deadeyedick
7 years ago

Last May we purchased a fine-tuned sensor and shipped it around the United States to see just what happened inside packages once they leave ****Batch Headquarters. This device would record temperature and humidity every minute to four decimal places, giving us more than enough data to work with. What we found wasn’t exactly surprising, but reinforced our decision to put your box in your hands as fast as possible.

Over the course of 22 days, our temperature readings showed an average of 74.05 (rounded) degrees. Yet, before we could begin celebrating, we noticed that there were several six hour or greater periods where the temperature was above 90 degrees. In fact, the highest recorded temperature was 94.66 degrees while the lowest temperature recorded was 43.62 degrees. That means that if we had cigars inside that package, they would have been subjected to temperature changes over 50 degrees between the lowest and highest temps.

Likewise, humidity was recorded at an average of 70.44 RH. The changes here were much more drastic, recording a low of 33.81% RH and a maximum of 100% RH. And this was in May, not even the hottest time of year.

This is what contributes to what we call the Sick Period for cigars – the time after shipping that your cigars will underperform because of the temperature and humidity changes they have to endure to arrive at your doorstep.

And, the Sick Period isn’t exclusive to online retailers. Brick and mortar stores like our very own ****Cigars in Orange, CA receives cigars the same way you do: through the mail.

WHAT ELSE COULD GO WRONG?
Another experiment conducted by Popular Mechanics measured the amount of times a package was dropped between Fedex, UPS, and USPS using overnight shipping. They used a sensor to determine how often a package was dropped with a force of 6 g’s or greater, equivalent to a fall of 2.5 feet. USPS scored the highest with an average of only .5 drops when using overnight shipping. We expect the average to increase in correlation with the amount of travel time. Likewise, Fedex and UPS recorded an average of 3.1 and 2 drops respectively.

They also recorded the amount of “flips” that their packages experienced, and USPS was flipped an average of 12.5 times in an overnight trip.
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dstieger
7 years ago
Just one of MANY reasons that ****Batch is my preferred vendor. THE best shipper...triple shrink-wrapped, Boveda enclosed, well packed....and fast

I do take a small exception to his use of the term "Sick Period", however. Obviously not a scientific or quantifiable term...however, I prefer to limit the use to that period early in a cigar's life during which some ammonia may be released. (Varies tremendously, but I think between the ages of about 9 weeks and 10 months covers most.)

Not to diminish the opinion that any shipped cigars suffer somewhat and need rest.
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shaun341
7 years ago
It sounds like an interesting experiment but I would think there are too many variables that play a part in the outcomes to generalize everything in terms of highs and lows and the differences between the two.

I am also curious if the device used to gather the information was in a baggie similar to those used for cigars.
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KingoftheCove
7 years ago

It sounds like an interesting experiment but I would think there are too many variables that play a part in the outcomes to generalize everything in terms of highs and lows and the differences between the two.

I am also curious if the device used to gather the information was in a baggie similar to those used for cigars.

shaun341 wrote:


Eh...
I'm inclined to think that while the reliability of this "study" may not be in the high range, the validity most certainly is in the higher range.
Cigars in route for more than 72 hours get subjected to chit we'd rather not think about.........and even short trip cigars can suffer.

That's why the one week of humi time per day of travel time day is my minimum rest period. But most all my stuff sits a lot longer, unless of course it's already got time on it.
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dstieger
7 years ago
shaun, I wouldn't read so much into it. I'd bet the 'device' was packed quite minimally. It seems they're just trying to characterize the ambient environment for illustration. The outfit that did the 'test' packs their cigar shipments airtight, with humidification enclosed, so their products are not subject to the test environment. No plain, yellow smilie 'baggies' for them
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frankj1
7 years ago

Just one of MANY reasons that ****Batch is my preferred vendor. THE best shipper...triple shrink-wrapped, Boveda enclosed, well packed....and fast

I do take a small exception to his use of the term "Sick Period", however. Obviously not a scientific or quantifiable term...however, I prefer to limit the use to that period early in a cigar's life during which some ammonia may be released. (Varies tremendously, but I think between the ages of about 9 weeks and 10 months covers most.)

