So, many say B&M stores need support. As I agree with that statement, there comes a point where I say WTF. Davidus Cigar (stores throughout MD) is selling tins of Esoterica, BS, and Germain at $55 a tin. Frak that and that place.
In Support of B&M's
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I had a similar sentiment with a local store. It is marketed as a pipe store and only has fifteen or so pipes stocked. I think they make most of their money from tobacco sales.
I was brand new to pipes and a so-called pipe expert recommended their goopiest vanilla cavendish and advised me to steer clear of non-aromatics. He also said that cobs were temporary pipes in that they only lasted for a few smokes.
It reinforced for me that it is pretty easy to know more than a salesman about their product with a little online research.
I was brand new to pipes and a so-called pipe expert recommended their goopiest vanilla cavendish and advised me to steer clear of non-aromatics. He also said that cobs were temporary pipes in that they only lasted for a few smokes.
It reinforced for me that it is pretty easy to know more than a salesman about their product with a little online research.
The dead horse is to be beaten yet again. Shop where you are comfortable and/or can afford to. But, no point in denigrating what few brick and mortars still function. If you can't afford it, simply avoid Davidus Cigar.
Chance to tell a story. I was at a vape shop. Some guy came in and asked to see some mods. So the guy behind the counter showed some with 200% mark up. I didn't say anything. But did make an eye contact. The guy paid shitloads and left. I went up to the counter and said "guess that guy doesn't have internet". The cashier said "I guess". So I said "where's my discount?" with few bottles of liquids. I got 50% off my purchase which was about the online price.
B&M’s will price what the market will bear on unobtainium. Given that their costs to stay open are higher, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Still, l think it’s important to support B&M’s to have a place to buy tobacco if online sales ever get banned, and for the experience one gets at one of the good ones, like Rich’s in Portland.
The market for unobtainium has certainly changed since I was buying 8 oz bags at $32 to $37 bucks each.
It’s a self inflicted wound, as buyers set the market price, not sellers.
I drop by the only one that’s relatively convenient, but it’s a cigar shop with a bookcase sized tobacco section. It’s a satellite shop of the cigar bar/shop that hosts the AZ Pipe Club.
If I’m feeling flush I may buy a tin or two, but the last time I was in I thought I’d try a Capstan or two, but my enthusiasm to support quickly disappeared at ~$30/50g tin…
If I’m feeling flush I may buy a tin or two, but the last time I was in I thought I’d try a Capstan or two, but my enthusiasm to support quickly disappeared at ~$30/50g tin…
Funny, I guess I don't feel like I am getting ripped off. It's not about being able to afford it.
I visited the store as it is out of my area, in support. Boswell's is my closest B&M. They sell it for $25 to $30 a tin/MSRP.
Plus, I only I denigrated one store, not a few.
Honestly you can support B&M online
Wilke is B&M
Iwan Reis
you don't need to visit an actual store
Pipe Nook and Country Squire are making it too
things change - but I'm not the guy going to a "Brick and Mortar" which doubles as a vape shop in order to pick at his humidor and stale jars of loose otc aromatic
Wilke is B&M
Iwan Reis
you don't need to visit an actual store
Pipe Nook and Country Squire are making it too
things change - but I'm not the guy going to a "Brick and Mortar" which doubles as a vape shop in order to pick at his humidor and stale jars of loose otc aromatic
I shopped at my B&M (an actual tobacconist, doesnt sell any vape stuff) until around 2022 when tobacco tax price got hiked way up in my state and basically made it so tins of stuff I like are around $40 after tax so I'm all set on shopping there.
There's a limit to how much I'll overpay to throw em a bone...
Maybe if they can't compete in business they should close up shop. That's what most people do when their business doesn't cut the mustard.
Why should a tobacco store be any different?
It's not just tobacco stores that have bit the big one... I dont like it, but I'll just add that to the list of reasons why the future sucks.
Maybe if they can't compete in business they should close up shop. That's what most people do when their business doesn't cut the mustard.
Why should a tobacco store be any different?
It's not just tobacco stores that have bit the big one... I dont like it, but I'll just add that to the list of reasons why the future sucks.
In the case of B&Ms I have spent money in, the higher prices have little to do with the profit the B&M is making and more to do with covering the overhead of higher taxes and the overall higher cost of doing business - annual rent (for many), higher utilities, higher shipping costs (for some) and higher wholesale costs and don't forget they have to pay their employees.
In my mind, that's the reason some of them are stocking less pipe tobacco and more cigars. They make more money off the cigars.
Personally, I make a point of buying spending $20 - $30 every time I attend our local pipe club meeting at the B&M where we hold our meetings.
In my mind, that's the reason some of them are stocking less pipe tobacco and more cigars. They make more money off the cigars.
Personally, I make a point of buying spending $20 - $30 every time I attend our local pipe club meeting at the B&M where we hold our meetings.
There's a guy in town who just started carrying cigars.
I decided to buy one from him, knowing fully that he'd use the chance to club me in the head... But...
