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Thoughts on opus X price gouging?

Mark Twain

Call me Ishmael.
Joined
Jul 22, 2006
Messages
1,626
Location
Over them yonder hills
For all those not familiar with subject here’s a link that gives a pretty good account of what’s been going on.

Politics of FF Opus X

First off I truly enjoy the vast majority of Fuente cigars on the market, but I get pissed when it comes to OpusX, which for the record I love and would smoke daily if it were possible. Pricing is nuts on the net. The only real legit places that sell anywhere near MSRP are authorized retailers that only allow two Opusx per customer per day!

I feel like I have to go down some seedy alley just to talk to someone about buying a box, and when I do they tell me the cheapest they have is $750 for a box!

I ask you all if you think this is getting better or worse. :(
 
This is what I think... (right from the article you linked)

When we support these practices (price gouging) we are validating their existence by making programs and price gouging profitable. If we only buy Fuente Fuente Opus X® from reputable dealers that are charging fair prices for the products, we secure our rights to enjoy these cigars with more frequency and we may actually be able to buy a full box once in a while! In the end we are only hurting ourselves.

I refuse to purchase any Opus X except for MSRP (give or take a buck). I refuse to support or patronize any source that gouges. And I still have plenty of Opus' to smoke...
 
This is what I think... (right from the article you linked)

When we support these practices (price gouging) we are validating their existence by making programs and price gouging profitable. If we only buy Fuente Fuente Opus X® from reputable dealers that are charging fair prices for the products, we secure our rights to enjoy these cigars with more frequency and we may actually be able to buy a full box once in a while! In the end we are only hurting ourselves.

I refuse to purchase any Opus X except for MSRP (give or take a buck). I refuse to support or patronize any source that gouges. And I still have plenty of Opus' to smoke...
QFT. My local B&M gets six or seven boxes of OpusX's in, four or five times a year. All different vitolas; one box of each. Customers are limited to two of each vitola (per day), at sold at retail + OR tax. I buy what I can, when I can, and support a decent local B&M in the process. A small but growing stash emerges....

Don't feed the gougers. Ever.

My $00.02 - B.B.S.
 
Do any of you guys no a place (online) who's not price gouging or some place in San Diego I can go for good pricing?
 
no authorized retailers are alowed to sell online there for any that do are going to gouge your eyes out.
 
The problem with the authorized retailer system is that it only works well for those close to urban areas. I'm an hour or two away from the nearest dealer. Thats 2-4 hours drive time for 2 cigars!

There are a few sites online that sell Opusx for a dallor or two above MSRP, but they make you buy ten cigars and only allow two per purchase! This system sucks for a guy like me out in the sticks.

Do any of you guys no a place (online) who's not price gouging or some place in San Diego I can go for good pricing?

Several stores will sell online at or close to MSRP, but all of them only allow two cigars per order.

PM me if you'd like a site list.
 
Keep an eye out on the trade section. Quite often, there are good deals to be had for Opus X's from the BOTLs of this board. I'll also let everyone know the next time my local Tinder Box gets more in.
 
I've aquired 95% of the Opus X I have from either buying or trading for them on CP. There are plenty of CP'ers like Strayvector that help others get Opus X. :love:
 
I too live in the sticks, the the only fair place I've found is 480 miles away. Because of this I have only 4, It's found it easier and cheaper to get ISOM's so that is where my collecting goes.
 
I was really lucky last weekend and picked up several boxes at just under MSRP. Liveng in the Atlanta area,about the only place you can come close to that is Puff's place, & he usually limits them so the guys here can pick some up. Ya gotta love him for looking out for us here.

I stumbled on a shop out of state & the lady who runs the place can't sell all she gets, so she sets them out for a week & whatever isn't sold then she calls me and says "no limit".
When I buy whatever makes up a full box she then discounts a little just like she would any other box. Everyone's happy. Especially me!
 
Actually like most here if your patient you can typically get opus around the board which. My shop gets 5-6 boxes in steadily and has no limit on amount and sticks dead at msrp. The owner told me once that a good percentage of new customers he gains yearly come in search of and sticks around so he doesn’t intend on running his bread and butter. I have noticed Fuente’s increase in price however. I don’t think an opus at msrp can be had for under 10$ a stick now.
 
There's a somewhat similar problem with many highly sought after wines, many oenophile's that I know simply will not support wineries that hold their wines hostage.

The thing is, there are many other cigars out there that I love and that satisfy my palate for a great smoke. So out of choice I limit my Opus X smoking to a minimum, I always have my Opus X and Anejo's on hand I just limit myself. Then, when I dedicate the proper amount of time maybe after a nice meal, or at party, or with special friends I'll break out an Opus X and really take the time to enjoy it. It just make the occasion that much more enjoyable.

:cool:
 
Do any of you guys no a place (online) who's not price gouging or some place in San Diego I can go for good pricing?

That's one of the benefits of being a contributing member of CigarPass. You get to know those that will take care of you when the shipments come in... ;)
 
Actually like most here if your patient you can typically get opus around the board which. My shop gets 5-6 boxes in steadily and has no limit on amount and sticks dead at msrp. The owner told me once that a good percentage of new customers he gains yearly come in search of and sticks around so he doesn’t intend on running his bread and butter. I have noticed Fuente’s increase in price however. I don’t think an opus at msrp can be had for under 10$ a stick now.


I don't know about any price increase. I don't buy them on a regular basis, but I know of a couple shops that have them in pretty reguarly (not very close to me, but I stop in when I'm in town) and they always sell them for exactly what the MSRP is listed at on the pinned reference thread for OpusX. Several are under $10 (not including state sales tax.)
 
Actually like most here if your patient you can typically get opus around the board which. My shop gets 5-6 boxes in steadily and has no limit on amount and sticks dead at msrp. The owner told me once that a good percentage of new customers he gains yearly come in search of and sticks around so he doesn’t intend on running his bread and butter. I have noticed Fuente’s increase in price however. I don’t think an opus at msrp can be had for under 10$ a stick now.


I don't know about any price increase. I don't buy them on a regular basis, but I know of a couple shops that have them in pretty reguarly (not very close to me, but I stop in when I'm in town) and they always sell them for exactly what the MSRP is listed at on the pinned reference thread for OpusX. Several are under $10 (not including state sales tax.)

Yea I was kinda referring to the pinned thread; to be honest I don’t know if those prices are accurate anymore?
 
They're still accurate. I shop at Holt's since I am fortunate enough to live about 20 minutes from their mail order distribution center's showroom. Any time they have Opus X, which is usually year-round, it's always at MSRP and I have not seen any difference between my receipts and the prices on that thread.
 
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