Cigar Locker - am I missing something???

Started by Silverstix, 12/06/2017 10:09 AM

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Silverstix

There's a local cigar lounge by me that has a bunch of cigar lockers on the wall, maybe 100 or so.  Last time I was in there I asked the guy behind the counter out of curiosity how much it cost for the locker.  Cost is $450 per year.  You can keep your liquor in there but you can not put any outside cigars in the locker.   You get a 15% discount if you buy a box of cigars from the shop.  I'm all about stopping in and supporting the local B&M, but reality is most of us get the bulk of our collection online.  If I'm already stopping in once in a while to buy a cigar and smoke it there, what exactly is the point of having the locker?  Seems like I'm basically paying $450 per year to store my liquor.....am I missing something? 

If I could keep my own stash in there, then I would definitely pay for a locker and I'd probably pay more than $450.  It would be cool to have a nice place out of the elements to go smoke 


AustinMike

Those types of places with private lounges and lockers are things of the past.  It was big during the cigar boom, but shops have moved more toward lounges where people can just hangout.  Cigar Vault is my local shop.  They don't allow outside tobacco, but I know a guy, so I bring my own from time to time.  I still buy singles there and I buy beer too.  You can also bring your own liquor and store it there.  No fees and the cigar lounge is free to use.  You have a couple of great guys in Brian and Kirby to chat with too.  Cigar Vault is definitely not one of those stuffy, pompous shops and I'm happy it's not!

Silverstix

It's a good hangout spot, they have a front room and a back room, plenty of seating and it's all open to the public with TV's on the walls and everything.  It's definitely not a pompous type of place, they have their regulars like everywhere else, but anyone can walk in and buy a cigar and sit down and smoke it there.  Which is where they lose me.  I can walk in, buy a cigar, and sit down next to a guy who is paying $450 to do the same thing I'm doing lol


AustinMike


ninfiction

I've heard that some places will put a few cigars in the locker each month so that would be an added bonus.

I think the main draw is convenience. You have a spot to store some stuff at the lounge so you don't always have bring it with you. If you're going to a lounge several times a week this would just make things easier. The cost is not prohibitive to everyone which is why they are still offered in many places. It's not something I would pony up for, my disposable income is smoked...or drank.

In Minnesota you are not allowed to drink in lounges unless it's a private club. Meaning it's a lounge with a membership fee that does not sell cigars or liquor. A locker is included with the membership and you can bring your own cigars and liquor. They run over $1000 a year.

This is not the admin you're looking for...

toby2

i had one for a bit. some places have a special members area with better accommodations etc. i stopped going to lounges when my customers started commenting on the way i smelled. you don't notice that you you smell like a night club i guess. it was a nice place to lunch and have a cigar during the day while it lasted. the locker makes a bottle easier as well that way you don't have an open container in the car too i guess. $450 is kind of steep. ours is a few bills a year.

Cfickter

I don't know if this is a dying thing or not.  I have seen prices for similar places range from $250 - $1300 and more but most all don't allow outside purchases.  Some places have a general public lounge and then a VIP membership lounge also.  I also see a trend where a totally private smoking lounge (members only) not affiliated with a B&M have been established and even people getting together to rent a small space and establishing a private club.
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Deener27

I have seen anywhere from 250 to 2500 per year for a locker with differing restrictions on outside sticks and other things.  The one that is 2500 is really nice though as you can store all of your personal stash, really nice discounts and between 5-10 cigars added to your locker every month.  Most of the cigars added are rare, limited release and hard to find stuff.  The other nice thing is you get a key and have access 24 hours, 365 days.

I know so people who do the locker thing, but I don't since I rarely lounge it these days.  My personal preference is to get weird at home on the herf here  :biggrin: .  If I had the time or disposable income it would be really cool to join the high end lounge.


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AustinMike

A very good friend of mine used to own a cigar shop here in Austin.  This was back in the 90's, when I was fresh out of college.  Charlie used to let me access the lounge all I wanted.  Met some people with money in that lounge.  Doctors, lawyers and other business people.  Got some solid advice on a multitude of things.  Was great exposure when I was just starting out in my career.

tfkirk

I'm in NE Pa the Scranton Wilkes Barre area, I belong to a cigar lounge for $50 a month. They gave me a key fob I have access 24/7/365. for the $50 I pay a month I get to spend it on in-store products, with discounts on purchases on boxes. Big screen TV's and some sporting packages. Winter time I spend a lot of time there due to the Northeast weather. No personal humi's, none needed big humi already in the place. Can bring in any type of libations. Refrigerator and coffee machine. Not a bad deal. IMO.
Kirk

RIP BIG KIRK, LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU, SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE

DRuff

I have a locker at my B&M, costs 250 a year. I get discounts plus access to specials for only locker members. Keep booze and cigars in there and it doesn't matter where they came from. My shop is awesome.


Silverstix

Quotetfkirk - 12/6/2017  3:24 PM  I'm in NE Pa the Scranton Wilkes Barre area, I belong to a cigar lounge for $50 a month. They gave me a key fob I have access 24/7/365. for the $50 I pay a month I get to spend it on in-store products, with discounts on purchases on boxes. Big screen TV's and some sporting packages. Winter time I spend a lot of time there due to the Northeast weather. No personal humi's, none needed big humi already in the place. Can bring in any type of libations. Refrigerator and coffee machine. Not a bad deal. IMO.

So the $50/month you pay is basically like a store credit?  


Silverstix

QuoteDRuff - 12/6/2017  3:27 PM  I have a locker at my B&M, costs 250 a year. I get discounts plus access to specials for only locker members. Keep booze and cigars in there and it doesn't matter where they came from. My shop is awesome.

