Question about ordering Boxes of cigars online

[Royale Duke]

Not Sure if this is in the right spot...

So, I've been making orders of singles online(cigar.com, haven't tried anywhere else) as of late just to try out new lines and stuff that my local and overpriced shop doesn't have. I am going to have some money soon and I have been looking at buying a couple boxes of some things(one box each of Padilla series 1968, and Camacho 1962, and perhaps some Padilla Habano Factory 2nds) at CI, I have been wondering if any of you have ordered boxes from them before?

I know they are supposed to be a pretty awesome site, but I am worried that I might receive a box of dried out cigars(I know they ship them at RH 80% or so) which would suck because I have a hard time waiting to smoke things. I mean as soon as I received the cigar.com boxes from UPS I tore into them and immediately smoked like... three of the 15 cigars I bought! They all smoked perfectly fine, and tasted AMAZING it was like they never left a humidor! I think this is because cigar.com ships them with water pillows to keep them humidified.

I guess the main reason I am worried is because I have been "flying blind" on humidity levels in both boxes(25ct and a 50ct) and I recently had to dry out and De-mold the 50ct but it seems to have stabilized nicely now(left it alone for like...a week or so now, only checking water levels) and the 25ct ruined my friends stogies(although, this was most likely an error on my part as I forgot to check the water levels before leaving for camping! I've never had dried out stogies in the 25 ct...or even the 50 ct really) which I gladly reimbursed him with new ones.

The reason for flying blind is this: My analog hygrometer seems to be broken, I have tried everything to fix it but, alas, nothing works and I do not have the funds at the moment to replace it.

Okay, so to summarize everything my questions are:

If I order the stogies(not a matter if my friends, only when! ) should it be okay to crack open one of the boxes to smoke a few? Even though SHOULD just let them rest for a week or two.

I am dying for a smoke right now, but I gotta wait until my best friend pays me back for the hacked Playstation Portable he broke(Ironic, since my humi destroyed his Man O' Wars that I got him). Ugh, I swear that kid...I'll kill him someday LOL. J/K

Should I be concerned about putting them in my humidors?

They seem to be operating back to their old selves.

I have been considering ordering a couple jars of beads(so I can ditch the distilled water cup set-up I use) so that I can have some peace of mind when it comes to the RH. So I don't waste my $300 plus dollar investment when I order them!

And finally, my last question:

How has your experiences with CI been? Good? Bad?

[blueeyedbum]

I've buy CI, Famous, Holts, & Taboo. Haven't bought a lot of boxes, more bundles. I've never received anything that has been too dry. Most of the time I would consider them to be too moist.

I use 65 Rh beads and usually let them rest for a couple of weeks.

[Royale Duke]

Ah, thanks for the insight! I shall keep those other websites you mentioned in mind while I am cigar huntin'.

By the way, Cigar.com is fantastic! EXCELLENT customer support, I had a couple issues but they solved them completely, and satisfactorily.

Very positive experience considering how I have been treated at the B&M I frequent as of late, I look forward to ordering online more, and get more for my money.

Unwavering 3 years of service, and the shop owner accuses me of stealing! UNBELIEVABLE, and Unacceptable! Not to mention how rude he was about it.

[SCS]

I am going to have some money soon and I have been looking at buying a couple boxes of some things(one box each of Padilla series 1968, and Camacho 1962, and perhaps some Padilla Habano Factory 2nds)

The reason for flying blind is this: My analog hygrometer seems to be broken, I have tried everything to fix it but, alas, nothing works and I do not have the funds at the moment to replace it.

I have been considering ordering a couple jars of beads(so I can ditch the distilled water cup set-up I use) so that I can have some peace of mind when it comes to the RH. So I don't waste my $300 plus dollar investment when I order them!

If you have the money to buy the cigars you list then you should really consider buying a hygrometer. You can get a Humicare digital adjustable thermo-hygro from CI for $20. A functional hygrometer is second only to a good humidification system, IMO. Yes, I like the beads - they've kept my humi at a constant 65% since switching to them from the foam core units. CI sells the Humicare beads at around $10 / jar, or the CI brand beads at 2 for around $10 - I ordered CI brand, and they're Humicare beads with a small Humicare logo and big CI logo on the jar.

And finally, my last question:

How has your experiences with CI been? Good? Bad?

Ordered from them almost exclusively during my two TDYs to Iraq, and I still order from them frequently now. I've never had a problem. They also operate CigarBid, who I made my first order from last week, and received it Monday. Again, no problem at all.

