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Every year when raises and bonuses come I take the day off and treat myself to something. So this year I went to one of the bigger shops here on long island and spent a few bucks.
I did it willingly, as I just wanted to buy stuff then and there. But....
Johnny Tobacconaut...$12.50. $8.55 online
Assorted Fuents that are about $8 to $10 on line were all about $14
couple of Tatuaje...same kind of markups.

Now like I said, I bought these so Im complicit but come on! Im all for the community business but a few cigars ended up costing about $110 and I could have gotten the same online for $65 to $70. And as for the experience...I wont miss being continuously asked by the owner if "anything caught my eye" and trying to get me to buy a whole lot of Opus X that cost around $48 a pop by telling me how rare they are. He had a full display case of them, so they arent rare in his store...

Im not going to make a habit of this anymore.

I like to go to the local B&M. Usually good conversation.

I don't buy bulk from them you can find it cheaper online but for a single of something I want to try I come out better.
10 or 20 bucks. When I get online I have to buy enough to get free shipping. Lol

The most recent cigar I purchased at a b&m was a Padrón 6000. I was expecting to pay may $10 or so, it being a b&m, but it was $15! I almost put it back. I think I'm going to limit my instore purchases for cigars that I am going to smoke at the shpo. I figure I'm paying for the privilege of sitting there taking up space.

I like supporting local businesses like that, but when I do, I know I'm paying more than I have to. The last box I bought in a b&m was some EPC Pledge's about 3 years ago, and they were $40 more than I would have paid online. I'm not doing that anymore.

I usually only go to B&M shops to have a nice smoke inside and some good conversation. I don’t think I’d ever consider buying bulk there.

I did not know about the Yardley store. PM me.

I get a box of pepin blue toro from my shpo. I can dig through to the old boxes that way. Last box was 2016. I like those aged.

The closest place for me to buy a handmade “premium” is 30 minute drive and the premiums , if I’m using the term correctly. Are Punch and Montecristo. They have a few other cigars but I’m pretty sure they’re not long filler hand made cigars. They are prepackaged in 4 or 5 packs in a humidity controlled bag hanging on the wall. I believe there must be a cigar shop in Tyler, TX which is 45 minutes from here and I am never over in that direction. When I have to go to VA hospital in Dallas there are several high end cigar store / lounge B&M and I pay for the privilege of shopping there. I will say that I enjoy going there, the service is excellent, and the cigars are in tip-top condition. I’ve had great conversation (just simple chitchat) with the employees and they are a fount of knowledge and seem happy to answer all of my questions. In my situation, where I’m trying to smoke the widest variety of cigars possible to grow my palate and enjoyment of cigars, it is cost prohibitive to buy everything in the B&M.

I always said the same thing, i went into my my favorite local shop and the last thing i needed was a cigar, i had plenty at home. I went in and enjoyed the company, hanging out with the other ‘usuals’ and smoking in some friendly confines.

Not too many “real” B&M cigar / tobacco shops here. And by “real” I mean a standalone shop basically devoted to the smoking experience. Well-stocked, properly kept humidor(s) and an area to smoke a cigar. At best only a couple would qualify but there are a few adult beverage places that have decent humidors but none of those have an area to smoke. With our 50% cigar tax, I haven’t bought any singles in close to 10 years. I will, however, buy Hawaii exclusives almost everytime they’re released.

After reading this thread I appreciate my local shpo even more. It's a 2 mile drive, USMC combat veteran owned, Great ppl, always packed, nice recliners, several big TVs, free 8ft. pool table in a seperate room with 6 couches, and he sells cigars all at MSRP and gives a 10% discount to military, vets, and 1st responders and a 20% discount to everyone on 20+ sticks and discount includes hardware/merch.
He doesn't sell food or liquor but its BYOB. Just cigars and lots of them. Huge 2-room walk in humi +4 lg cabinet humis. Probably 400 facings. Owner is a Vietnam vet who gave a limb amongst other sacrifices for this great country and is now rockin an awesome robotic arm and hand. Dude can give the bird and make his hand rotate 360° it's hilarious.

Cameroon

Overhead to profit ratio and taxes….

