Most Outrageous B&M Prices

[mistabman]

I tend to only go to B&M's for higher tier stuff that's either just as expensive online, or too expensive to buy a 5 pack or more of. Typical B&M prices on a Oliva V are right around $6-$7 usually in my area, and I feel those cigars are worth that. Sure, if I tried really hard and stalked cigarmonster all day everyday, I'm sure I could beat that, but I choose not to. VSG's typically run about $8-$9 around here, and while that's kinda high, it's not like deals on singles or 5 packs online are being offered everyday. PANs and PAMs are also something I'd rather pay a couple bucks more for than try really really hard to find a deal on online. Besides, Cbid gets bid up so high on the premium stuff anyway, that a lot of times it's a wash.

That said, those cigars probably make up 5% of my inventory while my everyday smokes come from online vendors almost exclusively.

[drake.c.w.]

dude-- JM's are 2 bucks each most places (give or a take). 7.99 each is like buying an 8 dollar bottle of wine at a restaurant for 16 dollars a glass.

[piperdown]

I'm lucky in that I can bounce between 3 different B&M's all within 20 minutes of me. Look at prices, chat with the staff, and make a selection of singles to try out. I can't do that online nor would I want to as (as was mentioned) I enjoy periodically heading down and smoking there in a comfy leather chair or sofa.
I agree that double msrp is ridiculus and would not buy if that's the case. But I will point out that anytime you stop for a drink at a bar, unless it's a really good special, you end up paying double (at least!) what that drink would cost at home. You're paying for atmosphere and a place to get together.

I try and strike a balance between both.

[Big Bluto]

I've seen a glass tubed Opus X Reserva D Chateau for $129 in downtown San Francisco...I laughed at the price and was then shown some "pre-embargo" Monte #2's for $30 a pop. I said what the hell, I got time to kill while the old lady shops and bought a "Monte". Not bad, but not Monte and definitely not worth 30 bucks.

[bilingue23]

If i'm going to buy a large amount of sticks (like a box), it would be absolutely ridiculous for me to buy them from my local B&M (any of them). Since they are almost all twice as much as online. That extra price isnt worth it to me for the "experience". That said, i do usually buy singles at the B&M. I just try to ignore the huge markup. I think in my area, the huge markup is the result of taxes. One B&M charges $70 for a bundle of Flor De Oliva's. Absolutely ridiculous.

[rab1957]

I try and stop by my local B&M every pay day. That’s when I treat myself to what I consider an expensive cigar, $15 +. I usually end up spending $40-$50 on cigars and other odds and ends.. Other then that the Devil site has my sole, and wallet.

[drake.c.w.]

Originally Posted by bilingue23

If i'm going to buy a large amount of sticks (like a box), it would be absolutely ridiculous for me to buy them from my local B&M (any of them). Since they are almost all twice as much as online. That extra price isnt worth it to me for the "experience". That said, i do usually buy singles at the B&M. I just try to ignore the huge markup. I think in my area, the huge markup is the result of taxes. One B&M charges $70 for a bundle of Flor De Oliva's. Absolutely ridiculous.

Flor de Oliva was hit with the SCHIP tax-- if you notice, they're switching from 25's to 20 to drop prices and be appealing at around 55 bucks.

[bilingue23]

Originally Posted by drake.c.w.

Flor de Oliva was hit with the SCHIP tax-- if you notice, they're switching from 25's to 20 to drop prices and be appealing at around 55 bucks.

Yeah i noticed that. That's why i bought a bundle of 25 from CI before they sold out of them.

[tx_tuff]

Going today to one of my local B&M (Serious Cigars) to buy my wife a box of Carlos Torano Casa Torano Robusto for $75.95. CI has the same box for $98.95 so in the case I'm getting a much better deal at the B&M. Plus its a event and I will be getting free goodies with it.