Not to diminish the opinion that any shipped cigars suffer somewhat and need rest.

dstieger wrote:


I rarely buy cigars anymore, but they have emerged as my preferred vendor as well. I read the same on their site.
Top notch shipping and handling, quick delivery, and they are crossing the continent to get to me.
But if they had to depend on my business, they'd be in trouble.

I'd consider them to not be a competitor either, totally different selection.

Agree re: sick period as well.
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KingoftheCove
7 years ago

I rarely buy cigars anymore, but they have emerged as my preferred vendor as well. I read the same on their site.
Top notch shipping and handlingeday though, quick delivery, and they are crossing the continent to get to me.
But if they had to depend on my business, they'd be in trouble.

I'd consider them to not be a competitor either, totally different selection.

Agree re: sick period as well.

frankj1 wrote:


That's one of the reasons I haven't purchased there.
I'm still a noob, and don't know chit about well over half the stuff they carry.
The stuff I know about and buy I find for less at other places I trust.
I would like to visit their shpo some day though.
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Arrow_34
7 years ago
I dont use them, but I will have to check them out. I prefer this place, CP or MB3 place. They are very close to me and cigar shipments come within 2 days or less.
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RobertHively
7 years ago

Finally got around to checking ****Batch out. Wow, they are really overpriced. $50.99 + shipping for a Rocky Patel 6 cigar sampler. LOL I'm all for getting fresh cigars but not at that cost. Plus I dont think I've ever received cigars that were dried out, from any place.

I recently had a vendor tell me that the cigars they sent me probably needed humidor time bc they were dried out from shipping, but that was just so they didnt have to admit to sending me sub-par cigars from their business.

So some of you guys pay that type of mark up so you can get a couple Boveda Packs in your order?? Is it the selection? Both? Maybe this place runs some good deals from time to time?



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dstieger
7 years ago
1. Get on their email list.
2. If you are shopping for RP cigars, dont bother
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RobertHively
7 years ago

1. Get on their email list.
2. If you are shopping for RP cigars, dont bother

dstieger wrote:



I will and I'm not. Just one of the "deals" I saw and it made me laugh.

Thanks for the info.
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Pudding Mittens
7 years ago

Finally got around to checking ****Batch out. Wow, they are really overpriced. $50.99 + shipping for a Rocky Patel 6 cigar sampler. LOL I'm all for getting fresh cigars but not at that cost.

RobertHively wrote:


Yup. Took a look at their site and quickly "noped" outta there.

Plus I dont think I've ever received cigars that were dried out, from any place.


Can't mention competitors here, but I've purchased large quantities from CigarBid, "the mothership" and the "very well-known" cigar company (and their discount "scary" site) for over 15 years. Never had any significant problem with dried-out cigars. There's no need to pay inflated prices to avoid that.

So some of you guys pay that type of mark up so you can get a couple Boveda Packs in your order??


I don't understand this either. People rave about "wow, Boveda packs and lots of bubble wrap to protect the cigars!" but again, I've had no problems with the 98%+ of my orders that had no Boveda packs, and no problems with damage from lack of "protection" from bad packing.

Folks also say "wow, amazing customer service!" So.... I'm supposed to pay huge prices for a friendly voice on the phone and helpful service? Guess what? I get that whenever I need it from CigarBid, "the mothership" and the "very well-known"/"scary" cigar company. I've had no significant complaints in 15+ years.

I think somebody said the owner puts a hand-written note in the box, which other vendors typically don't. I wonder if it reads "thanks for paying way too much and making my Land Rover payments for me!"

Then we have those who say, "B-b-but they have a really nice website!" Uh-huh. The places I buy from have perfectly-functional ones, too. I'm gonna pay way more for slightly prettier graphics on a website? No thanks.

Maybe this place runs some good deals from time to time?


I've never seen any. Consistently very expensive, from all I've seen. Supposedly they have a private mailing list or something with "deals", but they're probably just slightly less outrageously expensive than the normal prices.

Some guys love 'em. Me, I buy the same sticks, or equivalent-quality sticks I enjoy just as much, from other vendors for far less.