I know they are supposed to be a pretty awesome site, but I am worried that I might receive a box of dried out cigars(I know they ship them at RH 80% or so) which would suck because I have a hard time waiting to smoke things. I mean as soon as I received the cigar.com boxes from UPS I tore into them and immediately smoked like... three of the 15 cigars I bought! They all smoked perfectly fine, and tasted AMAZING it was like they never left a humidor! I think this is because cigar.com ships them with water pillows to keep them humidified.

Never had dried out cigars from CI, even getting shipped to Iraq. I've smoked them right out of the box, and they almost always smoke fine.

I hope all that helps.

[Royale Duke]

Thanks so much SCS! You just solved all my questions I had! Also, I had no idea they operated Cigarbid...been looking at that website too, lot's of INSANE deals on there no wonder they call it the "Devil Site" lol.

[DBCcigar]

Never had a bad experience ordering from CI. Had one cigar that was cracked and they replaced it right away.

[SCS]

RoyalDuke, you're welcome. Cbid really is the devil site. You can select once per week shipping so you get the combined shipping discount. It's great for scoring 5 packs of higher priced stuff to try before you drop serious cash.

[tx_tuff]

Never had a problem with either of those as far as getting boxes, bundles, or any other orders from them. But I agree that before you go spending money on the new cigars, you have to get a new hygrometer, and I would get the beads also. Would be (hope I don't offend you) kinda stupid to go out and buy those cigars if your humidors are not ready for them, its clear you are not 100% sure they are ready for them. I know its hard to contain yourself, I did the same kind of thing when I was new to cigars also. I have done many stupid things in my life LOL.

Good luck getting the humis right and enjoy the hell out of those cigars when you do order them.

[ribletman]

Originally Posted by Royale Duke

So, I've been making orders of singles online(cigar.com, haven't tried anywhere else) as of late just to try out new lines and stuff that my local and overpriced shop doesn't have.

Originally Posted by Royale Duke

Unwavering 3 years of service, and the shop owner accuses me of stealing! UNBELIEVABLE, and Unacceptable! Not to mention how rude he was about it.

I hope I am not too harsh with this post, I do not mean to be. I am just trying to be firm with my advice. First up, it sounds like you are dissatisfied with your local shop. Stop going there. If you are already ordering singles and possibly samplers online, there is no reason to add stress to your smoking by going to a shop you consider overpriced, and that calls you a thief. I think there is value is visiting B&M cigar shops, so try to find another in the area to visit once in a while.

Originally Posted by Royale Duke

I am worried that I might receive a box of dried out cigars

When you receive cigars from any source they have a decent chance at being unevenly humidified. This is the primary reason to let them sit in a humidor for a while. The wrapper might be dry with a wet core, or vice-versa. The cigars may also have too low or too high an overall moisture requiring either pulling some out, or getting some back in. Time in a humidor fixes this too.

Originally Posted by Royale Duke

I mean as soon as I received the cigar.com boxes from UPS I tore into them and immediately smoked like... three of the 15 cigars I bought! They all smoked perfectly fine, and tasted AMAZING

I am in the "always wait" corner. That is the biggest reason to have a humidor. You will have some cigars in there that are ready to smoke at all times. Ordering cigars should be to restock for future smokes, not to smoke immediately. If you must smoke immediately, you are guaranteed to have some un-tasty unevenly burning cigars some of the time. Nothing wrong with it except you have to throw away a cigar now and then. And with any new cigar you try too soon, your opinion of it is suspect if there is any dissatisfaction. It is reasonably likely the issue was humidification instead cigar quality.

Originally Posted by Royale Duke

I have been "flying blind" on humidity levels in both boxes(25ct and a 50ct)

Never fly blind. Unless you are using something equivalent to Heartfelt humidity beads you simply must use a functional thermometer/hygrometer. I use both anyway to verify different locations within my humidors. After adding a bunch a of cigars, I know they are not stable in humidity as long as my hygrometer is showing too high/too low readings from normal.


