Wow! There are some really great, informative responses here and most are on the money.

I only have a couple things to add.

First, you're right about your right to good customer service. Just as long as you bear in mind that if you're in there during everyone's lunch hour, or right after everyone gets off work, it's not reasonable to expect, "excellent customer service", or a two hour indulgence of your fancies. The guy's gotta make a living and as was pointed out, it ain't easy. We're talking about an average ticket item of 8 bucks and you've got to sell a ton of 8 buck items to pay your rent. He's gotta make hay when he can, so if there's a line at the counter, don't try to take him away from it to answer detailed questions. Just common sense, really.

One thing that's not been mentioned, but sort of ties in with display space is the fact that many stores are "sponsored" on some level or another. Cigar distributors give out a lot of promotional items, events, merchandise enticements, etc., with the expectation (whether implicit, or not) of some exclusivity. Many retailers are "in bed" to some extent with certain makers/distributors and while it may be a "deal with the devil" in the long term, it is of great benefit to the retailer. My point is, it may or may not be in his best short term interest to carry a small number of limited releases, newest and coolest, boutique, or otherwise sticks. Not only does it cost him display space, but it might twist up the knickers of his main supplier. In other words, "don't poop where you sleep" lol.

I'm a huge fan and supporter of the B&M. In my opinion, they provide an invaluable and irreplaceable service to our community. They take the risk of stocking perishable items for our enjoyment and indulgence with very little, or no promise they'll sell. It's a little like selling fish, or produce. There's an expiration date, both in terms of durability as well as public interest. With so many "fly by night" cigar operations out there, who might be the hottest thing since running water today, but might be forgotten in a year, a retailer has to be very careful not to get seduced by the wrong product. Even with lots of product knowledge and market experience, everyone gets caught with their pants down from time to time.


B&M's allow me to go in and pick up 5-10 cigars I'm unfamiliar with, or might only want a few of in my collection. I don't have to make a box-style commitment and I also have the luxury of being able to SEE exactly how they're stored. Speaking of which, the B&M also has the luxury of storing their inventory much closer to where I like to smoke my cigars. Online retailers, for the most part, are forced to store stock much higher in RH than I can enjoy. They do so in order to ward off probable ill-effects of shipping and general transport. Cigars dry out pretty fast in the back of a brown van in July, so subjecting them to humidities of upwards of 75% is common place. Ever try to smoke a 75% RH cigar? Not fun.