And no, I don't have a crap palate or buy cheap low-end cigars (except small quantities for yard work). I attended quite a few "blind" cigar tastings where I correctly identified the constituent tobaccos by taste (down to the country, growing region, which priming, etc.), and was told by the president of a major cigar manufacturer after one such event, "You have an exceptional palate." Therefore, "Pudding Mittens buys crap and can't taste quality, no wonder he doesn't order from *****Batch!" doesn't fly as an explanation either.

To each their own, though! If you want to pay their prices, go ahead.
.
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frankj1
7 years ago

1. Get on their email list.
2. If you are shopping for RP cigars, dont bother

dstieger wrote:


correct on both counts.
and I've never paid for shipping.
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RobertHively
7 years ago

correct on both counts.
and I've never paid for shipping.

frankj1 wrote:



Just curious, are you buying from them when you could get the same brand somewhere else for much cheaper? In other words are you paying the mark up for the Boveda and quicker shipping?
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frankj1
7 years ago

Just curious, are you buying from them when you could get the same brand somewhere else for much cheaper? In other words are you paying the mark up for the Boveda and quicker shipping?

RobertHively wrote:


I seldom buy at all anymore. Maybe a couple boxes of Cubans a year account for larger purchases.

But I have purchased from the site in question about 6 times in the last year. Every order was on something I had been interested in but never had, not all that widely available at any price, and each time was with at least a 20% off offer or more for a 5er or 10er...and the free shipping which I thought was site wide...?

Sometimes I'd google the smokes I was contemplating to check if I was getting gouged, never really did worse than within pennies of the lowest prices at the time on the desired purchase, usually a decent savings though, but even if close I went with the site I had grown to trust.

So I got to try smokes that weren't the same ol' same ol' for a fair price. Yeah, they do carry the Rocky P's and stuff, but I haven't looked at most of those on any site in a long time.

The careful packaging, Bovedas, quick shipping, rapid email replies etc. are bonuses to me...but the real attraction is the brands I never see at bargain spots that I snag when there is a special.

Also, though I hate to get ripped off, I don't care about saving a buck or two on a five pack if it means trying yet another new vendor.

I have also picked up a deal or two at a "corner" category too from them...and really have never paid freight.

Hey Robert, that's why they make chocolate AND vanilla
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RobertHively
7 years ago
Thanks for the reply, Frank. I know what you mean about the same ol same ol for a fair price. I'm pretty stocked on mid-shelf cigars that I like.

I also like trying new cigars too, just have to research... I signed up to their email list. I will explore the site more and hopefully I'll find something new to try.

As far as shipping goes, I figured they charged to ship like every other place Ive tried, other than the tenski place.
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RMAN4443
7 years ago
Frank, you get Chocolate cigars? I bet those are delicious....all I ever get is those hard as a rock bubble gum cigars, and they suck...#-o
Wanna trade?
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frankj1
7 years ago

Thanks for the reply, Frank. I know what you mean about the same ol same ol for a fair price. I'm pretty stocked on mid-shelf cigars that I like.

I also like trying new cigars too, just have to research... I signed up to their email list. I will explore the site more and hopefully I'll find something new to try.

As far as shipping goes, I figured they charged to ship like every other place Ive tried, other than the tenski place.

RobertHively wrote:


I might be wrong, maybe I just have always bought special offers? They send something almost every day, often I take a look, do the math, and pass.

but every once in a while I catch a scorcher at the tenski that I grab too. free shipping helps keep the per cigar cost down.

But from my peak of about 500 cigars a few years ago, I decided to stop collecting/aging, whittled it down to zero 2 years ago, and have been a very selective buyer since. The result is less smoking, certainly less smoking out of boredom. And more often than not I am now smoking a cigar that maybe I know I love or have never had and get to feel that anticipation thing...

it's back to more of a special event again.
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frankj1
7 years ago

Frank, you get Chocolate cigars? I bet those are delicious....all I ever get is those hard as a rock bubble gum cigars, and they suck...#-o
Wanna trade?

RMAN4443 wrote:


better yet, let's get together and mix 'em together! Like when the chocolate truck and the peanut butter truck crashed.
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shaun341
7 years ago
Shipping is included in their prices sitewide. I buy some of the harder to get stuff from there once in awhile and they are running a special through email. I just consider the boveda packs a bonus honestly.
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