Price Shopping for Cigars

I always compare cigar prices at several cigar retailers before making a significant purchase. Since most retail prices have increased after the federal excise tax on cigars went up on April 1, 2009, price shopping for cigars is now a must if you want to make sure that you are still getting the lowest price on your favorite brand. Not all retailers adjusted their prices by the same amounts on or after April 1, so you cannot assume that the tobacconist who previously had the lowest price is still offering the lowest price on any particular brand.

See for yourself how prices have changed on a couple of popular cigars at several different cigar retailers since March 31, 2009:

• Cigar: Saint Luis Rey Rothchilde
  
  Prices on March 31:
  - $ 46.00 (box of 25) at TNT ($1.84 per cigar)
  - $ 54.99 (box of 25) at Famous Smoke ($2.20 per cigar)
  - $102.95 (box of 50) at Cigars Intl. ($2.06 per cigar)
  Prices on July 9:
  - $ 80.50 (box of 25) at TNT ($3.22 per cigar)
  - $ 58.99 (box of 25) at Famous Smoke ($2.36 per cigar)
  - $108.95 (box of 50) at Cigars Intl. ($2.18 per cigar)

• Cigar: Torano Exodus 1959 Double Corona
  
  Prices on March 31:
  - $ 89.95 (box of 24) at JR Cigars ($3.75 per cigar)
  - $ 92.00 (box of 24) at TNT ($3.83 per cigar)
  - $120.00 (box of 24) at Thompson ($5.00 per cigar)
  - $ 21.99 (pack of 5) at Famous Smoke ($4.40 per cigar)
  - $ 22.00 (pack of 5) at Cigars Intl. ($4.40 per cigar)
  
  Prices on July 9:
  - $ 89.95 (box of 24) at JR Cigars ($3.75 per cigar)
  - $ 92.00 (box of 24) at TNT ($3.83 per cigar)
  - $151.00 (box of 24) at Thompson ($6.29 per cigar)
  - $ 28.99 (pack of 5) at Famous Smoke ($5.80 per cigar)
  - $ 21.95 (pack of 5) at Cigars Intl. ($4.39 per cigar)