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Is it just me ...

MAS_Puros

MAS_Puros

Me as a wee one with my bottle of Abyss
Joined
Sep 27, 2007
Messages
1,485
Is it just me or have some of these locals been jacking up the prices for cigars? Don't they know we are in a recession?

I saw one place that had AF Hemi Signature Maduro for $21, Ashton VSG Enchantment for $20 and Opus X Robusto for $30 ... WTF.

Is this right can they do this? Whats even worse is people actually pay for them.

Sorry just my $.02, it makes me angry :angry:
 
MAS_Puros said:
Is it just me No. or have some of these locals been jacking up the prices for cigars? Yes. Don't they know we are in a recession? Probably

I saw one place that had AF Hemi Signature Maduro for $21, Ashton VSG Enchantment for $20 and Opus X Robusto for $30 ... WTF.

Is this right No. can they do this? Yup. Whats even worse is people actually pay for them.

Sorry just my $.02, it makes me angry :angry:
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MAS_Puros said:
Is it just me or have some of these locals been jacking up the prices for cigars? Don't they know we are in a recession?

I saw one place that had AF Hemi Signature Maduro for $21, Ashton VSG Enchantment for $20 and Opus X Robusto for $30 ... WTF.

Is this right can they do this? Whats even worse is people actually pay for them.

Sorry just my $.02, it makes me angry :angry:
Click to expand...


I've seen Anejo Sharks for $35 and and God of Fire Robustos for $30 which I thought was ridiculous as well. It pisses me off more that people are buying them, since it allows the scammers to keep getting away with it!
 
oh... you must be looking at local ALASKA prices...

friggin taxes...
 
Life is full of choices....and for one choose not to pay the fuggers when it's obvious they're gouging. :angry:
 
Here in Bloomington, IN our local B&M jack up the prices on everything. What are normally $4 to $5 sticks go for $7 to $10. Opus and Anejos go for +30% or more. Thank goodness for the generosity of BOTLs here on CP who are willing to share their hauls!

:)
 
My local B&M never charges more than MSRP. Plus, one good thing about PA is that there is no cigar tax (for now). There are some other B&M that I know that charge more than MSRP. Those prices are outrageous and I would never buy those cigars at those prices.
 
I've visited a few stores that price gouge, and my solution is simple; I don't shop there anymore. I'm lucky enough to have 4 stores - all under separate ownerships - within a reasonably short drive of where I live. The gouger tried to tell me once about how his prices SEEM high because he includes tobacco tax in his price....still doesn't justify 30 clams for a GOF. Fargin bastage.
 
MAS_Puros said:
Is it just me or have some of these locals been jacking up the prices for cigars? Don't they know we are in a recession?

I saw one place that had AF Hemi Signature Maduro for $21, Ashton VSG Enchantment for $20 and Opus X Robusto for $30 ... WTF.

Is this right can they do this? Whats even worse is people actually pay for them.

Sorry just my $.02, it makes me angry :angry:
Click to expand...
These dang local CA retailers are all gougers. LOL

Seriously, I know everyone here hates to pay more the MSRP (and some of you don't even like to pay MSRP) for sticks, but this business is tough. It's especially tough in states like CA that have such a high tax rate. Bottom line is that some of the seasonal releases will always sell, regardless of the price. It's the day-to-day sticks like Oliva for example that can break us and collect dust. No matter what I do, I can't compete with RP or Oliva as long as CI is out there. We try to keep our prices on the HTF stuff pretty close to MRSP but even then they are still over. We look for approximately 40% margin on our cigars. Believe it or not, that makes the GOF pyramide (sp?) a $30 stick. It's maddness.
 
What you have to look at is if the said merchant is an authorized Fuente/Opus dealer. Its possible that they're not so they may be buying at retail or close to it and reselling. If they are, they are supposed to be selling at retail (supposed to and do are 2 different stories. If they are selling way over retail, they should be reported to Fuente. There are too many dealers who would love to have an Opus account, who sell at or below MSRP on their inventory who are on the waiting list. I've seen shops where they sell all their sticks higher but upon asking they have their tobacco taxes added onto the price so when you go to the register, all that is added taxwise is state. The "holiday candy" will always sell, just not to regular cigar smokers, its the wives/girlfriends/coworkers who get had. Always important to involve your loved one what you pay for cigars so that they don't go out and get you that "impossible to get" Opus X for $30 a stick because the shop they walk into "happens to have them". My wife talks to my retailer every now and then, and I'm lucky as they are always MSRP and she's aware of what things go for. In short, just don't buy from those stores and they will go away. G1
 
Goalee1 said:
What you have to look at is if the said merchant is an authorized Fuente/Opus dealer. Its possible that they're not so they may be buying at retail or close to it and reselling. If they are, they are supposed to be selling at retail (supposed to and do are 2 different stories. If they are selling way over retail, they should be reported to Fuente. There are too many dealers who would love to have an Opus account, who sell at or below MSRP on their inventory who are on the waiting list. I've seen shops where they sell all their sticks higher but upon asking they have their tobacco taxes added onto the price so when you go to the register, all that is added taxwise is state. The "holiday candy" will always sell, just not to regular cigar smokers, its the wives/girlfriends/coworkers who get had. Always important to involve your loved one what you pay for cigars so that they don't go out and get you that "impossible to get" Opus X for $30 a stick because the shop they walk into "happens to have them". My wife talks to my retailer every now and then, and I'm lucky as they are always MSRP and she's aware of what things go for. In short, just don't buy from those stores and they will go away. G1
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I'm not aware of any agreements or restrictions in my shop that require me to price at or just above MSRP. However, there are certain companies who require the you don't discount below a certain percentage.
 
I had a guy in a local shop tell me last week that the MSRP list I got from tampa sweethearts was what they charged them for the sticks. I smiled and walked out...I don't think I'll be paying $20 for a BTL.
 
I went into a cigar shop yesterday and was amazed at the high prices also. The guy told me its because of the NY tobacco tax or something like that so with that said... online shopping is the way to go :thumbs:
 
jkuzi said:
I went into a cigar shop yesterday and was amazed at the high prices also. The guy told me its because of the NY tobacco tax or something like that so with that said... online shopping is the way to go :thumbs:
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He may be right. NYS tobacco tax is 37%... and then tack on sales tax. CA is even worse... so while sometimes your tobacconist may be to blame for gouging, often times it is your friendly neighborhood legislator who is responsible for the price you're paying.

I don't even bother buying anything in CA while I'm there visiting. It's ridiculous. I only buy in NY to support local shops, but at this point, I really don't buy much of anything locally anymore.

Nice job, asshats. 37% of 0 is still 0. :)
 
sorry guys, sounds like the new OPEC are the cigar bigwigs. my shop here in atlanta, puff n stuff, has been droppin the deals on me for months. guy's gettin opusX boxes in and sellin' em 11$ a stick. that's how you spread the love. thanks al.
 
smellysell said:
Your spelling skills astound me Cali Mike! :sign:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Hey I do my best on this stupid Crackberry :angry: ... my laptop hard drive died on me this past weekend, so you try pushing pin size buttons with sausage fingers :blush: :laugh: :D
 
caf034 said:
sorry guys, sounds like the new OPEC are the cigar bigwigs. my shop here in atlanta, puff n stuff, has been droppin the deals on me for months. guy's gettin opusX boxes in and sellin' em 11$ a stick. that's how you spread the love. thanks al.
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The downside is you have to deal with Al though... :p
 
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