So onto your questions (statements):

1. If I order the stogies should it be okay to crack open one of the boxes to smoke a few? Yes, but sometimes you will regret you did not wait, reasons detailed above.
2. Should I be concerned about putting them in my humidors? Yes. Your humidors do no one any good without proper temperature and humidity. Also, find some of the threads about fixing a humidor with mold. Those spores last a long, long time.
3. They seem to be operating back to their old selves. How do you know? You have no hygrometer to check.
4. I have been considering ordering a couple jars of beads(so I can ditch the distilled water cup set-up I use) so that I can have some peace of mind when it comes to the RH. Either those, or a Healtfelt beads equivalent (I use the actual brand), and at a minimum a 50/50 polypropylene glycol solution. Distilled water does nothing but add unregulated humidity. The likelihood of having a stable humidor is nil using plain distilled water.
5. How has your experiences with CI been? Good. I have had good experiance with all the online shops I have bought from.

Summary (Steps in order):

1. Fix your mold-infested humidor by getting, and following good advice on this board in the equipment section. Being clean-looking for a week is not good enough.
2. Buy a good humidification device, and either use heartfelt equivalent beads or 50/50 polypropylene glycol solution. ($10-$30 + $8 for 50/50 if needed)
3. Buy a thermometer/hygrometer for each humidor. ($20 each)
4. Make sure both humidors are completely stable in humidity.
5. With remaining money, buy some cigars. Ordering online can be cheaper than buying in B&M, but you will likely spend just as much money. ($100,000)
6. Smoke a cigar.

[Phantom57]

I have never had a problem with an online cigar vendor, and have used several. That said, I did research them a bit and use common sense. The cheapest I have used online is Cigar Place, but others are good and listed below. You need to invest in a decent digital hygro before ordering more cigars, I think Western Caliber III is the most accurate mass produced. A Coleman cooler, a pound of Heartfelt beads, and a Western Caliber Caliber hygro, and you are fixed for many years for under a hundred bucks.

Famous
Cigars International
Holts
New Havana Cigars
Cigar Place
Mikes

All are reputable and reliable.

[Cigary]

Snagged another Devil Worshipper didn't we boys? Buwahahahaha!!!

[ongreystreet]

I usually find that online orders are in better shape then most B&Ms. At local shops they tend to over humidify the cigars, this could damage the cigars in the long run, but they're just worried about them looking good now, not later. Places like Cbid get me my cigars in 24 hrs usually (I'm in the mid atlantic)

I have also had cigars from Atlantic Cigar arrive with great speed and quality.

It's my belief that some individulas that believe cigars aren't ery durable. Some people freak out if they take out a cigar, and forget to smoke it for a few days, is it ruined? A good example is cold brewed, cold filtered, cold shipped beer, which is often kept in an unconditioned space in the back of some liquor store before it is put in a case.

[Herf N Turf]

+1 on all the advice to insure your humis are spot-on BEFORE putting cigars in them AND not smoking anything ROTT. Not worth it.

Also, I shy away from recommending the devil to a newbie, for the simple reason that you really need to know pricing WELL before getting involved there. Case in point, I watched a box of cigars eventually sell for $92 on there, which I can buy all day long for $79. That's just one example, but that happens everyday. The point, EDUCATE yourself as to pricing before turning to satanism. lol

cigarauctioneer.com, while not as good on starting bids as the devil, has a program that tells you if youre bid is higher than their (Famous) regular price. Also, watch cigarmonster.com. While not always a great deal, it's always a good deal.

I've ordered from most of the vendors listed above and tested RH from several lots. The ones Ive tested have averaged 73-74% RH. I can only assume that they do this to ensure that your lot will not arrive dried out, but it also means that smoking them ROTT is an invitation for burn issues and tight draws. I let everything rest at least three weeks before delving in. Especially in summer, I keep the new stuff away from the general population for a while. Most orders are going to see temps well over 80* and that means waking beetles. A gram of preventitive self discipline beats a ton of disappointments and heartache, any day.

[havanajohn]

You said "The reason for flying blind is this: My analog hygrometer seems to be broken, I have tried everything to fix it but, alas, nothing works and I do not have the funds at the moment to replace it."

First before spending any money buying more cigars, invest in a quality digital hygrometer. It will be money well spent. Then get some beads from Heartfelt Industries, THEN start buying cihars.

[orca99usa]

First before spending any money buying more cigars, invest in a quality digital hygrometer. It will be money well spent. Then get some beads from Heartfelt Industries, THEN start buying cihars.

This is very sound advice. If you don't store your cigars at the proper humidity you will be very disappointed with the results, and you may ruin your investment. The only way to ensure the proper humidity is to (1) have a reliable humidification system, and (2) have an accurate way to measure the relative humidity.