Newb Question

[Bearded Texan]

Ok can someone explain to me what is up with cigarbid? I finally visited the site to check it out but im not exactly sure how it works. Also what are some things to watch out for and avoid? Finally how do they do shipping?

Thanks

[AlanS]

Aint been on there in years, theres a reason they call it the devils site!

[WNYTONY]

Ok can someone explain to me what is up with cigarbid? I finally visited the site to check it out but im not exactly sure how it works. Also what are some things to watch out for and avoid? Finally how do they do shipping?

Thanks

It's an auction site and prices start well below the regular retail. You can get deals and pay alot less than normal prices if you watch the site regularly, are patient and learn how to play the game. There's also some buy it ow type of auctions where you don't have to bid and wait it out. The shipping is usually set up by the user to ship once a week and they consolidate your orders into one shipment. You pay a larger fee on the first item and then something smaller on all subsequent items - so it pushes you to add more items because you are already paying for the first one.
It is called the devil site because it can be addicting. You get so many good deals you keep going back for more, and more, and more. Anyone who uses it regularly (and I'm not one of them) will tell you that you need to be patient and prudent as opposed to bidding on alot figuring you will be outbid because there are times you won't and you'll have a huge box hitting your porch !

[josh lucky 13]

Don't use it much myself. When I did it was free fall auctions watch it for 20 min you know the lowest price then try to grab it. I believe they had 2 shipping options and to me the best was 1 a week. That way you can win several auctions and pay 1 shipping. Other than that know what you are bidding on and what it costs, set your target and don't go over.

[mi000ke]

I visit there about twice a year and load up on a lot of the cigars in my rotation at very low prices. (I am currently in the process of bidding at the moment). Shipping is usually around $6 for the first item you win, but then only about $0.50 for each additional item, so when I bid it's with the idea that I'll try to win a few lots to reduce the shipping cost per item.

You have to state a day-of-week delivery preference, and all of your winning lots up the the evening before are delivered together. So this gives you a week to bid for additional lots to lower average per-lot shipping costs.

I start by placing one bid for something I definitely want (usually a box, so if it's the only lot I end up winning, the shipping is spread over at least 20 or more cigars), and if I win it, I then start bidding on additional lots to reduce the per lot shipping cost.

There are basically two types of auctions - 1) regular auction - you place a bid and optionally a maximum and it will automatically bid up for you until the max is reached. it's essentially like eBay. 2) free fall where the price lowers every few seconds and you can elect to buy at any time. These are a PITA to play and I usually avoid it. Also you need to make sure you know when the auction closes so that it fits into your weekly schedule. First time I won a free fall I thought closing was based on purchase date. I bought a single cigar for about $2.00, but the auction closed a few days later and it ended up shipping after my weekly schedule so they wanted to charge me $6.00 to ship a single $2.00. I complained and they canceled the win, but beware.

I go in knowing exactly how much I am willing to spend on each item, and also knowing what I have paid in the past. For each day until the day before my ship date, I look at all the auctions that are closing that day and place my opening bid and my max. My max bids are generally quite low (usually $2-3/cigar, and maybe up to $5 for something that I know I can't get cheaper). In all cases I know what i have paid before, so I usually stand a good chance for a deal. Once I place my bids I am done for the day. You must be disciplined enough not to get sucked into upping your bid constantly. Ignore the You have been outbid! emails you will receive.

The next morning I wake up to find all of the great deals i did or did not get.

I am a big A J Fernandez fan and pick up a lot of his sticks here for cheap. So far, this round here are my winning bids (cost per cigar), consisting of one box, several 5 or 10 packs and a couple of singles :

Man O War Ruination 10th anniversary - $2.80
Oliva O torpedo - $2.00
Cain Maduro torpedo - $2.00
Murcielago toro - $2.00
diesel unlimited robusto - $2.00
San Lotano Bull - $2.00
San Lotano Habano - $2.00
Fallen Angel robusto - $3.00 (a bit high - I usually get these for about $2.00 - $2.50, but I'm out and it's my favorite morning cigar)
5 vegas AAA - $2.25
La Aroma de Cuba mi amor reserva robusto - $4.50
Man O war Armada gordo $2.60

So be informed, be disciplined and you can get some great deals.

[Brimy]

All good advice.
I generally bid on lots that are "ending soon". Mostly 5'ers.
Do your research so that you don't over pay.
As said in prior post, figure how much you are willing to pay, go in as low as you can and then set a max. Then just wait.
I try to get more than one lot so that the shipping is thus reduced. I'm not on often enough to ship weekly so I have my lots shipped the day I win.