Frequently Asked Questions

Q. I heard that smoking bars were to be outlawed in 5 years. Is that true?
A. No!! The ban you are hearing about happened in Boston. A new law that just took effect will ban smoking bars in the year 2019 in the City of Boston. This will have no effect on Puff The Magic. We plan to be smoking here for many years to come.

Q. How do you get around the smoking laws in MA?
A. In April, 2000 the Town Of Barnstable (which includes Hyannis) banned smoking. The town wrote into this regulation an exception for "Pre-existing smoking bars". In other words, the newly opened Puff The Magic could continue to operate as long as they sold "mostly" tobacco.. A few years later it got a little more complicated when the state banned smoking in all bars and restaurants. With help from Rep. Dmitrius Atsalis, the state allowed smoking bars to continue to operate under the condition that they sell 51% (or more) tobacco. Puff The Magic has been able to consistantly maintain its high tobacco sales due to its low prices and the loyalty of its customers. With your help, we should be smoking here for many years to come.

Q. Are your cigars more expensive than at traditional retailers?
A. No! From before its conception, owner and founder David Wood wondered "Why do cigar bars charge so much more than traditional cigar shops?" It was with this question in mind that the unique concept of Puff The Magic came to be. The lounge is connected to the store. The store though, would thrive on its own with its factory direct prices and tremendous selection. We are not a discount house but you should not find your brand to be priced any higher than at your favorite smoke shop back home (Taxes excepted. We can't do much about that but we'll keep trying!).

Q. Can I bring my own cigars?
A. Well yes. For now. Our patrons have always been acutely aware of our need to sell 51% tobacco in order to continue to smoke indoors. Because of their loyalty we have not yet had to institute a cutting fee or an outright ban of tobacco products not purchased at Puff The Magic. That being said, we do reserve the right to take such action in the future to insure that our customers can continue to have a place to smoke indoors, away from their children and with like minded adults.

Q. Why should I buy my cigarettes at Puff The Magic instead of a convenience store?
A. Convenience stores charge slightly less than Puff The Magic for cigarettes.  However, convenience stores have no stake in the ongoing battle to provide an indoor smoking facility.  Puff The Magic must sell at least 51% tobacco in order to keep our permit to allow smoking from the state of Massachusetts.  In order for the people in the community to continue to have a place to smoke indoors we ask that you try, whenever possible, to support the cause by coming to Puff The Magic for your tobacco needs.

Q. Why does my favorite cigar taste so much better from the humidor at Puff The Magic than the same cigar at other cigar shops?
A.Have you ever tasted a cigar that was supposed to be so great but you just didn't like it? It may not have been the cigar. It could be the humidor it came from.
Most cigar retailers use cold water humidification units or atomizing units in their humidors. They are less expensive and easier to install than the more effective steam units. While these units achieve moderate success in tropical climates, they are unsatisfactory for any humidor in moderate to cold weather locations. Cold water units are noisy, leave mineral deposits on everything in the humidor, can have an odor and they cool the air.
Puff The Magic uses the finest, state of the art humidification equipment available. There is no cigar store with more precise humidity control anywhere in the world.
First we use steam. Steam helps keep the air at the desired 70 degrees in the winter. Steam boils off all impurities and odorous materials before they reach the humidor. Steam disperses throughout the humidor more effectively and can be controlled with more precision.
Our boiler is in another room and piped in. The remote location makes our humidor quieter than most and prevents any leakage or electrical danger.
We use an electronically advanced humidity sensors. Unlike the typical on/off humidistat you usually see in humidors. Our state of the art equipment senses when the room is nearing the desired atmosphere and slows down the induction of humidity. It then calls for it when needed and in the amount needed. No blowing full blast and then waiting until its too low before turning on again. Not in our humidor!
Lastly, temperature & humidification are monitored 24/7. Should a fault occur in our system, a warning light illuminates and technicians are e-mailed or paged automatically.
Taste your favorite cigar in our humidor and see if you don't agree. The correct environment makes the cigar taste better.

Q. I've been hearing about SCHIP.  What is it and how will it effect the price of my favorite tobacco product?
A. SCHIP stands for State Children's Health Insurance Program. After several years, this program was finally signed into law on Feb. 4, 2009 and goes into effect on April 1, 2009. It raises the federal tax on all tobacco products substantially. The existing federal tax is already included in the price to retailers and will be raised April 1, 2009 as follows:

• The tax on large cigars will increase from the current rate of 20.719%, with a per cigar cap of 4.875 cents to 52.75%, with a cap of 40.26 cents.
• Little cigars will be increased from $1.828/thousand to $50.33 per thousand.
• Cigarettes will increase from $19.50/thousand to $50.33/thousand (or from 39 cents per pack of 20 to $1.01 per pack of 20).
• Moist snuff will increase from 58.5 cents per pound (roughly 4.3 cents per can) to $1.51 per pound (roughly 11.3 cents per can)
• Chewing tobacco will increase from 19.5 cents per pound (roughly 3.6 cents per 3 oz pouch) to 50.33 cents per pound (roughly 9.5 cents per 3 oz pouch)
• Pipe tobacco will increase from $1.0969 per pound to $2.8311 per pound
• Roll Your Own Products (RYO) will increase from $1.0969 per pound to $24.78 per pound.

You will notice that the hardest hit is the RYO. This is due to strong lobbying efforts by the major cigarette manufacturers in an effort to hinder their competition.
What does this mean? While it appears that the maximum increase on a pack of cigarettes, for example, will be roughly $.60, this is not actually the case. The manufacturers will also increase the price to maintain their margins. This continues down the line from manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer, each one adding a little to the price to keep their margins on investment. While it is not immediately clear what the new prices will be, we are comfortable with a guess that a $.60 increase in federal tax will end up at just under a dollar at the register. Cigars will be slightly different. Since there are numerous other taxes added to the cost (taxes on the taxes) we are comfortable guessing that cigars will max out at around $.80 per cigar. Obviously, less expensive cigars will not go up to the per cigar cap. RYO customers can expect their prices to double from what they paid before April 1, 2009.
This is a federal program and will effect retailers nationwide. It has nothing to do with existing or future state taxes.