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Hello, folks. Long time customer, first time poster.

I've been trying to get a general sense of what people think about CigarBid, and it's proven to be quite difficult. It's very easy to pull up all the complaints, but not so easy to find the people who really like the place. As it appears that CigarBid does a LOT of business, I have to think there are more people who like it than dislike it.

What I'm trying to get to is this... I look at other cigar sites and the vast majority of the time, the prices I see on other sites are WAY higher than what I can get cigars on CigarBid for. Yeah, there are exceptions, but for the most part, FreeFall and bundles usually work out to MASSIVE savings on Cigars. For example, I routinely get a ten pack of Montecristo White series Rothschilde for under $40. I've never seen it anywhere NEAR that price anywhere else.

So my confusion is, why isn't CigarBid the talk of the town all over the internet? Why do people say the prices aren't that great when what I find indicates otherwise? Other cigar shops advertise "great prices" but when I pit them against CigarBid, they are almost always higher, and most times, a LOT higher. Am I missing something?

For the record, I've placed four orders over the past year with CigarBid, the latest order over $500. I've been very happy with all the orders I've received.

Thanks for your input.

Alex

For me, CBid was GREAT when I first found this site. Just about all of the major brands could be found with bids starting at $1 for all auctions...none of this MAP carp! But, as my horizons broadened, found other sites, auction and non-auction, with even broader offerings. So, as a natural progression, bidded less here and straight out bought what I wanted. When MAP started being enforced, there was less and less for me to bid on so I eventually lost interest in auctions overall. I’m sure many others share the same or similar experiences and have moved on. On a brotherly site that I regularly visit, people still reference either their start with CBid or even purchases so CBid is still relevant and somewhat talked about.

Take that back..!! you want the word to get around the internets..??

I CME for the smokes and stayed for the azzhattery

Nothing like it used to be. The auctions are not easily won and there are a lot of crappy cigars. Since the site change debacle things got strange and the recent large amount of screw ups make it less desirable. I find better cigars at better prices elsewhere and just hang around bidding from time to time on yard gars. CBID is making boatloads of money and they don't seem to want to spend any of it increasing or improving what has become pathetic customer service.

Granted CBid is a little different since the Swiss ownership and the VIRUS has screwed up customer service But.....


I LOVE THIS SITE. The auction is exciting and fun and sharpens the senses, as it is so Very easy to make a costly bidding error (which CI will often help you with if you don't abuse the privilege.)

The web site has every bit of information you could possibly need including a record of everything you ever bought or bid on! (Almost)

Even the most complex orders which may include lots of singles and wins of every category are 99.5 accurate. Rarely a mistake. Shipping is reasonable considering the deals on the cigars.

I used to pore over my stash of JR junk and rarely reached for a cigar with anticipation, because I could not afford to indulge myself with better smokes. Now, having become comfortable with the bidding process, I can reach for a good and sometimes great cigar every night and pay no more than I was spending at JR or Thompson.

The Staff could not be more helpful.

But don't tell this to anybody!!! I don't want to bid against new bidders in a future auction!

Only complaint is that the new bidding program is getting quite complex regarding bid increments, and more than once I found myself bidding against myself. Just have to learn to be careful before I press that "enter bid" buttom

I'd like to thank everyone who's responded, it definitely gives me a little more insight as to the overall impressions of Cigar Bid! Love the sense of humor with some of the replies :)

Palama, I didn't even notice the "MAP" until you mentioned it... yeah that definitely seems like a downer, but I didn't really notice because I tend to zero in on the Free Falls. Having said that, I've also gotten some through the regular auction method for a song too. Not everything's a great deal, that's for sure, but I wouldn't expect it to be.

Subuclayton, Yeah, I've noticed that customer service is lacking at the moment... I sent a question in on Tuesday... still no response. Not a biggie really, the question sort of answered itself after a few days. It's strange to me that customer service would suffer during a pandemic like this... if there ever were a perfect "Work From Home" job, it would be customer service. Telephone, computer, internet, done... you have everything you need to help customers. So why customer service is suffering kinda escapes me, but whatever.

Tonygraz, What is this "site change debacle" you're referring to, if I could ask? Just out of curiosity, can you give me an example of a better cigar at better prices elsewhere? Just for my own information!

Thanks again, everyone!

Alex

Actually, I think my first purchase was only a year ago, so yeah, maybe not so long time :)

Not for the better, I take it?

Hmmmm... that could be the start of a new business model! (or an old one)

I liked this place when I first started smoking... didn't understand all the bad talk about prices getting out of control and selection being limited to the worst selling sizes of each blend and so on.... that was like 8 or 9 years ago...

Now I realize this place essentially caters to new smokers - people who haven't figured out what they do and don't like in a cigar yet...

Eventually you're gonna find a cigar you really like, and you're gonna end up buying a version of it on cigarbid that is nothing like the original one you smoked and you're gonna come on the forum and ask "what the hell happened to this place? They used to sell cigars i liked in vitolas i liked at prices i liked"... and the short answer is, "you've changed, man"...

I have doubts on the quality of some cigars sold on cbid. A while back I received a few fivers of Rocky Patel 90's that tasted like they were dipped in vinegar....and I don't remember selecting the vinegar option? Maybe it was an upgrade and I got a better deal?

I ran into other similar instances in the past where I ordered cigars I'm very familiar with and they either completely sucked, tasted odd or at best, not the same.

Oh, and they have no problem taking your money but when a problem arises, NEVER get back to you,

Man, you have a Penn State avatar.... WTH do you know about wonderful people??

Let's Goooo Mountaineers! :p

They changed, I changed, we just grew apart.

I've tried to go back, but there's just no reason for me to shop here anymore.

Palama hit the nail on the head. It was a great place for great deals but enforced minimum pricing killed this, and the other auctions.