if you were looking at becoming a member at a cigar shop or just someone who frequents one locally, what is the most important factor to you? or what do you look for in a shop?
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Cigar selection and a place to sit... TV and drink would be a plus (I guess I'm easy). I can deal with cutting fees as long as I can buy theirs and smoke mine. :-)
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Cleanliness, comfort, selection, good staff.
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cigar selection, leather couches, monster ass TV, girls wearing practically nothing to light my cigars. Ok that might be a stretch but at least a good cigar selection.
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ding ding ding, we have a winner!
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In no particular order...
- A nice selection of cigars and accessories
- Comfortable seating
- Televisions
- A good ventilation system
- Outdoor patio for warm days
- A selection of drinks, snacks, coffee, etc.
- Beer/Wine, Liquor if possible
- WiFi
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:-) You hit the nail on the head!
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This is very important to me, I have to be able to smoke my own sticks.

These plus the bolded selection above would make me a customer
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a great selection
decent prices
hot and friendly waitstaff
relaxed attitude
comfy lounge
proximity to my home
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how important are looks? classier or more laid back?

the reason i ask is to get ideas of course. a self owned shop idea has been approved by my better half.

how important is location?
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Looks is not #1, functionality is for me but it must be laid back.

Location helps especially if I sneak out during work... Otherwise I would not mind driving a little after work hours.

:-)
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what goatlocker said.

wifi and a good area to sit. I would love to take my laptop, be able to watch lectures and smoke my pipe or a larger cigar. it would definitely increase the frequency with which I do both :-)
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I mentioned to a (very) local B&M manager that it would be nice if they had Wifi. Her b*tchy response was "I don't want people turning my store into their office."

Huh? :-) :-)

Needless to say, I don't go there anymore unless there's a vendor event. Even though this place is right down the street from me, I go to the shop across town because

- the entire staff is very friendly, and the owner takes time to get to know you
- they have a good selection at good prices
- they have free beer and food on a regular basis...even live music and games
- they have many, many vendor events
- they have nickel cigar night on the 5th of every month...get one @ 5¢
- they stay open for MNF and TNF games, BYOB
- they organize cigar outings and dinners at gourmet restaurants
- they have Wifi...they WANT people to set up office there
- they'll stay open for your herf
- they stock JFRs

BTW, the name of this great B&M is Peak Cigars and Pipes in Colorado Springs.
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I think the hostesses definitely need to have good looks Jay.

On a serious note, though, I think it doesn't have to be amazing but clean and nice. Comfortable, good looking seating. Laid back like Dunng said. Not stuffy or too classy but nice. And I can't stress the clean thing enough. I've hung out at some and they don't clean up ash that's been sitting on the end/coffee tables and it's not terribly appealing.

I do like to have my B&M (which has a lounge) close. If you were on my way home, I could potentially stop in but I'd much rather be closer to home.

And congrats on the approval from the wife!
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laid back is good, but it needs to be classy in the sense of up-to-date (current TV, no shag carpet, etc) and clean.

location? if this perfect shop existed... I'd drive up to 10 miles without batting an eyelash. maybe 15-20 if it's that good (regularly that is). For special herfs or shopping trips.. within an hour probably
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gettysburgfreak
girls wearing practically nothing to light my cigars.

You mean like this one?

Image

__________________

Ditto this too!!
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I am definitely stopping in there on my next annual pilgrimage to the Springs


Oh, and for the shop. Hours are important. Both my locals close at 6, which means no evening smoking. Being open to 7 or 8 would be nice (they open at 730 but I don't/can't smoke in the morning)
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I like a place where they are nice to me. Customer Service is important. I like places that are on the nicer side (not over done with Rocky Patel advertisements) and need a TV, wifi, leather furniture, good ventilation and at least sodas and water (anything more is a plus). The more varied the selection the better.

Smoking my own is good, I have never been told no. I always buy at least a single and then just smoke what I brought (unbanded if necessary).
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lockers aren't a terrible idea either, but not a necessity
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That is the HOTTEST red X I've EVER seen. That X can light my cigar anytime. :-)

Now to actually add something to the thread . . .

I think location is important. Obviously, I don't want to go anywhere that I think my car is going to be stolen while I'm inside. Plus, the closer to where I live the better, but you can't be close to everyone. Parking can be an issue. I need to easily find a space. There's a cigar bar the massholes sometimes go to and when they have a vendor event there is nowhere to park. It's in a small strip mall with a small parking lot and several other businesses.
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