Newb Question

[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.