What's the name of this place? I want to go. We should have a BOTL gathering at this place.

Da box ain’t free DED…

Everybody fits in there, and all walks of life come in there.
It's a place you don't mind spending money. On the topic of this thread, you'll always find any product cheaper online because of the lack of overhead that comes with owning a storefront.

I wish I had a shoo within a reasonable distance.

You wouldn't like my local shpo. Cops, detectives, FBI agents, CIA operatives named John, and Special ops military come in all the time.

Thanks brother, If I'm ever in the area I'll be sure to stop in. Sounds like my kind of place.

No, but we have plenty of restaurants that do the same with their fish sammies. They give you 2-3 filets each a footlong on a tiny hamburger bun. Some places use a sub roll but not many. Basically you cut one in half for the bun, and take the other 2 and a half home with you where there is more bread.

There's a crappy cigar shop not too far from me that used to be great. But, as often happens, a change in ownership turned the place into an unkempt mess with poor stock and apathetic employees.

I looked around, didn't see anything new or interesting but didn't want to waste a trip. I grabbed a $20 Davidoff Nicaragua robusto tubo, took it to the counter - $32.50. I won't be going back there.

^ Well, to be fair, you kinda live where it's perfect weather EVERY DAMN DAY to be outside smoking a cigar...

Some of us live in Hades, so some nice AC at the Shpo from time to time is a treat.

No, no, no, no!

Sometimes the weather gets BELOW 70F and with a good breeze, the wind chill factor probably takes it down to 65 or so! 🥶

Thank goodness for the serape that Delta TAG!ged me with. 🤙

Oh the HUMANITY!!!

It only heats one side of him, the other side would complain...

Well, increase the GoFundMe and with the extra money, can buy two of them!

Heck, go for it and get 4! All-around warm! Yeehaw!

Locals are great, when you have a good one. They suck if you don't. I have a good one, about 25 miles away. It is where I bought my second good cigar. My first I got from my grandfather, when I was 12 and he caught me smoking a swisher behind his barn. But that is another story.

The local I get to, when I have the time, is owned by C.L. Davis. It is a family run joint attached to his wife pet store. The regulars are called the "Cigar Mafia." We hang out, smoke cigars, and drink coffee. Solve the worlds problems, and joke around. I bought my first humidor there. Made my first 2 box purchases there. A box of A. Fuentes Canones, and a box of A. Fuentes Double Chateau S.G. This was before there was such a thing, as the internet. I was a broke college student, who was waiting tables, and cooking, at an Irish pub. When C.L. found out, he would bring his family, to Kelts, where I worked, for dinner, and leave a generous tip, and a cigar. In return, I spent a bit of my tip money with him. A symbiotic relationship developed. As my cigar knowlege, and my palate matured, I bought more, and better cigars from him. I left the area, and went to culinary school. Got a few chef jobs, and moved to southern California, and worked the LA scene, then to Coronado, and made six figures as an executive chef. Burned out, from the stress of the job, and a nagging Cocaine addiction. Decided to move back to Arkansas, and get clean. The year was 1984. My sponser, in NA, smoked cigars, and I got back into cigars. Back to Mr. Davis, his smoke shop, and the cigars.
Then the internet happened.
I discovered this place, and my hobby became an obsession. I was back at my old job, but the majority of my cigars, were from here. I still made a weekly purchase, from Mr Davis, on my day off, and would smoke them with the Cigar Mafia. To this day, I still make it by, as much as possible to have a smoke, and stimulating conversation with the mafia. But the majority of my purchases, are online. I ocassionaly bring C.L a Cuban cigar, but alway purchase whatever I am smoking, when I am there. When he gets Opus X or Anejo, he saves some for me, as he knows I will buy them, even if I can beat the price elsewhere, because it is my home town smoke shop, and I want it to stay open.
I have left the culinary arts, because it just doesn't pay here in Arkansas, and started a trucking business. I don't have the time to visit, as much as I would like, but I am always welcomed, as if I had never left, and offered a chair. It is nice to have a home. Even at double the price, of online shopping. For me, it is worth it.
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)