Yes, some great replies, and some outstanding insight! H&T, I agree with your desire to support your local B&M's, and while I do shop on-line specials to keep the price of my bread and butter smokes down, I do use the B&M's for those 'special' ceegars that I might want to try one or two of. And I believe that FireRunner is spot on with his assessment that rent space is the biggest expense for a retailer, especially out here where it seems that property owners and managers would rather see their spaces vacant and earning nothing than get that extra five bux a square foot.
Tell ya what, though, one pays the price for the amenites. I have been interested in a Diamond Crown Julius Caeser since I read a couple of good reviews. Went into the local upscale store...the one where I bought two cigars lately, about $27.00 worth, a grabbed a lighter that goes for $10-15 anywhere else, the total bill was $67.55...hmmm...that Caesar was north of $22.00...went into a cigar store in Santa Barbara in a strip mall, much friendlier and informative owner, same cigar was a little over $18.00...and the MSRP was a few dollars less.
Yeah, paying over MSRP is pretty much the name of the game in SoCal, and I reckon most consumers haven't checked prices on the Interweb, but you do pay a price for that ambience, and that's something I'm not gonna really get any advantage of. Anyway, love the participation, would like to hear from a boutique cigar maker or two with their philosophies on dealing with the end sellers...
