How Have Your CC Buying Habits Changed Since the Price Increase?

[kann]

Interesting results in just a small sample size.

When writing this post, I had another thought that I decided against putting in the poll and that was…

*How do you handle the risk/reward of paying these high prices only to receive a sub par box?

We’ve all experienced that part of buying CC when delving into their market, but now with the added anxiety of paying so much more, only to wind up with an unsmokeable box.

Some crops over the last few years have received mixed reviews due to extreme weather in Cuba. Add that into the mix to an already curious position Habanos has plunged their market into…this can’t be good for their bottom line on a product already in the crosshairs of world politicians to be eliminated through taxation & legislation.

That's a very valid concern, for sure.

 

[cohibasurfer]

About 75% less.

 

[thinde]

have you adopted any favorites outside of those three? Just curious

Mostly CAO's and Drew Estates and thanks to @tone-ny I've become very found of the Drew's Herrea Esteli line.

 

[jfields]

I posted this elsewhere, but here seems appropriate as well:

I'm not sure, but I'm thinking it might be a bubble that will burst. It may take 3-4 years to see any changes though.

Situation is really effed up with recent hurricanes wiping out plantations crops. Then the most experienced rollers have been leaving the island. So, we are seeing decreasing quality and quantity of cigars available right now.

Cubans control the production. Habanos is just a reseller. They are the ones jacking the prices up with greed being the key player since they don't want to suffer due to the lack of production IMO. Which is a really short sighted approach.
Only if we see privatization of plantations for brand prices will drop sooner than later, and that would take the Cuban government collapsing.
I feel sorry for all these LCDH owners who paid all this money to get in. Imagine now a La Casa del Habano shop that paid 250-300k Euros only for the franchise. And is supposed to sell Cubans. And Cubans are not supplying them cigars. Add on top that they take 15% of their gross income. Will they survive? Of course not. You will see many shops shutting down in the future I believe.


Now these poor guys will go directly to the Lebanese of Phoenicia for example and ask money as "loan". They will never return a cent back. Lebanese on the other side will take a massive chunk of the production current and future despite what Habanos is willing to give to them.


I've slowed down my buying quite a bit. I'm on the fence to whether this is the new norm, or a bubble that will burst in a few years. I don't want to buy a bunch of Cuban cigars for investment, only to find the price will drop drastically in a few years, minimizing any profit I could have made. There's still a few good deals to be had, and other stuff that's just ridiculous. There's a vendor a lot of us know that I suspect has close ties to the Lebanese and folks at Phonecia. It's my theory that what I talked about above is why he seems to have items in stock no one else has, and why it's pretty cheap comparatively in today's market. Go back three years ago, and I used to only buy vintage stuff from him. He used to be way more expensive than everyone else when it came to current production.

If this is the new norm, then I guess Cuban cigars will go the way of the elites, and become a guilty pleasure for us blue collar guys.

Habanos did it again at the beginning of the year with a price hike. This time they were sneaky about it and didn't announce it publicly. Everything was hit with a 3% to 15% increase. With Cohiba Behike getting hit with a 50% increase.

 

[mjolnir01]

I've been down on the construction quality over the last few years, so I've all but stopped buying. However I just got back from a Cancun overnight, complete with a quick visit to the LCdH. I picked up a few sticks and lit up an amazing RASS. I have no idea on the box date because Mexico has taken to covering the entire box with a health warning sticker, but I'm guessing it's a recent production stick.

I'm rethinking about dipping a toe back in, at least on boxes of RASS and VRFs. But those prices, though...

 

[BlindedByScience]

I'm afraid as long as Habanos can sell every single cigar they can get their hands on at exorbitant prices.....this is the new normal. Why would they lower their prices as long as they're selling out and killing it...??

Habanos Reports $545 Million In Sales | Cigar Aficionado

Habanos S.A., the Havana-based company responsible for all of Cuba’s cigar sales, reported revenues of $545 million for 2022. | Cigar Aficionado

www.cigaraficionado.com

On another note, I find it interesting that many of the big ISOM mail order houses are prominently featuring non-Cuban cigars in their mail ads and banners on their home page. We're not the only ones that have noticed......

