When you've been dealing with the one cigar store for some time the store owner and staff really do begin to get a feel for the cigars that are just right for you. That means that when it comes ordering time they're going to be ordering exactly what you like ... they might even look for some special deals that they can offer you in particular ... and they are going to watch out for you because they want to keep you happy. Happy customers keep on coming back and it costs a lot more to find new customers than it does to keep the customers they already have.

That's not something that an online store can do ... they may offer regular customers discounts and special deals but they're never going to go out and look for something unique that maybe only one or two customers are ever going to buy.

And then there are the other customers. When you buy online there's rarely any opportunity to interact with the other customers who shop at the same site. There's no community atmosphere in an online store but walk into your nearest cigar store and you're likely to find one or two guys there just talking cigars with the staff. A good cigar store builds up a community around it that can support one another and it can be a fun place to go on a Saturday while you're wife is down at the mall. Many stores have comfortable lounges and big screen TVs you can enjoy as well.



Of course there are online cigar communities that you can join and they are great places to hang out and chat with other cigar smokers but it's not the same as standing there at the counter sharing some laughs and some experiences with other cigar smokers.

Obviously, as you've read this, you've been seeing me come out with some great points in favor of buying from your local cigar store but don't think for one moment that I'm suggesting that you should totally avoid buying your cigars online ... because I'm not. You can pick up some great bargains online and you shouldn't miss them when they're available but there are plenty of times when you get even better value for your money ... in ways other than just saving money ... when you support your local cigar store.