humidor and tried pushing the "super-premiums" on me, "these are the best, you should try these - Cigar Afficionado gave them a ** rating." So, I asked, "Which cigars do yous smoke?" "I don't smoke cigars." Anyway, when I do get to Appleton, it is usually to do pastoral visits, so if I do stop in a the shop, I don't linger long. __________________ Todd__ "Smoke what you like, and enjoy it!"

12-27-2008, 10:57 AM	#2
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's I think someone made an excellent point. B&M's provide an experience that comes at a cost. My online vendors don't provide a comfy couch and a nice atmosphere to hang with my buds. Mind ya, I haven't come across a B&M that charges excruciating prices on their cigars, and I can count my B&M smoking experiences on one hand. What I can say is that when I'm traveling and I see a B&M I stop and play cigars, then I sit and have a smoke. It's an oasis. A totally cool oasis. I always buy a handful of sticks because there's always something I haven't tried and there's no B&M anywhere near here. The few bucks I spend is honestly a value. __________________

12-27-2008, 11:59 AM	#3
duckmanco Can't stop whats coming Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: that forsaken stretch of wood they call Whiskey Grove Posts: 404 Trading: (10)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's My local chain of B&M's prices are high, but I use them mainly for singles as box prices tend to be WAY over anything close to internet retailers. On some smokes, like Oliva and Padron, they are pretty close to internet box prices which allows me to use gift cards from them on certain boxes. Either way, its nice to peruse a cigar shop now and then, if not just for the aroma and the sight of it. __________________ "...Ain't no dark till somethin' shines..."

12-27-2008, 12:03 PM	#5
Rabidsquirrel Moderately Confused Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pennsylvania, US Posts: 576 Trading: (5)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's Nothing beats coming out of a store with a few new purchases in your hand.

12-29-2008, 01:16 PM	#6
ucla695 Neither here, nor there Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pool Posts: 3,696 Trading: (5)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's My B&Ms will cut me a 10% discount for box purchases. It’s hard to get a bigger discount….especially with hard to find cigars. I’ll buy locally if the prices are close. Otherwise, I’ll pull the trigger online.

12-29-2008, 10:46 PM	#7
Sauer Grapes Snatchin' yo people up Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,235 Trading: (44)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's The boxes I buy locally aren't discounted at all. I'm fortunate though that I get them pretty close to MSRP on the hard to finds, when I finds them.

01-03-2009, 03:07 AM	#8
karmaz00 Habanos Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Jason Location: victoria Posts: 1,855 Trading: (1)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's deffintly not in canada...the prices here are retarted...i do 99 % of my shopping online or in cuba!!

01-03-2009, 12:41 PM	#9
GoatLocker Dr of Quantum Inebrionics Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Eric Location: Sandy Eggo Posts: 434 Trading: (1)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's CA has a 45% tax on the wholesale price (the price to the shop), plus 7-3/4% sales tax. Seeing as shops here pay 45% more for the cigars, there is no way they can match online retailers. There are some notable exceptions, like Tatuajes, which are about the same price at my b&m as online. I guess that means either the online vendors are making a killing on cigars like tats, or my local has worked out a very good wholesale price... That said, my local takes 10% off on full boxes and another 10% for military. __________________ "I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form." Winston Churchill

01-03-2009, 01:05 PM	#11
Texan in Mexico Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Travis Location: Puerto Morelos, Mexico Posts: 958 Trading: (0)	Re: Box Pricing at B&M's I agree with what has been stated here. 1). B&M tend to give you a 10% discount on box purchases. 2). We should support our local B&Ms as they are one of the havens we still have to smoke in public 3). They offer us a great way to try out new sticks without doing the guesswork on a box 4). The Chat on this site is great but face to face conversation with BOTL is tough to beat The only B&M I have been to where the discount was better than 10 or 15% is Corona Club in Orlando. I have bought boxes there that reflected a 30% discount more than once.