 

[Gavin]

I’ve mostly stopped buying, which seems common from the responses. I also have noticed that I’ve mostly stopped smoking what I do have. Perhaps subconsciously rationing myself.

 

[kann]

I'm afraid as long as Habanos can sell every single cigar they can get their hands on at exorbitant prices.....this is the new normal. Why would they lower their prices as long as they're selling out and killing it...??

Habanos Reports $545 Million In Sales | Cigar Aficionado

Habanos S.A., the Havana-based company responsible for all of Cuba’s cigar sales, reported revenues of $545 million for 2022. | Cigar Aficionado

www.cigaraficionado.com

On another note, I find it interesting that many of the big ISOM mail order houses are prominently featuring non-Cuban cigars in their mail ads and banners on their home page. We're not the only ones that have noticed......

The guy who owns the LCdH in The Hague said that despite the nationwide ban on smoking lounges, as well as the new pricing scheme, they are still killing it; apparently most of their sales are going to China.

 

[Acclaym]

I think it's fair to say that Cuban cigars have always been viewed and advertised as a superior product. They were never priced accordingly. Like it or not, we are not their target market. Now the price matches the mystique and of course this is the new normal.

 

[jfields]

The guy who owns the LCdH in The Hague said that despite the nationwide ban on smoking lounges, as well as the new pricing scheme, they are still killing it; apparently most of their sales are going to China.

Yep! Just like they drove the prices of fine wine up in the 90s, they are now doing the same with Cuban cigars. Of course wine never came back down again.

I recently won a box of cigars on BR. The seller was both stoked and shocked that he didn't have to ship it to China.

 

[CigarStone]

I'm afraid as long as Habanos can sell every single cigar they can get their hands on at exorbitant prices.....this is the new normal. Why would they lower their prices as long as they're selling out and killing it...??

Habanos Reports $545 Million In Sales | Cigar Aficionado

Habanos S.A., the Havana-based company responsible for all of Cuba’s cigar sales, reported revenues of $545 million for 2022. | Cigar Aficionado

www.cigaraficionado.com

On another note, I find it interesting that many of the big ISOM mail order houses are prominently featuring non-Cuban cigars in their mail ads and banners on their home page. We're not the only ones that have noticed......

Both good points Tom.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

I can't remember the last ISOM I bought, but I have purchased a couple boxes of NCs for the first time in years. For me and my palate, the price is too steep.

 

[Thoughts]

I can't remember the last ISOM I bought, but I have purchased a couple boxes of NCs for the first time in years. For me and my palate, the price is too steep.

What have been some of your favorites?

 

[bfreebern]

I look at it like craft beer and Bourbon prices now. If people pay and are still interested, nothing will change.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

What have been some of your favorites?

I bought a box of CAO LX2 to see if my tastes have changed since I last had one. It's too early to tell.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I look at it like craft beer and Bourbon prices now. If people pay and are still interested, nothing will change.

We have a couple local craft breweries with product that is in very high demand (Deschutes 'The Abyss', for example). With limited supply, the choice is simple; raise the price until sales plateau (if they do), then hold and enjoy the profits. Pisses me off, but you can't fault them.....

 

[ironpeddler]

Well, if these number are true…their new marketing plan seems to be working.

LINK

 

[cohibasurfer]

I got it from good authority that went to The XXIII Habanos Festival that there is going to be 2 more price hikes in 2023. One next month in April then another one at the end of the year in Nov. If you were thinking about a few last time purchases... I say ... DO IT NOW!

 

[jfields]

I got it from good authority that went to The XXIII Habanos Festival that there is going to be 2 more price hikes in 2023. One next month in April then another one at the end of the year in Nov. If you were thinking about a few last time purchases... I say ... DO IT NOW!

This was the first this year. I'd be shocked if there were two more, but nothing should these days.

 

[cohibasurfer]

This was the first this year. I'd be shocked if there were two more, but nothing should these days.

View attachment 65919

Where some rubber soles my brother.