I bought my humidor off of ebay. This was some helpful information I got from one web sight it helped me decide I hope it’ll help you:
Avoid using the sort by Lowest Price First option. This will give you two results, none of which are particularly useful. First, it will simply show you the newest listings that have not received any bids yet. Second, it will display the listings by sellers who use inflated shipping to trick buyers. Since the cost of shipping is not included in the search terms, the listings with very high shipping and low bids will always be high on the list. I advise keeping it simple and sort your search results by Items Ending Soonest.
More about shipping cost
One of the first indications that a seller may be one to avoid is how they show their shipping fee. As mentioned above, the cost of shipping is not part of any search terms. So those who do not state their shipping cost up front are most often hiding something. As you scan the search results you will notice items with the shipping fee displayed prominently, and others that say "See Description" or "Not Specified". More often than not when the shipping fee is hidden you will find a listing that is in violation of eBay's Fee Avoidance policy. For example; an item that sells for $9.99 and $30.00 to $40.00 in shipping. This allows the seller to take profit on the sly by padding it into the shipping fee. Since eBay does not charge selling fees on the cost of shipping, sellers who take their profit this way are cheating you, as well as eBay.
Trust me; nobody makes a $9.99 120 ct humidor, not even the fake ones can be made that cheaply. And the cost to ship a humidor that weighs 8 to 10 pounds by UPS (as most of us do) ranges from about $8.00 to $16.00. It is reasonable to expect a few bucks extra added for handling, but $30.00 to $40.00 is absolutely outrageous. Also note that insurance is free if the item cost is below $100.00. So that extra $3.00 - $5.00 insurance fee is complete scam.
You deserve at least a little quality...right?
Do you buy your cigars at the local Dollar Store? How about the smoke shop at your local grocery store? Didn't think so. So why would you even think about buying your humidor form the eBay equivalent? Look for some expertise when you shop for a humidor. Any moron can ask a manufacturer to make some boxes that look like humidors, but not everyone understands the details that make a box a humidor.
The first line of this guide says a good humidor is as important to the cigar as the cigar is to the smoker. That is so true. Don’t buy a Humidor where they also sell toilet seats, poker chips, or watch winders that don't work. Buy one from a place that sells only humidors and cigar accessories. Would just a few bucks more be worth it for a quality humidor? Of course it would.
Check Product specifics
There really are no apple to apple comparisons when dealing with knock-offs. I found a common knock-off item called 120 ct Unique Cigar Humidor. This is the one with the glass top and front.
120 ct Unique Cigar Humidor - Sold by Gadget Best Buy and Easy Source.
• Miniature 1/2 scale reproduction 11.25" x 7.75" x 7"
• Printed imitation wood grain laminate exterior. Like wood tone shelf paper.
• Thin plastic top and front instead of real tempered glass.
• They used to claim their interiors were Spanish cedar, but have apparently taken some heat over the fib and have dropped the claim altogether. Do not assume Spanish cedar if the seller does not mention it. Their interior wood is most likely maple. The visible mineral streaks, light color and grain pattern seem to indicate maple.
Why do we fret so much over Spanish cedar?
Spanish cedar has a few properties that make it the ideal wood for use inside a humidor. It retains moisture deep in its cells to maintain equilibrium, allowing the remaining moisture to roam the humidor looking for cigars. Most other wood tends to wick moisture, which is in direct conflict with the nature of a cigar humidor. The humidor itself should not compete with your cigars for the moisture inside.
Spanish cedar is also resistant to rot and mold. Not impervious, but much more resistant than other woods used in the cheap production of knock-off humidors. Woods that have no natural resistance to mold and rot will decay when exposed to moisture and impart a bitter flavor to your cigars. Those knock-off peddlers are just setting their customers up for a big fall when they market their boxes as humidors.
Spanish cedar is also desired for the aroma that it imparts. It has a sweet aroma that compliments the tobacco aging process. After a while the aroma tends to diminish but can be refreshed by a very light sanding. Other woods just smell like a lumberyard and add nothing to the aging process. In fact some woods may actually be detrimental to your cigars.
FYI - Did you know that Spanish cedar is not actually cedar? It is only cedar by name. It was probably named cedar due to the sweet odor it releases when cut, just like common cedar does. Actually, it is a member of the Mahogany family. This makes sense when you realize that all, or at least most, antique humidors still around today were made from solid Mahogany. Mahogany has many of the same qualities that we get from Spanish cedar. Never use Western Red Cedar, or Aromatic Cedar in place of Spanish Cedar.
Read all the fine print
Statements like "100% satisfaction guaranteed" mean nothing when the terms of the sale include statements such as "all sales final" or "refunds will not be given if the box has been opened" or "20% restocking fee". I don't know how these policies foster 100% satisfaction, but it sounds pretty dishonest, doesn't it? These are actual excerpts from other seller's auctions.
Look for a brand name and warranty. This not only gives you peace of mind, but it also provides a trail back to the original manufacturer or responsible party. Knock-off peddlers will make statements like "Authorized Dealer", but never give even a clue as to the origin of the piece. The people who make these poorly made knock-offs will sell to anybody, so being an "authorized dealer" in this case is just smoke and mirrors.
A good alternative to Knock-off humidors
I realize that there are folks who just want to snag a cheap box that will work for the short term, or that is not intended for show. Whatever the reason, it might have the inappropriate effect of making the knock-offs look like a bargain. Considering that the non-Spanish cedar wood used in these cheap boxes may actually ruin your cigars instead of age them, you would be well advised to just keep your money and opt to use the commonly accepted alternative... Make a 'Tupperdore'. Boost a Tupperware container from the wife and toss in a small round humidifier and hygrometer. Tupperware seals well and it works great when all you need is a quick storage solution. And it is safer, by far, than throwing your money away on a box that someone has the nerve to call a humidor. You can even toss in pieces of Spanish cedar from your old boxes to sweeten the interior for loose sticks.
There is no shame whatsoever in using a 'Tupperdor', lots of aficionados use them. Do this for a while instead of encouraging those knock-off peddlers, and save your money until you are ready to buy a proper humidor from an expert.
It was absolutely awful. The first problem with it was that it had a strange maple smell in it. No biggie, just cover it up in Spanish Cedar. But once the inside ambient humidity dropped due to the furnace in the winter, it would not hold humity properly because there was no seal around the glass. So I caulked the glass