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Cigars/An unwanted gift

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Expert: - 7/23/2011


Question
Hello James,

I have been given a beautiful case of 80 huge Monteceisto cigars from a friend but don't really want them. I have smoked a few and given some to my brother in law, but wondered if you could tell me where I could sell them. I'm not really a smoker.

Please let me know if you can help.

Thank you,

Andrew.

Answer
Hi Andrew,

Normally cigar buyers and collectors prefer to buy whole boxes with all the cigars included so if you've already smoked a few of these cigars and given some away, this may affect the re-sell value.  You can try listing the cigars on cigar message boards or buy-&-sell websites and you may find a buyer.  If you list them on cigar message boards, be careful.  Some cigar forums may not have a buy and sell forum so advertising cigars for sale is frowned upon.  Always check the cigar forum first or ask if it's OK to list cigars for sale.  (Cigar forums may also direct you to places where you can list cigars for sale so don't be afraid to ask them for help.)

What you can also do is try selling the cigars to a cigar shop.  Franchise cigar retailers usually won't buy cigars from people off the street but some small "mom & pop shops" may buy them.  Perhaps you could gift the cigars to friends and family?  If you know someone that's expecting a baby, you could give or sell the cigars to them and they can hand them out when the baby arrives.  Or, if you know someone that's getting married soon, cigars would make an excellent gift for the groom's bachelor party.  Cigar-friendly restaurants, bars and pubs may also buy the cigars from you.

Cigars get better with age so if you're not in a hurry to sell them, you should hang on to them.  I usually keep one or two boxes of cigars to gift to friends and family at dinner parties and special occassions (job promotion, graduation, birthdays, weddings, etc.)

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

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James Yee

Expertise

My main area of expertise is Cuban cigars but I can also assist you with cigar etiquette, humidor maintenance and troubleshooting. Unsure of a certain cigar brand? Wondering what a certain cigar tastes like? Have any questions about Cuban cigars? Just let me know! I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. (NOTE: My main focus is on premium, hand-rolled cigars and not cheap, machine made, convenience store cigars.) IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT PROVIDE CIGAR OR CIGAR-RELATED APPRAISALS. If you have a vintage cigar item and you want to know if it's worth something, please contact an antique dealer that specializes in "TOBACCIANA".

Experience

I currently have 19 dedicated years of cigar smoking and counting. I have smoked every brand of Cuban cigars and most reputable non-Cuban cigar brands on a regular basis so I know a fair bit about taste profiles, cigar etiquette and other fine nuances to cigar smoking. For 5 years, I studied with Cuban torcedores (rollers), catadores (taste testers) and revisadores (inspectors) on every aspect involving the production of the Cuban cigar and I am currently writing a book that will help beginners understand everything they need to know about cigars and cigar smoking.

Publications
Maple Leaf Gardens: Memories & Dreams 1931-1999 (1999; ISBN: 0920445616)
50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do (2006; ISBN: 0452286654)
The [London] Times (October 8, 2009)


Education/Credentials
B.A. University of Toronto

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