First post on these boards - Been lurking for a while but only now decided to sign up. I'm new to cigars in general too and am/was really hoping to get more into them. The problem lies in the fact that I'm in the UK and I'm guessing that the laws here differ from the US in that we can purchase authentic Cuban cigars. This may sound appealing to many of you out there, but not to a newcomer like myself because it's just they're so damned expensive. Don't get me wrong; I've tried a few and really like what I'm experiencng but I really don't have the money to be spending upwards of £5 a stick.
I've browsed several American online cigars stores and the prices (although due to the cigars not being actually Cuban) are much more respectable and the majority of the sites sell their bundles and boxes for as cheap as $30 for 10+ cigars. That's roughly £15-£20 for the 10+ cigars. For that money I can only get about 3-4 of the cheaper sticks.
When I first thought about trying cigars I was quite excited about the prospect, but the prices are quite a downer for me and so I'm yet to actually really get into cigar smoking.
Is it a good thing that I can actually buy these Cuban cigars, or am I right in feeling a bit annoyed that cheaper cigars are so inaccessible to me?
Originally posted by When Doves Cry: First post on these boards - Been lurking for a while but only now decided to sign up. I'm new to cigars in general too and am/was really hoping to get more into them. The problem lies in the fact that I'm in the UK and I'm guessing that the laws here differ from the US in that we can purchase authentic Cuban cigars. This may sound appealing to many of you out there, but not to a newcomer like myself because it's just they're so damned expensive. Don't get me wrong; I've tried a few and really like what I'm experiencng but I really don't have the money to be spending upwards of £5 a stick.
I've browsed several American online cigars stores and the prices (although due to the cigars not being actually Cuban) are much more respectable and the majority of the sites sell their bundles and boxes for as cheap as $30 for 10+ cigars. That's roughly £15-£20 for the 10+ cigars. For that money I can only get about 3-4 of the cheaper sticks.
When I first thought about trying cigars I was quite excited about the prospect, but the prices are quite a downer for me and so I'm yet to actually really get into cigar smoking.
Is it a good thing that I can actually buy these Cuban cigars, or am I right in feeling a bit annoyed that cheaper cigars are so inaccessible to me?
The prices of cigars can be quite intimidating. You should be able to find cigars of all price ranges if you look. Best thing to do is decide what sort of flavor profile you like right now and then sample various sticks that fall within that catagory. I have found that I don't need to spend $10+ for the cigars that I enjoy, there are some in the $3 range. But with that said, I don't mind paying the $18+ for cigars that I enjoy a lot.
Good luck on your quest, ask questions, use the search feature, go to other websites, read reviews, and sample sample sample. You will find that you are entering a wonderful new world.
Alan
Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. --Mark Twain
B.A.S.E. #0006 <(O)>
Posts: 770 | Location: Greater Boston Area | Registered: August 16, 2004
Im from England and I get my cigars mainly from Spain apart form a box I bought from Cuba when I went there on holiday. They are quite a bit cheaper from Spain than from the UK although the well known expensive brands are still expensive if £5 a cigar is more than you want to spend.
I go the states once in a while like Alany does in Spain to get cheaper cigars (though non-Cubans in this case). A pilgrimage once in a while to stock up makes it easier to accept higher prices at home for cigars I truly want to get. I usually expect to pay at least 20 CAD for a hand-made Cuban and am not surprised to pay 30-50$ for the top of the line stuff such as EL or larger gauges like churchills.
________________________ "Tobacco is my favorite vegetable." --FZ
"Government is the Entertainment Division of the military-industrial complex." --FZ too
Originally posted by Alany: the well known expensive brands are still expensive if £5 a cigar is more than you want to spend.
It's not that I won'tspend £5+ on a cigar that I appreciate, it's just that I see no point if I can get an equally respectable smoke for much less.
I've scowered many UK sites and the shelves of my local tobacconist and can't really seem to find anything that allows me to sample multiple cigars for the prices that the US sites offer.
I've considered US sites that ship internationally but I'm sure I'd pay the price that I'm paying originally and maybe more due to customs & shipping charges.
I'm hopefully going to Spain sometime in August too so I'll look around for cigars whilst I'm there.
I may come across sounding as if I'm a bit of a 'cheapskate', but at the moment, whilst still a complete novice to the area of cigar smoking, I don't want to spend too much in case I find out that it really isn't for me and that money and time ends up being a waste.
Not a cheapskate at all, cigar prices can be intimidating at first. Another reality is that when many folks begin smoking cigars, they view them like cigarettes, forgetting that you don't smoke nearly as many cigars as cigarette smokers do. A little higher price, but less often. It stinks that you can't get cheaper ones there, though. There are some good, respectable, cheaper sticks available. But aholsber's suggestion is a good one. Find your "profile" and try many different ones so you know what you really like, and then stock them only. It cuts down on trying bunches of cigars that you don't like, plus buying by the box will be cheaper per cigar in most cases.
Originally posted by When Doves Cry: I may come across sounding as if I'm a bit of a 'cheapskate', but at the moment, whilst still a complete novice to the area of cigar smoking, I don't want to spend too much in case I find out that it really isn't for me and that money and time ends up being a waste.
Apologies if that how my post came across as it wasnt meant to. Its nothing to do with being a cheapskate as cigars can be damn expensive. I would love to get a handful of Siglo VI but I cant justify the cost when I can get a box of something else for the same money and theres no guarantee you would even like them.
To be honest Ive only been smoking cigars for about a couple of months since I went to Cuba on holiday. As such Ive not tried some of the stronger sticks as even Monte No.2s make my head spin a bit. Cigars like Romeo y Julieta Coronitas en Cedro are relatively cheap, £72 for a box of 25 and are quite easy and pleasant smoking for a noob like me.
