Cigar Bars and Exculsive Status
phobicsquirrel
Posts: 7,347 ✭✭✭
While hitting up the cigar shop, I noticed that as of the 7th of Febuary my shop is now making a person pay five dollars on top of any cigars they purchase to go into the lounge and light up, and that is just a "day" pass. But for 50 bucks a month and 5% off you can go whenever you want. I personally think it's BS and will probably not go back to the shop again. I think it's down right wrong. They already had it so you could only smoke in the lounge if you bought cigars but now another fee or a monthly. For me who goes once and a while and maybe spends an hour or two it's gouging. Anyone else have this sort of crap with their shop? I'm livid about it actually. Seems to me that since I mostly see the same people in there that this new thing will make the shop less money as I can't see the same number of people who go in there will shell out more money just to go sit down.
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Ditto !
As much as we all love the b&ms that have great selection and an awesome free lounge - I'm fortunate to have pretty much the best b&m in the world - business has changed. Cigars went through the biggest boom in the 90's, and after it topped out it proceeded to crash. Building back up from that this past decade was no mean feat, I'm sure. This is likely why so many shops developed more extensive lounges. Now, however, consumer spending has taken a dramatic shift - it's ALL about the dollar, regardless of external circumstances. "Why buy pay retail for it, when you can get it so much cheaper online?" is the new mentality, especially within the past two years.
Now, I absolutely LOVE Cigar.com, and I am in no way discouraging online sales. I understand it's a market to fulfill, and I'm a capitalist - make that money! But here's the thing: retail b&ms just cannot compete with online pricing! We all know this, though not all may understand why exactly. So how are these shops supposed to make up the difference? The main reason you're there is to use that lounge, for good reason: it's a great place to smoke and hang with fellow BOTLs. So here is another market to fulfill, and a way for these b&ms to make money to pay their bills, so that they can continue to provide this excellent place for me to hang. As much as it sucks to fork out more money, I think we've been spoiled enough to date; if this is what it takes for my shop to continue their business the way they have, I would gladly pay it.
¨Only two people walk around in this world beardless - boys and women - and I am neither one.¨
when it first opened it had a walk in humidor in the bar. serves about 200 different beers. live music all the time no cover. this past year, the owner rents the building next door and turned it into a huge walkin humidor and left the bar alone. he still has a few sticks in the bar but i just walk next door to get a stick then go to the bar to smoke it. excellent place.
I have a little different stance than most people though. I'm all for private smoking clubs. However, I believe they should be seperate from the typicaal louge. A place I go to occasionally has a standard lounge in the cigar shop but upstairs they have a full lounge with multiple TVs, pool table, poker table, etc. It also provides free drinks and usually some snacks. I'm all for charging for a place like that.