hey, guys -- i've a question about cigar store etiquette: when you go to a cigar store with a smoking area, is it considered poor form to bring your own cigar in with you? should you only smoke there if you buy a cigar there?

I have found some don't care and some do. I just ask and go with the flow. 🙂

If you have a good relationship with the worker/owner, you can bring your own cigars to smoke there. I've been to Cigar King in IL, and I saw people smoking ISOM's there (now that you cannot not buy at the store :-P).

You can always ask the worker/owner 😉

I have always thought that if you are using someone's facility to smoke, it is good etiquette to buy SOMETHING there. Doesnt have to be a cigar that you are smoking that day. Doesnt even have to be a cigar. It could be coffee, magazine, newspaper, or any other various items that they may happen to sell.

I frequently bring my own cigar(s) when going to my Local to smoke. However, I always purchase a coffee, cap, or latte to drink.

Here in Long Island NY we have a new place that is a Cigar Lounge. When I met Patrick (the owner) at a outdoor festival nearby, he invited me to come and check out his place and meet some of the guys. He told me it was fine to bring in my own. He has events once in a while, so I went to one recently(BYOB). Besides the fact I had a Blast....he does sell cigars there and at prices conciderbly higher than a retail Cigar Shop. I just could not see how he would stay open if we did not buy from him. So for the first time I did not bring my own. However I did notice that others have brought their own. Since this is not a regular Cigar Shop I think I would be more inclined to at least buy one and bring one of my own also.

W2VQY

When I go to my local,
I am usually smoking one when I arrive. But I always buy at least one stick, while there. Usually it is something that goes for an outrageous price at auction.
Like just about anything by A.Fuentes.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

Would you bring your own sandwich into a restaurant? Bring your own beer to a bar? Look, these guys are trying to run a business and at the same time it provides you with a place to hang out with other BOTL.

As you can derive from these boards, most of the folks involved in the cigar business seem to be friendly and easy going. So when you ask them if it's OK to bring in your own smokes, they're likely to say OK because they don't want to lose your business (assuming that you sometimes buy from them).

We use to have a really nice local shop just a short drive from my house. They had comfortable couches, TV, chess boards and some other games. I was a regular customer (3-4 days a week). The owners were laid back and people took advantage of them. They'd come in and hang out for hours watching TV and chatting. The problem was, many of them brought their own smokes on a regular basis. Some even brought in their own bottled water or coffee (both things that the shop also sold). They were taking space away from paying customers.

Some folks did buy coffee but it was a serve yourself thing and you could refill as much as you wanted. People would pay for a cup and drink a whole pot.

Our local shop closed a couple years ago and I believe it was because of their easy going attitudes. They were trying to be everyones friend and people took advantage of that.

So do your local shop a favor, don't ask if it's OK to bring in your own smokes. Buy one of his, drink a cup of coffee and enjoy the company. It could all be gone one day.

Buy.

well, first off, i never even GO into my 2 local shops unless i intend to purchase at least one cigar. but when i do, sometimes i want to hang out and have a cigar, but i don't want to burn the one i just purchased.

also, i was curious about how it might be received to bring 2 of my own and share one with the owner of a particular store where it's just him, the humi and a place to sit -- no drinks or food or anything.

the only time i went into his store w/o the intention of buying was when i had made up some promo materials to see if he could use them -- not to sell, but just to give him. and even then i ended up buying one.

the way i was raised, my dad wouldn't even stop to pee at a gas station without buying something there as well, even if it was just a candy bar or soda.

just curious as to "standard" practices. 🙂

Cavallo,

From what little I know of you, I'd say you can trust your own common sense.

Bring your own and smoke it. I imagine that even if you go with one and no intention of buying you'll end up buying something anyway. Come on, you know you will. As has been said the retail business is hard, the owner (if not a jerk), will probably be happy to let you enjoy his wares. A full shop with people smoking is a lot more conducive to sales than an empty one IMO.

