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Why are they so expensive?

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We know MANY many cigars are made in the Dominican Republic. Small Island, great weather for tobacco, tons of companies in Santiago with their factories and plantations. So, we could imagine we would see every brand that is made in our country at a very good price...but, let's just say, it's totally the opposite.

Let me explain, and give examples. At Santo DOmingo, we have less than 10 premium cigar shops (there are a bunch of others but sell unknown brands, that usually taste weird and are made with short leaves). Those cigar shops sell the cigars really expensive compared to their prices online. Not only that, but they don't bring a big variety of brands.

Brands they sell? Obviously Arturo Fuente, Augusto Reyes, Davidoff, Padron, Partagas, Cohibas (CC and NC), H.Upman, and some others...typical "dominican" brands you could say. None of them brings Nub, Gurkha, Oliva, Diesel, Tatuaje, CAO, Man O' War, JFuego, Liga Privada, My Father, Don Pepin Garcia (they started bringing some), Ashton, Illusione, EPCarillo, Punch, Perdomo, Viaje, Alec Bradley, Ambos Mundos, etc...should I keep going? I think you get the picture.

Prices? Let's just say it's cheaper for me to buy them online or receive them at Miami through my transportation company and bring them here. Few examples:

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story -
@USA US$5.45 or $110 (box 25)
@DR DOP$515 or in US$13.55

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic Natural -
@USA US$7.00 or $164 (box 25)
@DR DOP$365 or US$10.00 and US$240 (box 25)

Augusto Reyes Criollo -
@USA US$50 (box of 20) or $60 (box of 20 + 5)
@DR US$66 (box of 20) (And this is because they are "on sale" the robusto alone, other sizes are way higher)

Those are a few examples of the prices we get here, on our "local" brands, our "national" brands. WTF is going on? Can anyone help me here? Do the cigar shops receive the cigars that expensive? or do they get them for a really low price and kills us? (I ask this cuz i know some of you own B&M's). I tried searching for taxes in our country, but they ain't higher that the ones in USA...I dont get it!

EDIT: Sadly, those brands I mentioned we don't get here, I will probably won't taste many of them for some time since I can't get them. And others, thanks to Shuckins, I will taste them hehe (thanks for the bomb bro)
 
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I believe the reason is that all cigars that are made in the dominican have to be exported first then imported back in before they can be sold there.
 

JNT

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yea, and I was told their tobacco tax is insane. I think to take advantage of the tourist dollars that would be buying those kinds of smokes. Any local I saw smoking, was smoking some hand rolled tobacco.
 
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yea, and I was told their tobacco tax is insane. I think to take advantage of the tourist dollars that would be buying those kinds of smokes. Any local I saw smoking, was smoking some hand rolled tobacco.
Holy!! I researched about their taxes, and couldn't find anything...A friend of mine gave me an info, which i have to confirm, that tobacco products pay taxes but specifically for cigars is 130%. I need to confirm that...if that's the case, IT SUCKS to live here.
 

sean

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I believe the reason is that all cigars that are made in the dominican have to be exported first then imported back in before they can be sold there.
I remember reading this somewhere as well... aren't there also "zones" where the tobacco taxes don't apply which allows uninhibited manufacturing & exportation of cigars but restricts the sale of cigars?
 

funkejj

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Holy!! I researched about their taxes, and couldn't find anything...A friend of mine gave me an info, which i have to confirm, that tobacco products pay taxes but specifically for cigars is 130%. I need to confirm that...if that's the case, IT SUCKS to live here.
Think that is bad ask how much they cost in Canada. They are the ones that are getting raped!!!
 

CigarMan Andy

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I believe the reason is that all cigars that are made in the dominican have to be exported first then imported back in before they can be sold there.

This is accurate. THe DR is an Export Country. This IS a fact. They have to export ou and import in. A box of Opus xxx was $1000 in the Duty Free Store at the Puerto Plata Airport. Bring your own, or know someone at the factories. lol
 
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Seems there ought to be a black market there (and in any other cigar producing country) where one could get good cheap smokes from "connections?"

Another angle--try to marry into a cigar family,or have a family member do so. I'd be setting up my brothers & sisters & friends with dates left and right, LOL!
 
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