As of right now I wouldn't recommend cheaphumidors.com to anyone. I've had my humidor from them for a couple months and even though my humidity is reading 70-75, my cigars are still drying out. I sent the email below and received the following response.
MY EMAIL to cheaphumidors.com
I recently purchased one of your humidors and I'm having troubles keeping my cigars at the correct humidity.
The humidor came with an analog hygrometer and I also have a digital one as well. Both are reading 70-75% humidity and the digital reads 70%F.
But for some reason my cigars are drying out. I do notice that my lid has a slight warp to it and it doesn't sit flush on the right side. When I press down on the corner of the lid, where it doesn't sit flush, the lid rocks a little bit.
I wonder if a little air is getting in causing my cigars to dry out even though it's reading at an optimal humidity.
One other thing that I've noticed is that I can smell the inside of the humidor from the top glass (see invoice for model). It seems like the smell is coming from one of the corners of the glass. I wonder if air might be getting in from there like it is from the warped lid.
I've got a precious stash and I'm very disappointed that my cigars are drying out in such a nice humidor.
THEIR EMAIL RESPONSE
Humidity is a very hard thing to control. You are basically playing God in a small space. So many variables effect humidity, including weather conditions, heat, frequency of opening the humidor, etc. Most people really freak out about humidity and worry if they are not exactly at 70%. Truth be told, 70% is a little too humid for most people to enjoy a cigar. The mid to low 60s is a much better range, with Europeans actually preferring humidity in the high 50s.
That being said you should gauge your humidity more on the feel and smokeablility of your cigars, than the hygrometer numbers. Keep in mind that if you are using an analog hygrometer more often than not your reading, even after calibration is off. You see analogs measure humidity by a bi-metal that expands or contracts. This process albeit archaic, is also very slow to respond, and innacurate as heck. A digital hygrometer, that has been calibrated correctly is your best tool to determine humidity.
As stated before, there are so many variables that effect humidity it is hard to have a failsafe way to bring your humidity up to your desires level. Suffice it to say that adding an alternative humidity source, like a dish of distilled water, or very, very carefully wiping the insides down with distilled water are both acceptable means to increase humidity. You will notice that in the winter time you will chase humidity much more frequently as the air is drier. In the summer it will be much easier to maintain, and of course in the Spring and Fall, transition months, you will somedays be ok, and other days have problems.
Again, don't be too concerned with the numbers, go more for feel. All of our humidors are tested for humidity control, seal, etc.
I'm not sure why my cigars are drying out but cheaphumidors.com didn't seem to care. My questions about air getting in weren't addressed. They don't have phone support and when you call they tell you to email. All I wanted to know is why my cigars are drying out when my hygrometers are reading 70-75 percent humidity? There is obviously something wrong if my cigars are drying out at that humidity. So this is why I wouldn't recommend cheaphumidors.com to anyone.
