Tips and Guidlines for Shipping Cigars.
1. Keep em moist. Seal them up in one or two ziploc bags to keep them moist on their journey. Dried out cigars suck, but its not usually necessary to send along homemade credos if they have been properly stored.
2. Keep em secure. Get those styrofoam peanuts to keep the cigars secure in their package. If they're sliding around in the box, the ends are gonna get flaky and just plain look bad.
3. Keep em straight. You can't usually smoke a bent or broken cigar. Pack the whole mess, cigars (in baggies) and foam nuts in a mailing tube, small box, plastic VHS tape box, an old shoe, etc. The point is, the cigars must be protected. (I once received a cigar in the mail in a padded envelope and almost died. Well, not really, but it was traumatic.) If you shake the box and you hear something move, add more nuts.
If you are concerned about cost, don't be. I bought a big bag of those foam nuts for about $2, small boxes or mailing tubes cost $.50-$3.00 depending on the size, but the Priority Mail boxes are at the post office and are free. PM (Priority Mail) costs $3 and is 2-3 day delivery. If you don't want to send the cigars PM you can send them First Class for $1-2 depending on the number of cigars, just turn the PM boxes inside out (do this at home-be a little bit discrete.) Steal the baggies from your wife or reuse the ones the smoke shop sends your new purchases home in, just like you will reuse the boxes and foam nuts that all your new trading friends have sent you. And if you don't even want to burn the gas to go to the post office to get the free boxes, pick up an "Express Mail, Priority Mail and Global Priority Mail Supply Order Form" or call 1-800-610-8734 to have the PM supplies delivered (via PM, cute, eh?) right to your door. For free. Even the call to order them is free. It is 100% totally FREE. I didn't believe it either.
If you have a comment or concern that I�have not addressed here, or would like my address so you can send me a package of cigars so I can critique your packaging and shipping skills, (sort of a final exam,) email me. I will provide this service at no charge since that's the type of guy I am. (Cigars may not be returned.)