The humidor was locked... So I had to wait for him to get over there and unlock it... About 5 minutes. I picked out a La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor... He got it out of the lockbox, I followed him to the register... He rung it up, and the register says $25.99.
So I told him to put it back and walked out the store.
He's lucky that I do business with him at all after that.
www.cigarpage.com
I decided to buy one from him, knowing fully that he'd use the chance to club me in the head... But...
The humidor was locked... So I had to wait for him to get over there and unlock it... About 5 minutes. I picked out a La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor... He got it out of the lockbox, I followed him to the register... He rung it up, and the register says $25.99.
So I told him to put it back and walked out the store.
He's lucky that I do business with him at all after that.
La Aroma de Cuba Mi Amor
Delicious, absolutely delicious cigars here...well deserving of their incredible 95 rating. All sizes are box-pressed (including the Belicoso) with the exception
www.cigarpage.com
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I don't understand why folks get all butthurt and feel compelled to bash a business on here... like they crave the sympathy of other members here.
Of course no one can compete with online prices. 90% of what I have bought for my cellar comes from online,. But, I do try to drop a c-note at each B&M I visit. Mostly when we travel we try to hit up B&M's. I don't go to my local B&M very often though, but I hesitate to speak ill of it.
There will come a day, when we can no longer buy pipe tobacco online. I've seen my state do it with cigarettes and then chewing tobaccos, all liquors. They just recently allowed wines to be mailed, but for those of us who use it, it does seem very temporary.
I go to lots of places where I just won't give them my money for various reasons. It's ok. Hell, look at the mark up at bike shops. Really, any specialty store that has to compete against their own wholesalers online, and this is almost any hobby related store. It's a f'd up world, but how even more f'd up it will be if none of these things that we enjoy doing have a B&M presence out there.
Of course no one can compete with online prices. 90% of what I have bought for my cellar comes from online,. But, I do try to drop a c-note at each B&M I visit. Mostly when we travel we try to hit up B&M's. I don't go to my local B&M very often though, but I hesitate to speak ill of it.
There will come a day, when we can no longer buy pipe tobacco online. I've seen my state do it with cigarettes and then chewing tobaccos, all liquors. They just recently allowed wines to be mailed, but for those of us who use it, it does seem very temporary.
I go to lots of places where I just won't give them my money for various reasons. It's ok. Hell, look at the mark up at bike shops. Really, any specialty store that has to compete against their own wholesalers online, and this is almost any hobby related store. It's a f'd up world, but how even more f'd up it will be if none of these things that we enjoy doing have a B&M presence out there.
When I started looking for a bicycle in September, I was shocked at the difference in price of bicycles at a bike shop compared to on-line or in "big box" stores. But then again, other than about the 30 bikes in the bike shop, every thing had to be ordered and that meant the bike shop was paying close to the "on-line" price and had to add in their costs. (This is what was told to me by one of the guys working in the bike shop. I don't know how true it is.)
This is true for every nook and hobby based business. I have a daughter with a luxury good business and my wife used to run a hobby business. Almost every wholesalers has found that selling direct is the only way they can stay afloat, and they have the means to offer the same low prices that they do to retailers to the general public. Then the online company starts trying to tell the retail side how to price their stuff and run their business. Anyone who wants to open a B&M that refuses to see the insanity in it, deserves their lack of reward for doing so.
In order to justify higher prices, a B&M needs to offer an experience worth that extra cost, such as expert advice to help the customer--something you can't get (easily) when shopping online.
The only store within a reasonable distance for me has a small rack of pipe tobacco at high prices, but there's also a smoking lounge in the back: some day I'll drive down there, buy an overpriced tin, and spend the afternoon with the locals (the owners are some interesting guys).
On the other hand, the local vape shop with the dripping humidor, and pot pipes they try to sell as briar, will never see my face. They already make plenty from the local potheads.
But yeah, most of the time I'm going to shop online for my pipe tobacco: vastly larger selection, much lower prices.
The only store within a reasonable distance for me has a small rack of pipe tobacco at high prices, but there's also a smoking lounge in the back: some day I'll drive down there, buy an overpriced tin, and spend the afternoon with the locals (the owners are some interesting guys).
On the other hand, the local vape shop with the dripping humidor, and pot pipes they try to sell as briar, will never see my face. They already make plenty from the local potheads.
But yeah, most of the time I'm going to shop online for my pipe tobacco: vastly larger selection, much lower prices.
Sons of PSM! My brothers. I see in your words the same cheap thoughts that encourage my own tight-fisted heart. A day may come when tobacco internet sales fail, when we forsake our local B&Ms and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour is before is of regulations and buerocratic intrusion that all comes crashing down, but it is not this day! This day we buy! Buy all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you buy, Men of Pipesmagazine.com!
There is MSRP then there is price gouging. Boswell's which I visit is MSRP and support. When Davidus is charging $25 over MSRP ...that's the issue.
What I don't understand is why you complained about the post then went on a lengthy diatribe. Kind of hypocritical.
Okay, but why take your complaint to the forum? Makes sense to question the management of the store but, what help are you expecting from the membership here? Or, are you simply venting and we are convenient?