www.thecigarstore.com states Arturo Fuente won't allow Anejos to be sold online

[Hafner32]

Some how I ended up on the mailing list for an online cigar store, [url=http://www.thecigarstore.com]www.thecigarstore.com[/url].  Well last week, I received an email with a 15% off code good for anything on their site.  I went on the site, did some digging and found Arturo Fuente Anejo 77s on sale for $190/box or so, with the 15% off, they cam to around $162/box before shipping which is an unbelievable buy.

I purchased 2 boxes, paid for shipping and paid via paypal.  The transaction went through and I waited for the boxes to arrive.  I received an email today about a week later  from a guy named Bill telling me that he had to cancel the transaction because Arturo Fuente does not allow Anejos to be sold online.  I informed him that right now I could name at least a dozen sites that sell Anejos online without the blink of an eye. I informed him that I thought the R series and Casa Cuba series were the only 2 lines where you need to call because they are B&M sales only. He told me that these sites/stores are breaking Arturo Fuente rules by selling Anejos online.

So my question is this:  Does Fuente have a policy that forbids Anejos being sold online but simply looks away when vendors  do sell them or is this guy full of shit.  I think he balked at shipping when he saw the deal I was getting on the box.  Ultimately, I am not getting the Sharks but for my peace of mind, I would like to know the true answer.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Hafner32]

Here are 2 of the emails I received:

Mr. Hafner,
My apologies but we had to cancel your order for the 2 boxes of Arturo Fuente Anejo Xtra Viejo Reserva No. 77 Shark.  The manufacturer has decided they will not allow this item to be sold online (it’s a way for them to keep the price high by only allowing them to be sold in brick and mortar locations).

Trevor,
I’d be more than happy to sell you the product at the price we quoted.  Fuente will not provide us with the products to sell because we are not a brick and mortar.  I’d love to make a sale to you – that’s what we are in business for.  I suspect the on-line stores selling this item also have a brick and mortar and are doing so illegally.  If you can find them online, I’d grab them while you can, because if Fuente finds out they will stop proving them any of their products.

So he is actually making 2 claims.  First that Anejos are available only to B&Ms and not to online order only websites and second that those B&Ms are breaking Fuente rules if they list Anejos for sale online since they are only allowed to sell them to walk-in customers at their stores.

Any validity?  I have never heard about any of this but I am not versed in how Fuente handles their business.

[UBB]

I ordered a box of 'Sharks' from Federal cigars back in late November. In fact it was a pre-order. FWIW

[Brlesq]

That's bullshyt.  Tampa Sweethearts sells them online, and they are owned by the Fuentes.

[mrmagee]

Tell him you'd be happy to call it in as a phone order to their brick and mortar instead.

[crgcpro]

Holt's sells them online and they are in business with them as well.

He's either a liar or just a dumbfuck! Probably wouldn't do any good to call him out on either as he would either deny it or not understand it LOL.

[Hafner32]

I tried reasoning with him but it was to no avail.  I didn't even bother asking him why he had them for sale on his site if he then is telling me he can't get them because they are an internet-only based business.

I just wanted to double check to make sure Fuente's policies hadn't changed recently and to ensure I will still be able to stock up on Anejos when necessary.

[Pole Lock]

[quote author=Hafner32 link=topic=32460.msg138619#msg138619 date=1424809020]
Here are 2 of the emails I received:

Mr. Hafner,
My apologies but we had to cancel your order for the 2 boxes of Arturo Fuente Anejo Xtra Viejo Reserva No. 77 Shark.  [b]The manufacturer has decided they will not allow this item to be sold online (it’s a way for them to keep the price high by only allowing them to be sold in brick and mortar locations).[/b]

[/quote]

Last time I checked, you get the best prices buying from a B&M, rather than paying the gouge most online stores charge for Anejo.  As others said, plenty of places selling them online.  Magnum R and Casa Fuentes I think are the only ones you have to call or visit to order.

This guy's either scamming with some angle or as dumb as toast.  Doesn't sound like he had the Anejo to begin with.

Either way, I'd avoid this clown.

[Jolly_WhiteGiant]

They are not allowed to offer discounts on Anejo or Opus. That is how they get their stock yanked. Not necessarily just selling them online. I have come across the same thing before.

[riverdawg]

I've only had one dealing with them.  Several years ago when LFD Orientals had been out in 50 cabs for a year or three a general search turned TCS up as a low price.  It was also at a time when they were transitioning to 24 counts so must have been 2009 or '10.  Anyway they had 50 count cabs listed for a few dollars under what most folks were selling the 24s.... an obvious error.  I did the right thing and emailed them asking for clarification on the price and expressing that they must be referring to the 24 counts, two or three emails over a week or ten days, absolutely no response from them, soooooo I throw caution to the winds and order a box, fully expecting to recieve a 24 count.  Nope, a 50 count OR.  I felt a little guilty, but damn they smoked good.  A month or so and I'm burning through them pretty fast, check their site, still same price, couple of emails, still no response, so what the hell, I order another box.... received another 50 cab, apparently their last one.  Kinda hard to stay in business if they do that a lot.