We use the easy-to-understand 5 star method of rating.
There are 4 categories that we rate each club on:
- Packaging & Freshness
- Cigar Selection & Newsletter
- Overall Experience
- Value
Following is a breakdown of how we assign stars in each category.
Packaging & Freshness
1 Star – Some form of humi-pack or way to maintain humidification while shipping.
2 Stars – Does the packaging protect the cigars during shipment? Did the cigars arrive in good condition?
2 Stars – Are the cigars properly humidified? Are they fresh and ready to smoke?
Cigar Selection & Newsletter
3 Stars – Are the cigars all premium cigars? Any house brands or cheap bundle cigars? Is it a good variety of styles? Is there at least 1 super premium or unique cigar in the bunch?
2 Stars – Is the newsletter informative? Are the tasting notes accurate? Is the content thorough? Is it professionally written?
Overall Experience
1 Star – Was it easy to join the club? Is the club information presented logically and clearly? Is the checkout process smooth?
1 Star – Was the package shipped in a timely fashion? Was the shipping carrier quick?
1 Star – How hard was the cancellation process?
1 Star – Was customer support responsive and knowledgeable?
1 Star – Is the whole experience professional and well-executed?
Value
1 Star – Does the club give free accessories? (cutter, lighter, etc.)
2 Stars – Do the value of the included cigars cost more than the club price?*
1 Star – Does the club offer other perks, such as discounts on future orders, exclusive access or special sales?
1 Star – How does the price compare to the average cigar club? (average is about $30/mo)
* How we calculate the value of the cigars: we take the box price and divide by the number of cigars in the box to get the price per cigar. We generally use the retail box pricing from the company we are reviewing.