HTF? Really?

[BrooksW]

Ok, this has been bothering me for a while, so I thought I would see what your thoughts were...

Just about every day, I see a different "For Sale" thread, mostly on other forums, with "HTF" or "RARE" or somesuch in the title...but when I click on it, I am often SORELY disappointed in what is offered...

Cabaiguan Guapos are NOT rare.
Tatuaje Black Tubos are NOT rare.
Liga Privada #9 are NOT rare.
Cains are NOT Hard to Find (unless it is a lancero).

Do yall think that the definition of these words is loosing it's meaning? Are people just using the terms to get people to look at the sales? I am aware that some people cannot find every stick all the time, but just because your B&M does not carry it, does not make it Rare, right?

What do yall think?

~brooks

 

[klipsch]

Ok, this has been bothering me for a while, so I thought I would see what your thoughts were...

Just about every day, I see a different "For Sale" thread, mostly on other forums, with "HTF" or "RARE" or somesuch in the title...but when I click on it, I am often SORELY disappointed in what is offered...

Cabaiguan Guapos are NOT rare.
Tatuaje Black Tubos are NOT rare.
Liga Privada #9 are NOT rare.
Cains are NOT Hard to Find (unless it is a lancero).

Do yall think that the definition of these words is loosing it's meaning? Are people just using the terms to get people to look at the sales? I am aware that some people cannot find every stick all the time, but just because your B&M does not carry it, does not make it Rare, right?

What do yall think?

~brooks

I think it all depends on who's using the term, and what they're trying to convey when it's used. I see a lot of sales go up that state Rare/HTF in the description, and I scratch my head. Other times...it may be for cigars that are Rare or HTF...but they're not something that actually being sought after by the general enthusiast. Or...it could just be that some of us are cigar snobs? But I don't think that's really a possibility...:hysterica

 

[Craig Mac]

Most likely a ploy used to sell sticks, at least that is what I usually see when that is used.

 

[Wasch_24]

I guess it depends. Some of those are hard to find in singles in some areas of the country. Most people do not have access to the cigars you have listed in their local shops and internet retailers are either selling full boxes or inserting them into samplers.

 

[BGC]

I'd say out of your list they're HTF at most. Personally out of all of them the Tubos are the only ones which may be Harder To Find now anyway. The rest would probably just require a search engine.

 

[Eddy]

Its the eBay effect on BOTL.

 

[Dread]

All of the cigars listed are certainly easy to find, just google shopping the name would probably bring up 10+ outlets to purchase them from. When I think of hard to find I think of LE's or discontinued items that a buyer really has to probably get on the horn and call quite a few shops before they get lucky.

 

[Clint]

I think the term is so vague that it's used indiscriminately sometimes.

If it's used to purposely to be deceiving, than that's not good. I think most of the time it's just used because some or all of the sticks may be sought after, and possible harder to find than production sticks.

But absolutely if it's a production stick, then HTF is not so applicable.

 

[terrantheman]

I think it's treated like ebay in that it's meant to draw attention, just like it did for you and many others including myself, LOL!

 

[GoingPostal]

I guess it depends. Some of those are hard to find in singles in some areas of the country. Most people do not have access to the cigars you have listed in their local shops and internet retailers are either selling full boxes or inserting them into samplers.

This is part of it, maybe need a new term HTFIS(Hard To Find In Singles). The internet has made it tough for B&M stores, so they have to stock what sells for them. I have three B&M near me and when it comes to Tatuaje all that is readily available are the cazador and havana VI line. so Tats are a bit rare in this area, but Mostly it is just a ploy to get people to look at the sale.

 

[whodeeni]

Brooks when you started this thread were you referring to comments made by BOTL or Vendors/Retailers?

 

[SmokeProper]

To each his own with the use of these terms IMO. Based on person, location, and how long a ciagr has been out/quanities changing I think HTF differs. I just care what the contents are and decide for myself if I agree or want what they are selling.
I definitely don't open threads more that say HTF/Rare. If Im looking I'm looking regardless of those tags.

 

[AlohaStyle]

I've had the same thoughts, but I really don't care as people can say what they want. With that said and to answer your question, I think some of them are from newbies who might think they are HTF when they really are not, or from people just wanting to get some attention.

 

[boltonic]

I say who cares.

 

[SergeantStogie]

Hey those Tat Black Tubos and Liga #9s ARE HTF!!!! I've searched both my humidors and can't find any anywhere~!

 

[TreeFrog Frank]

I'm kind of with the "who cares" camp. I mean, no matter what it says... you know if it's really hard to find, or rare, when you look at the selection being sold. :dunno:

 

[TreeFrog Frank]

... and in line with this thread... ciggy is running a "kitchen sink" auction... and I don't see a kitchen sink ANYWHERE in his listing!! I'm disappointed!

:headroll:

 

[tmoney2007]

BOTLs are simply buying into the hype set by manufacturers themselves these days..... how many LIMITED production cigars were produced in 2009/2010? Versus 1999/2000? EVERYTHING seems to become HTF when even B&Ms don't have the room to stock everything new that gets released. My .01...

Most of the limited production stuff that came out this year qualifies. 200 boxes nationwide is rare, and they are probably going to be hard to find.

A current regular production cigar should never be considered rare or hard to find IMO.

 

[cucumber.breath]

Ok, this has been bothering me for a while, so I thought I would see what your thoughts were...

Just about every day, I see a different "For Sale" thread, mostly on other forums, with "HTF" or "RARE" or somesuch in the title...but when I click on it, I am often SORELY disappointed in what is offered...

Cabaiguan Guapos are NOT rare.
Tatuaje Black Tubos are NOT rare.
Liga Privada #9 are NOT rare.
Cains are NOT Hard to Find (unless it is a lancero).

Do yall think that the definition of these words is loosing it's meaning? Are people just using the terms to get people to look at the sales? I am aware that some people cannot find every stick all the time, but just because your B&M does not carry it, does not make it Rare, right?

What do yall think?

~brooks

Brooks,

I would like to point out that "hard to find" as you describe it and "hard to find" as I would describe it are two vastly different things. I have seen some of the HTF stuff you smoke on your blog, and every time I scratch my head and wonder how the hell you even would start to look for half of that stuff. Hell, look at the 1920's Lords of England. I didn't even know those existed, much lest were able for purchase ANYWHERE.

 

[Clint]

After reading some posts here I was also thinking that the buyer has the responsibility to know what he is buying.

So if HTF is used by mistake or otherwise incorrectly, then the buyer should know that. Then the buyer can decide if the price/value is right for him based on the knowlege of what is being sold.

If the seller using this scenario to swindle the unbeknownst buyer, then that's wrong.