Local Cigar shop support (or lack of...)

[Pantomimehorse]

yep Las has a point its nice chatting to the retailers and going on their suggestions, in fact I forgot about this but a month after going on the Wingsters walk I went into JJFox for some lighter fuel only to be greeted with a shake of the hand and welcomed back!, if money were not an issue I too would use the shops more.

Saying all that I think Ajay has come up with a nice plan of giving forum members a discount, certainly worked for me as I just bought a selection of then new RE smokes off him... great service too I recieved a email with the RM tracking number which I thought was a nice touch

[Kdot]

I like the "hands on" shop experience... All the senses are tingled by walking into the humidor, I always feel an obligation to buy a stick or two. It helps the little guy and at the same time lets me try puros that I wouldnt usually buy.

The experience can never be replicated online. However price does play a major factor and like a few have said already I restrict my box purchases to the web based stores.

Guess thats life, it's over for the little guy...

[G-man]

Same here!

Where I live, there is one tobacconist/cigar retailer proper. It's been family owned for 119 years, has a website and does ok.

I'm one for supporting local businesses, but in these supposed times of hardship they just can't compare to most of the sites that have been recommended on here. I'm community minded, but I'm not stupid enough to pay at least an extra ?100 for a box of 25's

It's a shame that I probably never will buy a box from them. I was just wondering how many people here try to help out their local shops and whose fault is it the UK pay crazy money for a good smoke?

I should add, I don't feel too guilty since apparently they make nigh on all their income selling CC to the US. So they're not going hungry...

My locals mark up 110 percent and that is fuckin Rape! I buy to say I contribute but if I bought from them all the time I wouldn't be able to offer the deals on the forum I do. Most of my offerings are below retail and some below wholesale.
Don't get me wrong on Mom and Pop cigar shops but most mom and Pops have since past and their greedy children are just that greedy. I started 2or3 years ago Tuesday nite Herf at my local and he gives me the same discount as any other person. Outraged at the fact my Herfers bought an average of 9 to 15 Herfers in and they on average bought somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 cigars each. At 6 dollars per stick $96.00 made and all his. 4 drivers in his house and 4, 5 series BMWs + 1 Lincon Navagator. Greed will do strange things to people

[deltawhisky]

Yes... that is a lot of mark up someone is benefitting from. I didn't think of smoke shops like that before!

[stevecairney]

Well, I did my bit just now. I popped in an bought a punch from them. Unfortunately they don't really have singles I like (except maybe a Boliviar).

Still they're ?9.95 better off now.

[kamaangir]

I had a bad experience with a shop in london (ranted about it in another topic), I now go to others in london, I buy Jose L Piedra Cazadores and get charged ?5.90 per stick.

[mb55317]

I would love to use my local retailer and i totally agree there is something really enjoyable about walking in the humidor, the sticks look so inviting and yummy and the smell is pretty mouth wateringly awesome too.

Unfortunately though there is a little voice inside my head that just doesnt allow me to part with my cash knowing i could get them cheaper elsewhere. Usually if i want to try something new i'll purchase a sampler from an online retailer or maybe a 5 pack.

Its a real shame it has to be this way..