Brick & Mortar Philosophy

[Yarddog]

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...

[Demuths1770]

don brought up a good point about stores being sponsored. i know my one local B&M is an official Rocky Patel lounge. he has all kinds of Rocky Patel stuff hanging up and is always posting on facebook about what RP is sending to the shop now. Im not a huge RP fan so i dont get to his shop a lot because he has a huge RP inventory lol. plus he also trash talks a lot about the owner of the shop i go to the most which is the farthest from me. his prices, discount, selection, events, lounge and knowledge is the reason i drive close to 40 minutes to go there.

[Yarddog]

I never considered a store being 'sponsored'...that would certainly skew the game...like a Rocky Patel franchise outlet, I reckon...I haven't seen that yet out here in our area...

[Demuths1770]

I never considered a store being 'sponsored'...that would certainly skew the game...like a Rocky Patel franchise outlet, I reckon...I haven't seen that yet out here in our area...

diamond crown is another one that i know dose it. i have another local shop that has two lounges. the first is the public lounge the second is the members only diamond crown lounge

[allusred]

I never considered a store being 'sponsored'...that would certainly skew the game...like a Rocky Patel franchise outlet, I reckon...I haven't seen that yet out here in our area...

Reminds me of the UK pubs tied to a certain brewer, works very well there, but doesn't seem right for B&Ms here.

[Demuths1770]

Reminds me of the UK pubs tied to a certain brewer, works very well there, but doesn't seem right for B&Ms here.

sponsored my be a bad word for it. i know with the Rockey Patel its because the shop sells alot of rp cigars. by being "sponsored" by them he gets the first chance at new releases gets to sell exclusive rp merchandise and so on. it dose not limit his inventory from other brands or other events. it basically makes him an exclusive Rocky dealer.

[Zeede]

I think it's more like being a preferred retailer.

[Yarddog]

Demuths, I believe that Diamond Crown sponsors one of the stores in my area...they have a bunch of their signs etc in the store.

Interestingly, the Julius Caeser costs over $22 in this sponsored store...which is in the Valencia Towne Mall in Traffic Light Hell. In Santa Barbara, I bought one for $18.

Either way, too much money for this stogie in my opinion.

[Sticky B]

There's a small spot in South Philly that has an "RP Lounge", I suppose it's the same thing. Not a huge RP fan, but I think it's cool that they have a nice little hangout at the B&M with card table, nice chairs, a TV, etc.

And it's possible that it could not have been afforded without that type of sponsorship (I don't know the specifics), even if it does come with the RP logo scrawled all over everything down there

[Jabba20000]

I am lucky enough to be near a great B&M. I mostly use online but on football days or when need to get out of the house it is a great hang out spot. 1 game equals 2 cigars smoking time I have found.