A little help with bundles

[CastlemanCigars]

Folks -

I am seeking some honest answers on why some people have a negative outlook on bundles compaired to boxed cigars.

I personally am thinking about switching to mainly bundles but most people prefer boxed cigars to bundles.

Any advice is appricated.

Tim

[seagarsmoker]

I'll give you the view from someone who worked in a cigar store for a few years in one word - quality.
Bundle cigars get damaged quite easily - in a box they are very well protected, but in a bundle, the wrappers can take some abuse with only a thin piece of celephane to protect it.
Hope this helps.

[CastlemanCigars]

I understand what you mean about getting damaged but quality I have to disagree with. I've smoked a lot of bundles that where better than boxed cigars IMO.

[2chairs]

I don't think seagarsmoker was talking about HOW they smoke. Quality is much more than just how the the cigar smokes, tastes. To me it seems he is using the term "quality" as it relates to the higher degrees of damage that occurs to bundles in packing, transport, stocking, etc.

[seagarsmoker]

You are correct phil, that is what I meant and thought that is what I said. To be honest, unless a bundle has 'seconds' on it somewhere, the way the cigar smokes has nothing to do with the quality of the wrapper when you purchase it. Sometimes bundles will have 'seconds' written on it (or sometimes a whole line of cigars may be known as seconds - like Roly seconds) - these cigars come from the factory with known imperfections or better said 'buyer beware'. Otherwise I would simply say almost every other bundle cigar just comes without a box.

[jeffreya]

Bundle cigars can be great or dog rockets. I have some bundles that are absolutely fantastic they are as good as or better than a lot of known label cigars. I think the biggest problem is premium label smokers are just that and chose not to try something other than what they know, or have had a few bad experiences with bundled cigars. Most bundles sold are short fill and sandwich bundles because they are purchased for $8 to$12 a bundle and sold for $18 to $29 a bundle. These bundles 99% of the time fall into the dog rocket category. The whole thing in my opinion is to know and trust the tobacconist you are buying from, he or she should be able to tell you weather they are long or short fill and where they were rolled. I have found some of the best cigars at ¼ the price of boxed. This is the way I look at it I can buy 5 bundles or more for the price of one box, if one of those bundles turns out to be a great smoke what have I really lost?

By the way why do you need a pretty box when they are going in a humidor?
:D

[Enyafan]

I understood it in that manner as well. Rarely have I got in some bundles where some of the cigars were not in bad shape. Bundles are supposed to save money, but if my cigars have broken feet or other quality issues I had rather spend the extra money and buy them with boxes. Good comments Jody.

[CastlemanCigars]

Thanks for the info guys.

[cigartexan]

[updated:LAST EDITED ON Aug-22-02 AT 10:41 AM (CDT)]>"By the way why do you need a pretty box when they are going in a humidor?"

It depends on the size humidor one might have, Boxes do aid in keeping cigars organized in a large humidor. JMHO!!

Jack

[seagarsmoker]

true - almost all of my cigars stay in boxes in my cooladors or humidors.

[CastlemanCigars]

I think if cigar internet sites spent the extra money on bubble wrap instead of just peanuts you might have some better luck with bundled cigars not being damaged when they arrive.

As far as having a bad bundled cigar .. I've had plenty of crappy boxed cigars also so it is a crap shoot. And cigars are like life once you get in a routine it is hard to get out of it.