When I go to my favorite shop to hang out, I always start off buying one to smoke there. I bring a few from home, but by the time I leave hours later, I've added a few more to my purchase. Lately when I go, I've been gifting Cbid winnings to the owner of things not available in our area. He knows I don't expect anything in return, but sometimes, he'll gift me a primo if I run out and buy lunch for him, since he can't leave. Besides, the ones I bring in were usually bought there anyway.

Doug

Aznaries...Where in IL you from? drop me a line:
szajowsk
at
uiuc
dot
edu

Polish Tony

thanks, djheater. i don't the owner of the newer store well, but he seems like a very decent guy. he's not doing too well because he's downtown, and the downtown businesses here in general are disappearing fast. it's all bars and restaurants now, and only in the tourist season do THEY flourish.

i wanted to help the guy get some customers, so i made up some promo items and a "buy 10 singles, get one free" punch card for him to pass out and leave at the local bars/restaurants. anyway, i can't go in his shop and not buy anything, even if it's a $2 single stick (which is about all i can afford anyway). 😛

i guess it wouldn't hurt to go in next time with a cbid cigar or two, buy one of his and just offer to sit and share mine with him. never thought of the value of having smoking customers in there, though. good point!

If a cigar store offers a place for you to relax and enjoy a cigar on the premises, I consider it common courtesy to patronize the business for at least one cigar. If nothing else, you benefit as a cigar lover by having a nice place to relax and enjoy a cigar even if their prices are non-competitive. Hey look, the owner has to pay a lease, utilities and taxes to keep the business open. I my mind, you're a mooch if don't buy at least one cigar. Even if your intention is to enjoy a cigar from your stash, you should still consider buying a cigar for the road as a courtesy. Hey we really want to keep these local cigar retailers in business.

The other nice thing about the buying at the local shop and keeping them around is that it is an excellent opportunity to try new cigars. Even with the 140% tax we endure in WA state on locally bought cigars, I have really appreciated being able to try many new brands, one at a time at my local place.

If I want to just smoke my own then I head for the bar.

as far as i know, we don't have any bars that alllow cigars. i can smoke indoors at home, and i don't get out often (1-2 times a month, usually to go to the post office). so when i do go to his shop, it's an intentional trip.

another question in the same vein: what about cigar events? do you go to one expecting to buy cigars? bring your own AND expect to buy? expect to grab some goodies?

i just ask because i've never been to one and am just curious about what goes on.

Morpheus5885, we've exchanged a couple of e-mails now 😛. Hint: Tribute Torpedo. Just sent you an e-mail about it.

As for cigar events, I usually bring along a few smokes. I either smoke them, trade them, or give a few away. I've been on a few cigar crawls. Bought too many cigars, but got lots of free stuff too. 😉 I've also been to a cigar luau (sort of a herf, but sponsored by cigar vendors). Bought several cigars there too, but walked away with many freebees from the vendors.

I think the best rule of etiquette is to treat others like you would want to be treated. You cant go wrong if you do that. If you are generous to others, then they tend to return the favor. If they dont, then it is still good "GARMA" (cigar karma) for you.

I agree with dz130, I usually only go to my local when I want to buy a stick. I have become an acquaintance with one of my shops owners and I know he would appreciate the conversation sometimes, but generally, if your not sure do like gorob and ask first.

Here in Indy we have a Cigar Lounge establishment downtown like W2VQY describes. When there I realize there money making comes from the drinks, and yes the occasional overpriced cigar sale, so at the Lounge I always bring my own, and buy their drinks.

As a rule of etiquette, when having BOTL gather at a local for a herf I consider it proper and polite to purchase from the shop, even if it's not the ones I'm smoking that day. When an actual herf is called for at a local, purchasing is difinitely expected, but I always bring some personal stash for trading and gifting as well.

I always buy a few sticks from my local guy. As a matter of fact I generally commit about 50-70 bucks or so of my monthly cigar budget to be purchased from him and I even discuss recent internet purchases including dollar amounts. He is very aware that I purchase a small fraction of my cigars from him yet he treats me as a buddy and not a customer. I have even been privy to what he pays for boxes and since it know this info I realize how fair his prices are. The only time I bring in cigars is when they are gifts for him.

When it comes to cigars, hensed... you're an honorable man!!