Shopping Around?

SmokinPhysics · 04-29-2012, 11:59 AM

So I've spent some time the last several days (procrastination FTW) reading and digesting several pages worth of threads, and I must admit the selection of sales sites is a bit overwhelming. It seems like everyone either has some sort of go-to or a few that they use on a regular basis. My question is how much shopping around do you do prior to any given purchase?

I'm also curious as to how yall arrive at your purchase decisions. The cigar selections are so huge, and it's hard to choose even among sampler packs (it really is a slippery slope, huh

). I've been a beer geek longer than I've been into cigars, and I have the same issue in that hobby; I generally spend 15-30 minutes perusing a (good) bottle shop's selection before settling on a purchase (even if I've been to that shop before), and that's after spending hours of my own time reading reviews and the like of various beers online.

Apexkingjusto · 04-29-2012, 12:07 PM

If you are new to cigars and just dont know what you like yet i suggest continue reading others suggestions and go to your b&m or there is a single cigar site sorry forgot name...buy yourself a bunch of singles. Once you find the ones you like buy a 5pack of it...if you still like it buy a box! I spent tons of hours reading reviews. Sign up for the newbi sampler also a great way to try new sticks! I find most of the combos from ci or similar retatilers to be a waste....typically 1 or 2 good sticks for ever 5 bad ones...this isnt always the case but seems to be often

shilala · 04-29-2012, 12:09 PM

Best I can say is that one learns cigars the same way you learned beers, my friend.
We lean heavily on each other's reviews, and can suggest things to newcomers based on things they've said they liked.
Then it just takes time.
If you've gotten good at beer geekery, cigar geekery is much the same. It takes years to learn a good amount of stuff, and you never learn everything. That's why it's so nice to have a brotherhood to lean on for advice, no matter how long we've played with cigars.

Wharf Rat · 04-29-2012, 12:23 PM

The minimum research is to at least know which sites are different divisions of the same company. For example, Cigars International / CBid / cigars.com / Cigar sprint are cousins. So, don't bid more on Cbid than its normally listed on CI.

SmokinPhysics · 04-29-2012, 10:01 PM

All very good advice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wharf Rat

The minimum research is to at least know which sites are different divisions of the same company. For example, Cigars International / CBid / cigars.com / Cigar sprint are cousins. So, don't bid more on Cbid than its normally listed on CI.

Very interesting. I probably would've taken a while to figure that out, as I'm not keen to go searching for such information right off the bat, particularly coming from the beer side of things where the distribution mechanics are very different.

DaBear · 04-29-2012, 01:10 PM

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

mase · 04-29-2012, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBear

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

Great advice

TJarv · 04-29-2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBear

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

I learned so much from that thing

MarkinAZ · 04-29-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBear

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

...The CA Newsletter?

05-04-2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

...The CA Newsletter?

Steve · 05-04-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBear

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mase

Great advice

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJarv

I learned so much from that thing

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkinCA

...The CA Newsletter?

Always a bargin for the knowledge you will receive, plus the vender coupons will save you a fortune.

levrac68 · 05-04-2012, 01:06 PM

Here's the Sticky Forum List by CA21455 that I found very helpful.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1612

04-29-2012, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBear

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

This. I am still studying mine.

SmokinPhysics · 05-04-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBear

Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

Got the newsletter today. What a great learning opportunity. I'm gonna take a nice, long look at it. Thanks again.

abanytime · 05-04-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokinPhysics

Got the newsletter today. What a great learning opportunity. I'm gonna take a nice, long look at it. Thanks again.

How does one obtain the newsletter? Is this an inside joke I'm on the outside of?

DaBear · 05-04-2012, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abanytime

How does one obtain the newsletter? Is this an inside joke I'm on the outside of?

I would offer to send you a copy, but I just sent my last copy out to Galen. Someone else should have a spare copy though.

cmitch · 05-04-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abanytime

How does one obtain the newsletter? Is this an inside joke I'm on the outside of?

PM me your addy. I have a couple of extra copies laying around.

04-29-2012, 07:34 PM

I say enjoy the journey, make mistakes, smoke sticks that you wouldn't give to your mother in law. That's how you develop tastes, and that in turn develops your pallet. I think everyone has purchased a crappy sampler in their day, before they smoked their first Padron anny, Liga Privada or Tat.

kelmac07 · 04-29-2012, 07:36 PM

Smoke a ton of different sticks and you will soon discover what you like/dislike and take it from there.

