humi purchase, online or local?

[robmonte]

hey guys, i have been looking at a couple of humidors online at the different vendors on stickies, and my question is, should i purchase online or at local shop? I like the prices online but i like to see and touch before i purchase. I have seen some on ebay but have also read warnings about them being fakes(not real spanish cedar). Well if anyone can give me some pointers on buying online that would be great. Since this is my first humi, should i buy a small or just go for broke? Is there is a certain brand you all like? Any input is greatly appreciated. thanks
robert

[rutkus]

Originally Posted by robmonte

hey guys, i have been looking at a couple of humidors online at the different vendors on stickies, and my question is, should i purchase online or at local shop? I like the prices online but i like to see and touch before i purchase. I have seen some on ebay but have also read warnings about them being fakes(not real spanish cedar). Well if anyone can give me some pointers on buying online that would be great. Since this is my first humi, should i buy a small or just go for broke? Is there is a certain brand you all like? Any input is greatly appreciated. thanks
robert

its entirely up to you, alot of times the same humidor you see online is available at a local b&m but if you see something you like do a search for reviews. a reputable vendor is key. one person i've dealt with, dave at cheaphumidors.com is a great person to deal with and will go out of his way to make you feel comfortable in your purchase.

unless you plan to purchase a higher end humidor, more than likely you will be purchasing a humidor that has a spanish cedar veneer rather than solid spanish cedar, this may be what you read as "fake" spanish cedar so you buy the thin coating of spanish cedar over a lesser quality board or particle board.

as far as size, think about if you are going to get into collecting and what you plan to smoke/keep in your inventory. i would say go for broke, purchase as big as you can or even better, do a search for "wine coolers" a large one can be had for the price of a nice desktop and you have temp control aspects that, depending on what your climate is, could help you in keeping your cigars cool.

don't take it too seriously but do some homework, its alot of fun and can greatly enhance your smoking experience with aging your cigars properly.

[King James]

If you like the prices online and find a humidor you like from a reputable vendor...you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by King James

If you like the prices online and find a humidor you like from a reputable vendor...you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

Totally agree with King James. I bought a small desktop for my first humi. Outgrew it after two months of being a member of this forum. Go big. Around this time last year a bunch of us were in the market for new humis and a fellow botl turned us on to bargainhumidors.com. I ended up buying the "500 ct" Vicksburg online and am quite happy with what I received. Did I mention that you should go big? My logic is that a larger box will hold a wider selection of sticks and you will have less rh problems over the long haul.

Don't discount building a coolerdor. You can get a lot of space for a reasonable price that way.

Charles

[n2advnture]

I wrote this for the dog watch social club (www.dogwatchsocialclub.com) a little while ago. Some have found it helpful.

http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=33488

~Mark

[RGD]

As mentioned - go as big as you can afford. 100-200 count humidors do not hold that much, anywhere from a third to half that much. And it really will not take long to fill one up - a box or two here and there, a trade or two, maybe a bomb and the next thing ya know - you have a couple hundred sticks.

I'm similar to you - I do like to touch - see and feel the quality before buying. Before I even knew that Club Stogie existed - I had the same quandary - so to get past that I ordered, online, a Reed and Barton box. Figured that way I was sure to get the quality I wanted.
But - now that you have this support group here - I would say you could buy on the recommendations of others here without any problems. I would. Also look to active members of this board who also sell online - like Mark (post above mine). Having dealt with him before - I know that he would not steer you wrong and would stand behind whatever he sold you.

Good luck with it -

Ron

[txdyna65]

Robert, Im like you, I like to touch before I buy, but I think overall you'll get a better deal online. I have to agree with Charles about going big....if you can afford to. My first was a 25 count, then a 50 count, then I smartened up and got a tower Hang around CS long enough and you'll wish you went big from the start.

[kheffelf]

Originally Posted by txdyna65

Robert, Im like you, I like to touch before I buy, but I think overall you'll get a better deal online. I have to agree with Charles about going big....if you can afford to. My first was a 25 count, then a 50 count, then I smartened up and got a tower Hang around CS long enough and you'll wish you went big from the start.

I have that same tower, got it from tampahumidor instead of cigarmony but Mark is a great guy to do business with, I would check out his site and see if there is anything you like. But the tower is a great piece of furniture.

[orangehorse]

I have to say again that I have been tickled pink with my Vick. My first humi was purchased as part of a package from Cuban Crafters and it was a good starting point -- and I still use it (since I've filled my Vick). The hydration stuff that came with the CC humi was garbage, but once I replaced them with the magic beads, all was well.

The Vick was the best pick for me... just the right size and passes the wife's "not too ugly to leave out" test.

[Linder]

Whichever one you buy, plan on ordering beads to go with it!

[yachties23]

I picked my up locally, only because I found a decent one at a good price, because it helps to see firsthand the humi your buying. I would agree that beads are the way to go, I've had no problems with humidity since I picked mine up.

[Dux]

Got mine on the Devil Site Cbid I paid alot less than retail

[Charles]

Originally Posted by PitmanGeek

I have to say again that I have been tickled pink with my Vick. My first humi was purchased as part of a package from Cuban Crafters and it was a good starting point -- and I still use it (since I've filled my Vick). The hydration stuff that came with the CC humi was garbage, but once I replaced them with the magic beads, all was well.

The Vick was the best pick for me... just the right size and passes the wife's "not too ugly to leave out" test.

Have to agree with you concerning the hydration stuff - not worth installing. Besides where do you hang it with a glass top? Kept interfering with my view, so I quit using it. I just keep a small glass cup full of distilled water in the humi and it keeps the rh pretty steady.

[doctorcue]

I'd look around and buy something online. Get the biggest you can, just watch out for shipping charges. If you go with a known source, you'll be ok. A lot of the major online vendors have eBay stores.

[Demented]

Originally Posted by robmonte

I have seen some on ebay but have also read warnings about them being fakes (not real spanish cedar).

Hey Robert,

What's being referred to as a "Fake Humidor" is typically lined with aromatic cedar (Juniperus Virginiana which is Juniper), rather then spanish cedar (Cedrela Odorata which is Magnolia), neither is really cedar.

Aromatic cedar will taint the aroma and flavor of cigars in a bad way, think of smoking your grandma's cedar chest. Burning it in the fire place may smell nice (if you like that scent) and keep moths away, I wouldn't want to smoke it myself.

Spanish cedar holds moisture well, and will alter the flavor and aroma of cigars in a good way.

Whether it's made from solid spanish cedar or another base material with a spanish cedar veneer, Spanish Cedar on the inside is the way to go.

A few thoughts on the term "Fake Humidor"...

Regardless of what the box is made of, what it's lined with or how it's made, If it will hold a constant RH level, it's a humidor!

Dmntd

p.s. Did I point out Spanish Cedar is the better choice of linings for a wooden humidor?