New Cigar Brand - Online Only or B&M?

[cucumber.breath]

Personally, my split is 80/20 in favor of online stores. I usually only hit up B&M for the LE stuff, Fuente Holiday releases and if I want to get away from home with some friends and relax. I will say that if I am using a B&M's lounge though, I will ALWAYS buy a stick to smoke there and I never bring with me any outside product other than alcohol and a lighter.

[La Chupacabra]

I buy mainly online. Ma has a 30% excise tax on cigars, then add the 6.25 state sales tax. They are considering raising the excise tax to 110%.
I buy a cigar here and there in a B&M,should I pay almost 40% higher prices for the
exact same item. If I lived in PA or FL I would buy more at B&M. I refuse to give Deval patrick any more of my money. If he wants to raise the tax to 110% go ahead.
Because 0 x 110% = 0

[Bsneed51]

Also, I don't feel it necessary to buy a cigar from them every time I go in to use the lounge. I know this is contrary to most people, but if I go in there on Tuesday and buy $100 worth of cigars, I feel like I've built up some equity with them. So if on Thursday I feel like smoking a CC (or a cigar they don't carry) I don't always feel obligated to buy something that night. I also think it depends on your B&M's attitude towards that. Most of the guys that work at the Outlaw (my local) are cigar geeks just like me. Often when/if I can score cigars they don't carry I will take some in with me and we will trade/bomb/enjoy them together. Should me spending $200 in one day get me any less priviledges than the guy that buys a $5 in there each day?

I know others won't agree with me on this 100%.

[lbowles2]

Also, I don't feel it necessary to buy a cigar from them every time I go in to use the lounge. I know this is contrary to most people, but if I go in there on Tuesday and buy $100 worth of cigars, I feel like I've built up some equity with them. So if on Thursday I feel like smoking a CC (or a cigar they don't carry) I don't always feel obligated to buy something that night. I also think it depends on your B&M's attitude towards that. Most of the guys that work at the Outlaw (my local) are cigar geeks just like me. Often when/if I can score cigars they don't carry I will take some in with me and we will trade/bomb/enjoy them together. Should me spending $200 in one day get me any less priviledges than the guy that buys a $5 in there each day?

I know others won't agree with me on this 100%.

Sweet... another Outlaw

I agree. There are times that I just plain don't have the extra cash to buy something but since I have done enough business with the B&M in the past they don't mind me coming in and smoking in the lounge. They know I am going to be buying more at some point. On the other hand if I am going to a shop I've never been to I am going to buy some smokes from them before sitting in the lounge.