[dubels]

Originally Posted by Egis

yeah Schip hurt my friends B&M too, thing is the boxes before schip tax, were still selling for old price. So i bought a lot of sticks for old price, and he opened new boxes of nub! guess how much is my favorite short smoke now? From 5,50$ to 7$! I thought 5.50$ was a little too much for nub, and now7$ is way too much! Plus they get box for wholesale price which is 69,95$ which is like 3$ a stick! They could at least sell em for 5$? or am I wrong? do they really have to sell em for that much?

The B&M has to account for overhead and taxes, $2 is a very low profit margin. It sucks but B&Ms can't always be our best friends, they still have to stay in buisness but dealing with them is less sterile. I try to support my local B&M because every time I go in I end up learning a lot, and if you talk a lot to the employees you can end up with some deals. I usually stick to singles at B&Ms, but with California taxes on top of the rest I might have to limit my singles to CBID big order add-ons.

[Rev2010]

The way I look at it is if B&M's can't make their prices affordable or competitive then it's a sign of the times that things have changed and their businesses are becoming obsolete and replaced with a new method of purchasing.

I'm sorry, but paying the insanely high prices at B&M's are just out of the question for me 95% of the time. Sure, once in a blue I stop into one and maybe get a single or two, but I always walk out feeling cheated. For the two sticks I bought I could get a 5'er online! I don't understand why everyone has so much empathy towards B&M's like we have to support them or we're doing some wrong by taking our business online. If that's what the future of shopping is then that is the direction society will take, and we seem to be doing so.

On another note I'll say B&M's can still be somewhat competitive even with all the business expenses plus the need to charge tax. I'm a musician and I order online but also shop at some local B&M music stores quite often. Why? Well cause the local stores still have equal prices to their online competitors, and if they don't they will price match! Granted, a lot of these are corporate owned so it's a different scenario. But all I'm saying is they CAN be competitive. What I don't get is none of the B&M's seem to realize that to be competitive they need to lower their own profit margin, because very often that $1 extra might cause customers to simply stop coming to their store all together. So a total loss of a customers business is a lot more damaging then making less profit per sale.

There's one shop in Hoboken, NJ that I no longer go to. Their prices were insane! I never knew because I went there when I was starting out with cigars and hadn't yet hit the internet shops. I mean $10 for an RP The Edge Toro?? I get mine for $4 or less!! -F- that! So now they lost a customer. There's also another shop in Jersey City that is waaay overpriced. I bought a few sticks there like twice and said, "Screw this crap!".

Sorry, but I work hard for my money and I got credit card debt like everyone else. I can't be throwing my money away by paying insanely unrealistic markups. Yes I would hate to see B&M's disappear, but it's up to THEM to figure out how to stay afloat, it's not up to us to carry them.


Rev.

[bilingue23]

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

Going today to one of my local B&M (Serious Cigars) to buy my wife a box of Carlos Torano Casa Torano Robusto for $75.95. CI has the same box for $98.95 so in the case I'm getting a much better deal at the B&M. Plus its a event and I will be getting free goodies with it.

Did you see Joe's Daily deal today?

[Rev2010]

Originally Posted by bilingue23

Did you see Joe's Daily deal today?

LOL, perfect timing!!



Rev.

[Architeuthis]

Squid® doesn't usually shop the B&M's so I don't have much to compare to... Almost 100% on-line shopping for me.

[sboyajian]

Originally Posted by JP_26

Own a B&M or something. Open your eyes a little bit to what people are going through when BALANCING their CHECK BOOKS.

Maybe you can afford to pay 700% Markup on a cigar and overpay $80 dollars for a box, but the fact is some people can't. So should they just not be able to enjoy cigars because they don't support the outrageous prices of the B&M. It sucks they took a hit from SCHIP Maybe the SCHIP will be the downfall of B&M's, it doesn't mean you should feel guilty for not being able to afford to buy local.

The problem is your post gives the impression that all B&M's are overpriced.

The last box purchase I made at my usual shop, I paid $10 less than anywhere I found it online (Padron 64 Monarca Maduros).

Many shops don't gouge.. some do. That's business.