Mikes Cigars loses Oliva.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by BengalMan

......Thanks for reading my long rant. I'm heading to a B&M to work.

I was hoping you would chime in as you have the inside look. With all you said, some I agree with, some I'm not sold on just yet.... I would ask/comment that maybe in days of olde when all there was were the B&M's, I can see where they could have held a higher level of importance with availability, knowledge, etc.

In my case of 2 years of smoking cigars and what's around me.

a) Small walk in humi (say triple walk in closet size), the guy there barely speaks English, and is mostly a cigarette shop.

b) Nice size selection, nice discounts on singles, no real knowledge of cigars by the workers. Some accessories.

c) Small walk in humi, coffee bar, some polite help, some not so polite.

d) Large selection, small smoking lounge, friendly, good looking college help (but not knowledgeable on cigars), or crabby help I will not deal with.

Glad you brought up Bose, I was going to add it to my original post but wasn't aware if many knew their pricing. I can hear the diff in a Bose Acustimass system and a low end Pioneer. I have no issues paying for better quality items as I will pay more for a tastier smoke than a yard gar.

I can't rationalize though paying more for a cigar selling locally at $9.25 a Monte White Rothschild or $4.75 ea on a cbid auction. The taxes here just aren't that high to explain that much increase. Exact same cigar, 1/2 the price. Quality doesn't change and there is nor real value gained by supporting a brick and mortar.

Interesting topic.
I agree there are those who are name oriented (my ex brother in law is one), all they care is the name others will see on said product. I on the other hand only require X value for X $$$ paid.

[Volusianator]

Originally Posted by Volt

Quality doesn't change and there is nor real value gained by supporting a brick and mortar.

Remember that the next time you want to go to a lounge with a bunch of buddies, or by yourself to have a smoke and the shop is out of business because nobody saw the "value" in spending more at a B&M. I buy my fair share of cigars online, just like everyone else, but I also buy boxes from my local from time to time to do my part to help keep his doors open. I value his business, I value his leather chairs, I value his smoke eaters, I value the drinks I can get there, I value his service.

[Volt]

You need to read my posts a bit more carefully, out of my choices only one really has a smoking lounge and the attitude there is not something I want to put up with to smoke there. I like a bourbon with my sticks and as most of my friends don't smoke cigars.... you see where I am going. As I stated, a B&M im most senses does not serve me (YMMV) any real service other than a spur of the moment buy... Even then not much due to pricing.

Originally Posted by Volusianator

Remember that the next time you want to go to a lounge with a bunch of buddies, or by yourself to have a smoke and the shop is out of business because nobody saw the "value" in spending more at a B&M. I buy my fair share of cigars online, just like everyone else, but I also buy boxes from my local from time to time to do my part to help keep his doors open. I value his business, I value his leather chairs, I value his smoke eaters, I value the drinks I can get there, I value his service.

[Volusianator]

Originally Posted by Volt

You need to read my posts a bit more carefully, out of my choices only one really has a smoking lounge and the attitude there is not something I want to put up with to smoke there. As I stated, a B&M im most senses does not serve me (YMMV) any real service other than a spur of the moment buy... Even then not much due to pricing.

I agree that I only read your one reply regarding the B&M's, however you said there's no value in supporting a Brick & Mortar. If you would've said there's no value in supporting "your local" B&M, then I would possibly understand if you have a bad shop. But to make a blanket statement as you did, I can't agree with that.

[Yazzie]

Originally Posted by Volt

You need to read my posts a bit more carefully, out of my choices only one really has a smoking lounge and the attitude there is not something I want to put up with to smoke there. I like a bourbon with my sticks and as most of my friends don't smoke cigars.... you see where I am going. As I stated, a B&M im most senses does not serve me (YMMV) any real service other than a spur of the moment buy... Even then not much due to pricing.