The Tinder Box

I just realized I haven’t done a review on Tinder box. I’ve been coming here for years. This location has an amazing staff. Extremely knowledgeable. Their selection of cigars is to die for. If you’re shopping for a gift of looking for a great cigar that’s kept in excellent condition, this is your place.

Easily the best tobacco shop around. None of that fruity vape shit.
High end tobaccos. Awesome employees – always willing to chat and give their experience and advice.
I read some reviews who think the folks here are «snobby» but I beg to differ. Maybe the reviewers are scum. How about that?
Been walking in here to smell the pipe tobacco for 17 years. Never disappointed.

I love this place — great selection of really good cigars. I don’t get the comments about poor customer service… every time I go in there the guys that work there are super helpful and friendly. Definitely my go-​to spot for top-​shelf cigars!

Four employees, but none willing to at least say «Hello» or ask if we need help? I ended up buying my box somewhere else.
The word «snobby» comes to mind…

Regarding cigars, the mark-​up depends on the cigar. I recently paid $ 4 over the Thompsons price for a Flor De Las Antillas cigar and about $ 3 over on another. Seems like a lot especially when you are met with just about average customer service. I assume their rent is through the roof being in South Coast Plaza so I would not expect them to be cheap. One good note, they seem to be more enthusiastic about their pipe tobacco.

Great little cigar shop in The Crystal Court side of South Coast Plaza. I happened upon this pipe and cigar shop while we waited in line for pictures with the Easter Bunny (for our daughter, not me). The line was long and I love cigars, so I wandered in to view their selection.
At first glance the shop looks like an overpriced, fancy tobacco shop, but as I looked at the merchandise in the cabinets I was pleasantly surprised at what I found. They have a great selection of briar pipes and accesories, lighters, ashtrays, and desk-​top humidors and the prices were very reasonable. I entered one of their two walk-​in humidors and found a great selection of standard and hard to find cigars. The cigar prices were also very reasonable, so I took the opportunity to grab a few of the sticks that I had hadn’t found in other cigars shops.
I recently restored my Grandfather’s Silversmith pipe and have been enjoying the experience of smoking new tobaccos. Since The Tinder Box has such a good selection of pipe products, I will definitely be returning soon for a few items.

Overall, this place is home to a whole lot of classy inventory and is definitely a go-​to store for unique gifts. However, the customer service was down right terrible. From the moment I walked in I was treated like some looky-​loo solely there to waste their time. When I asked for the item I was looking for the gentleman sloppily threw his finger to some corner of the store without saying a word.
I swallowed my anger and purchased my gift simply out of the fact that the quality of their merchandise speaks louder than their cold service! Even as I purchased it he made me feel as if I had inconvenienced him to have unlocked the showcase…
Good stuff, but I will not be going back… (It’s just another snoody South Coast Plaza shop, get used to be treating like you’re part of the lesser throughout the entire mall)

Decent selection, fair prices, friendly and knowledgable staff.
The fact that they can smoke INSIDE the mall is incredbile. Theres a fancy Davidoff humidor at the front which is cool, assuming you like Davidoff. Their regular humidor is in the back and usually where I direct my attention to.
I wish they had a place for patrons to relax and smoke to fully take advangtage of the system they installed which allows the for the rarity that is indoor smoking.

This little cigar shop is just very ok. Its definitely on the expensive side but I have run into some very nice employees here, one of which who introduced me to my favorite cigar which is olivia double robusto something rather.
If you want a truly great selection along with VALUE and educated employees, go check out hi-​times which is only 10 minutes away.

Gotta be honest, the atmosphere is a little intimidating for the uninitiated. Feels like you need to be in The Club, and if you’re not, then you’re on your own. Been in a few times, and they are helpful enough once things get going. Maybe it’s just quiet on this side of South Coast Plaza, or they’re just wary of Looky-​Loos, but service here was a little cold. But after some awkwardness they warmed up a bit and took care of business.
That said, they have a nice selection of pipes and cigars, as well as some tins and great smelling bulk tobaccos. Their Wilshire blend smelled great. This location is a franchise based on the original in Santa Monica, so mileage may vary if you compare the two. Regardless, if you’re looking for a gift I’m sure you could find something nice. But if you don’t come in with some assertiveness, you may find yourself slinking right back out empty-​handed.

Always very helpful employees. A great selection of pipes and tobacco.
Thanks

A fine shop to visit. They let me wander around without trying to engage me in fake conversation or pressuring me into buying something. That’s the kind of sales attitude that makes me want to go back!

I have smoked cigars for years but wanted to get into pipe smoking and was looking for a place that could get me started. I live in Long Beach and all we have are cheap head shops and business centered around cigars. This place is perfect for me and like mentioned in another review, it is a very classy place. They had a nice selection of pipes, everything from $ 10 corn cobs to $ 200+ hand crafted briars. I ended up getting an ascoti pipe and they threw in a couple oz of a house tobacco. Futhermore, the sales accociates were very relatable, knowlegeable and friendly.
I highly recommend this place, there are none like it in the area

I have been going to the Tinder Box for a few years now. It’s quite the classy establishment. The employees have always been polite and helpful and their selection of tobacco is extensive. If I was a pipe smoker, this place would be paradise.
Alas, I only go here to smoke some fine Eddie O’Clare’s or cognac dipped Al Capone’s so perhaps when the day comes that I will have enough money for a pipe, I can fully appreciate the assortment of smokes. In the meantime, I will enjoy buying smokes from here.

Once of the best place for pipe tobacco. Great cigar selections too and they do not over charge — quite remarkable considering the location is in the South Coast Plaza. The owner is super nice and if you buy quantity, you get deals. Just ask them!

Great selection of pipes and tobaccos at this location. Their staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, especially to a novice like myself.

OK i don’t smoke! but my bf does! And i’ve been to plenty of cigar places with him so I’ve had my fair share of experiences. I really like this place. The guys who work there are great! They are soooo knowledgeable. I don’t think they’ve ever steered my bf wrong in choosing a cigar. They are always willing to help and the prices are great! I would definitely recommended this place to anyone looking for great cigars.

The shop is inside the mall… far from convenient. There’s a Davidoff humidor in the front of the store, and in the back is the retail humidor room. Not very big, about 12×12. There’s lots of Olivas, Padrons, Hoyo de Monterrey, La Gloria Cubana, and some CAO’s. I chose an Oliva Ct reserve. Prices are reasonable. I’m spoiled on Hi-​Times.

Ok if i can walk into a store inside of South Coast Plaza and see a guy smoking a pipe inside the mall it gets 5 stars hands down.
I always enjoy buying smokes there and the staff is defiantly aware of their superior knowledge of tobacco (or snobby maybe)
I half wonder if the segerstroms have a handshake deal to let them and only them smoke in the mall.
If i brought a pipe into nordstrom I would be tackled by the goons.
Smoke up!
ok now for the boring stuff from their website
The Tinder Box in Costa Mesa is the oldest established tobacconist in the County of Orange, California. The two walk-​in cigar humidors allow us to offer a selection of cigars parallel to none. The store also supports an extensive array of accessories for the cigar smoker, Elie Bleu Cigar humidors, Dupont lighters, Davidoff cutters and fine Spanish cigar cases.