Being able to keep whatever you want in there makes sense, that's what I would've expected from this place by me.  If that was the case I would do it in a heartbeat.  


tfkirk

#13
QuoteSilverstix - 12/6/2017  3:44 PM

Quotetfkirk - 12/6/2017  3:24 PM  I'm in NE Pa the Scranton Wilkes Barre area, I belong to a cigar lounge for $50 a month. They gave me a key fob I have access 24/7/365. for the $50 I pay a month I get to spend it on in-store products, with discounts on purchases on boxes. Big screen TV's and some sporting packages. Winter time I spend a lot of time there due to the Northeast weather. No personal humi's, none needed big humi already in the place. Can bring in any type of libations. Refrigerator and coffee machine. Not a bad deal. IMO.

So the $50/month you pay is basically like a store credit?  


Correct. I have a credit card they gave me when I joined and they add $50 to the card and I either bank it and by boxes or go in and by singles, the cigar shop is open 7 days a week it has closing hours but the lounge is always open to members. I can go in at 3am with libations and my smokes and watch the TV's as long as I want usually Sunday mornings I go in with the local papers. It's nice when the weather sucks in the NE. It's right by the Mohegan sun casino and racetrack if you know where that is at in Wilkes Barre.
Kirk

RIP BIG KIRK, LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU, SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE

Silverstix

Quotetfkirk - 12/6/2017  4:21 PM  
QuoteSilverstix - 12/6/2017  3:44 PM  

Quotetfkirk - 12/6/2017  3:24 PM  I'm in NE Pa the Scranton Wilkes Barre area, I belong to a cigar lounge for $50 a month. They gave me a key fob I have access 24/7/365. for the $50 I pay a month I get to spend it on in-store products, with discounts on purchases on boxes. Big screen TV's and some sporting packages. Winter time I spend a lot of time there due to the Northeast weather. No personal humi's, none needed big humi already in the place. Can bring in any type of libations. Refrigerator and coffee machine. Not a bad deal. IMO.

So the $50/month you pay is basically like a store credit?  

Correct. I have a credit card they gave me when I joined and they add $50 to the card and I either bank it and by boxes or go in and by singles, the cigar shop is open 7 days a week it has closing hours but the lounge is always open to members. I can go in at 3am with libations and my smokes and watch the TV's as long as I want usually Sunday mornings I go in with the local papers. It's nice when the weather sucks in the NE. It's right by the Mohegan sun casino and racetrack if you know where that is at in Wilkes Barre.

That's very cool.  I'd spend money for a set up like that.  There's a place here in NYC called Nat Sherman Townhouse, the home of Nat Sherman cigars.  They have a private lounge downstairs with humidor lockers that runs about $2,000ish per year, same thing that money becomes store credit.

I can't figure out the deal with this lounge, why anyone would pay $450 to basically store their liquor there.  There's really no incentive I can see, but maybe I'm missing something because they are all sold  :?:


AustinMike

Quotetfkirk - 12/6/2017  3:21 PM

QuoteSilverstix - 12/6/2017  3:44 PM

Quotetfkirk - 12/6/2017  3:24 PM  I'm in NE Pa the Scranton Wilkes Barre area, I belong to a cigar lounge for $50 a month. They gave me a key fob I have access 24/7/365. for the $50 I pay a month I get to spend it on in-store products, with discounts on purchases on boxes. Big screen TV's and some sporting packages. Winter time I spend a lot of time there due to the Northeast weather. No personal humi's, none needed big humi already in the place. Can bring in any type of libations. Refrigerator and coffee machine. Not a bad deal. IMO.

So the $50/month you pay is basically like a store credit?  


Correct. I have a credit card they gave me when I joined and they add $50 to the card and I either bank it and by boxes or go in and by singles, the cigar shop is open 7 days a week it has closing hours but the lounge is always open to members. I can go in at 3am with libations and my smokes and watch the TV's as long as I want usually Sunday mornings I go in with the local papers. It's nice when the weather sucks in the NE. It's right by the Mohegan sun casino and racetrack if you know where that is at in Wilkes Barre.

Now that sounds like a great program.  I'd buy into something like that too.

tfkirk

They have different levels of memberships but it's mostly store credits the more you pay the more percentages you get discounted. They encourage you to buy off them but it's not mandatory. Don't get me wrong they're not the biggest selection store in town, but they have a nice selection. For that price I enjoy the options that they give me.
Kirk

RIP BIG KIRK, LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU, SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE

PETE314

#17

If you are ever in Northeast Ohio, look up the "Fair Trade Cigar Club" in Mentor, Ohio (east side of Cleveland).  They do not sell cigars.  They are a members only club with 3 levels of Membership.  Full- access 24/7/365 for $50/mo.  Partial - access once or twice a week with a full member on premises for $25/mo.  And best of all for out of town visitors...a $10 GUEST membership that lasts for a full day and acts in the same manner as the Partial.  Full members have 3 large and tall Cabinet Humidors with which they have access and can store cigars.  ANY cigars...  you can bring food and drink of your choice.  Full members can store stuff in the multiple refrigerators.  2 LARGE flat screens, seating for 30 inside, large patio outside (not necessarily perfect for this time of year...lol), there is a kitchen and great ventilation.  Mondays are a very popular night that include raffles and other entertainment.  If you like the virtual herfs...you will LOVE Mondays at the Fair Trade...

 Brlesq has come by for a visit.  I am sure he would confirm and promote the place as well.  It is a really neat model for getting and having a place to smoke...SO even if you are not in the area...It might be a good Idea to contact them and ask them questions about the setup of the club and the hurdles that had to be jumped through so that perhaps you can get some people together to attempt the same thing where you live....I would be happy to connect you with people if need be.

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