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I'm just getting into building and my first conundrum is

Posted by Don Barnhill on May 1, 2012 at 5:51pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I'm just getting into building and my first conundrum is finding boxes at a decent price. 

I have been cruising ebay for cigar boxes and I must say after purchasing a couple I finally figured out that maybe I should shop locally. I am so glad I did I was able to pick up boxes as low as free to 2.50 per box. Today I found 6 boxes for $5 bucks.

After this kind of savings I was able to buy some hard rock maple for 3-4 necks at 21.00 dollars. so with the boxes at about .75 each I have invested so far about $8 for quality boxes and necks.

Sure beats the hell out of ebay and supports the economy of one's own state.

Good luck to all on this awesome craft!

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Replies

  • Budd S May 14, 2012 at 5:06pm

    Hi:

    You scored getting six boxes for $5. Nice!! My wife recently found a yard sale and the guy had boxes going for .10 (10 cents each)... she bought me all 21 boxes that he had!!

    I like the idea of shop local... most of the Cigar and Smoke shop owners I meet point me to a stack of empties in the back corner. Most seem to be willing to give me a deal if I buy more than one... so I might see boxes of 2 different sizes (large and medium.. fancy or plain... or some wood and some of paper) at two different prices. If I'm quick on my feet I can offer them $20 and get out of there with a few "free" boxes (sometimes 6-8 boxes of different mixes). I'm not out to screw a seller... just like to get a good deal when possible.

    Most of the owners I have chatted up seem interested in the CBG and would like to see one. I dream of finding a cigar shop that would like to carry some of my CBGs... they give me the box at no cost, then buy the CBG to resell.

    Anybody else out there that retails CBGs in Cigar Shops?

    Keep Building!! Keep Playing!

    Regards,
    Budd S.

    • Suspect Device > Budd S May 15, 2012 at 2:16am

      Yeah. I've had pretty good luck selling CBGs through my two local cigar shops One place even gave me a whole wall behind the counter, plus a shelf to display CB amps and speakers. They also load me up with free -or almost free- boxes, and set aside the best empties for me. We've struck a fair consignment deal and I make sure each place always has 3 or 4 CBGs to display. 

      • Don Barnhill > Suspect Device May 15, 2012 at 2:25am

        I think that's excellent. It seems like a natural symbiosis!

    • Don Barnhill > Budd S May 14, 2012 at 5:31pm

      I went looking for CB's last week and ended up spending way more than I needed. 

      Then I went today with specific boxes in mind and thought that if I didn't find what I was looking for, I wouldn't buy any. I didn't find what I was looking for.

      If I'm careful, I won't end up with a shop full of boxes I'll never get to. I'm going to pick and choose carefully, so it doesn't confirm my wife's suspicion of OCD! Maybe if I just keep buying the Arturo Fuente boxes she won't know.

      LOL!!

  • Randy Bowman May 4, 2012 at 9:55pm

    If you are anywhere near Napa, CA, stop by Napa Valley Wine & Cigar.  Cardboard and hardboard boxes are free and the wood ones are cheap, especially to members of Cigar Box Nation.  I've been using the JFR boxes for amplifiers, using the amp kit from C. B. Gitty.

    • Don Barnhill > Randy Bowman May 4, 2012 at 10:29pm

      I'm in So Cal, North Orange county, but I believe I found a great outlet. I think I'll just make him a CBG for his kindness and who knows maybe I'll pick up a few orders.

  • Richard G Caudill May 2, 2012 at 7:01pm

    @andy8spades   <<yes my shop was giving me his  ,, then he saw one i8 made ,, now they 3 bucks apiece ,,< which is still dirt cheap> and he has some great boxes

  • Andy Eight Spades CBG May 2, 2012 at 6:40pm

    Yeah, my local shop just wants to get rid of them.  They think I'm weird when I look at their pile of boxes like they are made of gold!  That is till they saw one of my guitars I brought in.  Still only charge me a few bucks for each.

    • Don Barnhill > Andy Eight Spades CBG May 4, 2012 at 10:22pm

      I was blown away. One old guy just charged me a dollar a piece and before I left he told me to take whatever I wanted at no extra charge. Such a nice person and his cigar shop is beautiful with glass walls and humidifiers going. I was impressed with the quality of his shop but more importantly the quality of his person.

    • David Tutterrow GutBucketGuitars > Andy Eight Spades CBG May 3, 2012 at 8:18pm

      Yeah, don't tell them what you want them for or they'll start to charge you more for them. I was getting a heck of deal for a while. The local shop was giving me the "cardboard" boxes (Punch, Macanudo, etc) for free and charging $2 for the wooden ones. Then some lady in town started scooping them up to make purses so I now pay $5-$6 for wood boxes and $3 for the rest. Still better than ebay though.

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