And a plug for Brent...the CA Newbie Sampler Trade III is a very good way to get a bunch of different sticks to try.

OLS · 04-29-2012, 07:59 PM

I, too, would like the name of a good vendor.

04-29-2012, 11:59 AM	#1
SmokinPhysics Just in from the Storm Join Date: Apr 2012 First Name: Galen Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 49 Trading: (0)	Shopping Around? So I've spent some time the last several days (procrastination FTW) reading and digesting several pages worth of threads, and I must admit the selection of sales sites is a bit overwhelming. It seems like everyone either has some sort of go-to or a few that they use on a regular basis. My question is how much shopping around do you do prior to any given purchase? I'm also curious as to how yall arrive at your purchase decisions. The cigar selections are so huge, and it's hard to choose even among sampler packs (it really is a slippery slope, huh ). I've been a beer geek longer than I've been into cigars, and I have the same issue in that hobby; I generally spend 15-30 minutes perusing a (good) bottle shop's selection before settling on a purchase (even if I've been to that shop before), and that's after spending hours of my own time reading reviews and the like of various beers online. __________________ Bringing classiness back down to Earth.

04-29-2012, 12:07 PM	#2
Apexkingjusto Newb Join Date: Mar 2012 First Name: Justin Location: NYC burbs CT Posts: 179 Trading: (2)	Re: Shopping Around? If you are new to cigars and just dont know what you like yet i suggest continue reading others suggestions and go to your b&m or there is a single cigar site sorry forgot name...buy yourself a bunch of singles. Once you find the ones you like buy a 5pack of it...if you still like it buy a box! I spent tons of hours reading reviews. Sign up for the newbi sampler also a great way to try new sticks! I find most of the combos from ci or similar retatilers to be a waste....typically 1 or 2 good sticks for ever 5 bad ones...this isnt always the case but seems to be often

04-29-2012, 12:09 PM	#3
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: Shopping Around? Best I can say is that one learns cigars the same way you learned beers, my friend. We lean heavily on each other's reviews, and can suggest things to newcomers based on things they've said they liked. Then it just takes time. If you've gotten good at beer geekery, cigar geekery is much the same. It takes years to learn a good amount of stuff, and you never learn everything. That's why it's so nice to have a brotherhood to lean on for advice, no matter how long we've played with cigars. __________________

04-29-2012, 12:23 PM	#4
Wharf Rat I'll get up and fly away Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bob Location: Florence, SC Posts: 780 Trading: (7)	Re: Shopping Around? The minimum research is to at least know which sites are different divisions of the same company. For example, Cigars International / CBid / cigars.com / Cigar sprint are cousins. So, don't bid more on Cbid than its normally listed on CI.

04-29-2012, 01:10 PM	#6
DaBear Have My Own Room Join Date: Sep 2010 First Name: Bear Location: Raleigh, NC(NC State) Posts: 2,010 Trading: (26)	Re: Shopping Around? Also, don't forget to get a copy of the CA Newsletter. Shoot me your addy in a PM and I can get a copy off to you Wednesday if you'd like. Lots of good reviews and reading material.

05-04-2012, 01:06 PM	#12
levrac68 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Mar 2012 First Name: Todd Location: Long Island Posts: 118 Trading: (0)	Re: Shopping Around? Here's the Sticky Forum List by CA21455 that I found very helpful. http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1612 __________________ "SOMETIMES A CIGAR IS JUST A CIGAR."- S. FREUD

04-29-2012, 07:34 PM	#18
thecatch83 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Shopping Around? I say enjoy the journey, make mistakes, smoke sticks that you wouldn't give to your mother in law. That's how you develop tastes, and that in turn develops your pallet. I think everyone has purchased a crappy sampler in their day, before they smoked their first Padron anny, Liga Privada or Tat.

04-29-2012, 07:36 PM	#19
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Shopping Around? Smoke a ton of different sticks and you will soon discover what you like/dislike and take it from there. And a plug for Brent...the CA Newbie Sampler Trade III is a very good way to get a bunch of different sticks to try. __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

04-29-2012, 07:59 PM	#20
OLS Suck It Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Brad Location: TN Posts: 7,912 Trading: (19)	Re: Shopping Around? I, too, would like the name of a good vendor.