Cigar Prices are a Rising
- Thread starter blessednxs65
- Start date
I know it's a necessary evil. Companies need a profit to stay in business. What I don't understand is why gov't picks on tobacco. I'd bet texting behind the wheel caused more harm yesterday than cigars. From what I've experienced most cigar smokers are people who have there stuff together. Meaning, job with medical benefits, family, home and couple kids. We are what I believe are average Americans. Why tax the hell out of us. Most will quit when it becomes a household budgetary item. Whatever happened to the lottery being our big tax savior? I live in NY on 1.28 acres of property and pay a little over $12,000 a year in property,school and municipal tax. Enough already with the taxes.
Taxes aren't the inherent issue. They're an annoyance, but you can find a way around if you really wanted (buy online, travel).
As for the increase, it depends on what and how much. While the maker may go up twenty cents, if my b/m or someone else's goes up a buck fifty, it's a bigger problem. I will wait and see how much, but prices in general are getting to where there are a lot of overpriced cigars already.
When cigars are starting in the market at 11-12 bucks with little to no track record, it's getting to be absurd.
As for the increase, it depends on what and how much. While the maker may go up twenty cents, if my b/m or someone else's goes up a buck fifty, it's a bigger problem. I will wait and see how much, but prices in general are getting to where there are a lot of overpriced cigars already.
When cigars are starting in the market at 11-12 bucks with little to no track record, it's getting to be absurd.
It's an issue of supply and demand. When the consumer, us , decide enough is enough and the cigar sits on the shelf and the shop owner can't sell a cigar he already purchased he will lower the price to sell it. If that same owner doesn't buy that cigar and the manufacturer has 5000 to 10000 boxes sitting in their warehouse they will reduce the price to sell them. I highly doubt there is a cigar rollers Union in Nicaragua, Honduras or Dominican Republic and the union is squeezing them for more sick time and wages. What makes an Opus worth $15 over a $5 858? I know people that don't like them. It's hype and the tendency of us, the cigar enthusiast, to buy into their created hype. We are a relatively small forum compared to some of the large ones out there but imagine if we as a community stop buying a specific brand for just one month think about the volume hit that manufacturer would take. Just saying.
I'll shut up now
I'll shut up now
That's a good point. Basically like a boycott?
whodeeni
the Cigar "Gangsta" ;0(
Good Luck with that one. People have different levels of discretionary income,
and some people want what they want regardless of price. It's probably not
an increase in the cost to manufacture or an increase in import/export tax.
Simply a way to increase profits.
and some people want what they want regardless of price. It's probably not
an increase in the cost to manufacture or an increase in import/export tax.
Simply a way to increase profits.
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
They would all say the same thing they are saying in the press releases in the links in the first post. That they are raising prices due to higher manufacturing costs. The price increase on most cigars will be 3-5% which means probably somewhere around $.20 a cigar to the customer per cigar. Which is pretty much what we have seen the last 2-3 years.
.20 a cigar I think we can handle. It's when we go into the b&m and pay .75 to 1.00 more per cigar is where the annoyance and anger come into play. I would like to see, in black and white, where the average cost to consumer is .20 so I can put to the fire with the shop owner and say "this is why I buy online"
Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
The $.20 increase is listed in those articles linked in the first post. If your B&M is turning that .20 in to 1.00 then you need to shop somewhere else. Many shops don't want to raise their prices because customers get annoyed with it, it can be a pain in the ass when you are doing it every year, but when your cost goes up you have to do it. I am sure their are some greedy shops out there that take the opportunity to bump it a little higher though, but I would think that any smart business owners wouldn't want to risk loosing customers.
I pretty much avoid my B&M at all costs. Their pricing is ridiculous. Some sticks are at or below msrp. But the sticks that every non smoker knows about (r&j, cohiba, etc) are far above msrp. It's ridiculous.
And don't get me started on their gurhka "deals" and the fact their staff has no idea what you're talking about ever.
And don't get me started on their gurhka "deals" and the fact their staff has no idea what you're talking about ever.
Every year prices go up on everything, the thing that kills me is that most of the things I enjoy go up well past the rate of my pay. I was talking to a wine merchant yesterday about his $90 bottle of wine that I was buying 7 years ago for $29. Which forces me to find my next bottle of $29 bottle of wine that I won't be able to afford in another 7 years. As I'm typing this I just opened a protein bar that I bought yesterday that was the same price as last month but appears to be about 10% smaller than when I bought them in December. If they don't get you one way they will get you another.
ChefBoyRG54
BoM Sept '14 & BoY 2014
that sucks. My B&M here is obviously more expensive than online but they have a solid staff, good lunge, great selection, lot of events etc. got to support the B&M!
as far as price increases it just seems like typical inflation. I work in supply chain as director of purchasing and sourcing(not cigars) and we see price increases in commodities yearly, sometimes quarterly. When our government prints cash like a meth addiction it leads to money just being worth less.
3.5% inflation is typical yearly and 0.20USD seems right on par
I have no qualms with paying for what a product is worth. But when a short cigar (35-40 minutes) is starting to go for 6 or 7 to 8-9, and a brand new brand with no track record comes out at 12-14, it's getting to be ridiculous.
+1 Quite frankly, I've become annoyed with the ever increasing prices. I honestly feel as though Tat has some of the most fair pricing on the marketplace. The product is excellent and the price point doesn't bother me. The Tat black CG jar release costs $10 a pop and I find it hard to believe that all these new blends coming out are going to be worth the same amount of money or more than a LE stick that reviews well and tastes and smokes even better.
I'm becoming ever more interested in getting into CC's due to price concerns as well. Party shorts, Bolivar PC's, and Por Larranga PC's can all be found in the sub $5 range. A box of RASS can be picked up for as low as $171. PSD 4's can be grabbed for as low as $69 for a box of 10. I'm supposed to honestly believe that a single Liga Privada is worth almost double the price of these highly regarded sticks? I'm suppossed to not bat an eye at the fact that a Room 101 Papi Chulo costs more and is smaller in size that those Cuban PCs I mentioned? That goes the same for the $8+ Melanio PC that I love so very much. Long story short, something isn't adding up for me anymore with the large amount of NCs and the pricing that manufacturers have for them.
It is what it is. Price increases suck but i'd rather pay a little bit more than see a drop in quality. IMHO this trend towards 60rg has also contributed to the price increases. manufactures have same amount of tobacco but are producing less units. As long as the quality is there i don't mind paying a little bit more even if it means i'll be buying a little bit less.
blessednxs65
Is it Nicaraguan
My qualm is not with the MSRP being adjusted to account for their costs, they made the investments, took the risks; thus, they should be rewarded. My issue is withthe taxation, particularly here in California then having B&M's gouge us on top of that. I was in a conversation with Jorge Padron at an event recently and he was shocked at the cost of their cigars here in California.
As it has been stated here, I primarily pick up one or two sticks here to decide if I am interested in boxes or even fivers which I acquire online.
As it has been stated here, I primarily pick up one or two sticks here to decide if I am interested in boxes or even fivers which I acquire online.