Who is a member of their local B&M shops?

[mlbar1153]

I have been thinking about becoming a member of my local cigar shop. It cost about $600 per year. They have good discounts and are great people but would the $600 be better spent on cigars? I would think that I would have to buy from them exclusively to recover the $600 from the discounts. Right now I buy from alot of different places (online and local). If this has been brought up, sorry! A little new here.

[jadeg001]

I'm not sure how the taxes are in Texas, but I'm assuming it is still cheaper to use that $600 online. Generally speaking all B&Ms will be more expensive, even with the discount you'll be getting (15% on boxes I'm guessing). Check out CBid. If you have patience and you use C-H-I-M-P then you can save much, much more.

[rudeJARHEAD]

I am not a member of the local B&M. The place is great they have a bar in the back, plenty of places to sit, on site humidor, live music etc. Hoever they offer a millitary discount that is the same as thier members discount so I save myself the members fee and support them through my spending habits.

As to buying a membership you may recoup the money if you stay a longtime customer, or use the facilities. I have found from working both sides of the retail counter that your "good" customers get well taken care of be it for new products, hard to get products or just on your normal purchases.

So short answer is if you frequent that establishment and utilize the facilities you will recover that $600 relatively quickly.

[CIGARMAN41360]

Our local shop only charges $20 per month but if you buy from him he waves the charges. Great place to smoke and for the guy in minnesota or others like him, i would think it would be worth the money to join. Then they would have a place to smoke all the time.

[Pugsley]

I would think you'd have to buy a helluva lot from them to recoup that $600 in a year's time. My local B&M doesn't have memberships but they track your purchases and after 12 they give you a store credit equal to your average purchase.

[Strick]

The local I frequent does not charge. We have a nice lounge, wifi, etc. You can rent a locker in the humi to stash your favorite but not required. We are not required to buy there but out of courtesy and respect I purchase there. The prices are also competetive to...

[apevia]

That is kind of a steep price. You have to spend a ton of money to get what you paid out of it. I think your just better off spending the money online and just paying to smoke in there when you go there. As mentioned earlier, a great place for buying cigars is cigarbid, which you can get some real good bargains if you have patience.

[AcridSaint]

I am a member, but we have no charge. There are three shops in town that I can frequent and smoke in. Generally, they'll let you smoke there as a non-member also, but you have to buy something out of the humidor. As a member and regular visitor, they understand that sometimes I just want a place to smoke. I'm told that they will also keep drinks for you at request, no private humis that I'm aware of though.

$600 would be a lot of cigars, in the shop or online. I would not spend it unless you are getting a very inclusive deal (free drinks, humi space etc.) and a good discount on your purchases.

[rudeJARHEAD]

Mike I didn't read your post very closely. I missed the 600 a YEAR part. That is ridiculously steep and think that for sure your money would be better spent on the smokes.

[Phantom57]

Sounds a bit steep to me unless the amenities are on the high side.

[GlockG23]

600 bucks wtf,
for 50 bucks a month there MUST be more perks

[Padron42]

Wow that is a hell of a price....I just recently joined my local one and it was only a $25 one time deal. I'd probably just keep buying and smoking there occasionally and buy online mostly and use that $600 a year to pick up some great cigars online at possibly better prices anyways.

[tx_tuff]

What else do you get for the $600? I'm guessing a private lounge, a humidor locker? Any places I have seen that charge go from $600 to $1000 a year. But they do include lockers and private lounges.

I go to the same place as Strick (Dee) above. I think its prob the best B&M I have ever been to and not just in town. It has a freaking huge walk in humidor, a very nice lounge area with big leather chairs and nice flatscreen with cable, free Golden Tee game, you can bring in anything you want to drink etc etc... He also has lockers you can rent in the humidor at $100 a year.

[DBCcigar]

I think B&M memberships are bull shit (Especially $600.00), unless they are giving you a hefty percentage off all singles and box purchases, a locker, and a private room in the back with a nude Asian masseuse!

[baddddmonkey]

Originally Posted by DBCcigar

I think B&M memberships are bull shit (Especially $600.00), unless they are giving you a hefty percentage off all singles and box purchases, a locker, and a private room in the back with a nude Asian masseuse!

Ha! Thats awesome! I don't really have a B&M here. What I really have is 1 crappy smoke shop that has a small cabinet humidor full of probably beetle infused Arturo Fuente's and Acid's and other unknown brands. The other one is a bit nicer with a different and usually better selection. Not much though....It's quite sad when your own personal collection has more cigars than one of the shops have.

It's probably good I don't have a real B&M here, I'd probably spend all my time and money there!