Kalt's Moldy Cuabas

[Hutch]

[quote author=forgop link=topic=33637.msg146211#msg146211 date=1437371617]
Well, I took the prior post to mine as a sufficient answer to what PSP means. 

As far as pricing goes, they can certainly be quite high on certain cigars when you get into the HQ/PSP grades and be more than half dozen or so regular sources.  That said, if you're patient, you will catch some good deals on various cigars.  I often come away with pricing of HQ's and PSP's for less than the half dozen or so regular sources.  I buy what I want and never in a hurry and know it's not uncommon for the same box to reappear a few weeks later for $25-75 less.  I know their main "store" is quite high, but what I generally pay is on par with the competition, and in most cases, even better than those who simply lift the lid and only really assure they're not sending you a box of moldy cigars, only to later claim it's plume. 


[/quote]

I guess you have an exceptional relationship with them then, because, with the exception of Asian RRs (the price of which is dictated by Pacific), I have NEVER seen their prices on the "super duper qualities" less than any vendor I use other than a couple European LCDHs (who are also in higher taxed countries).

I also have NEVER had a box sent with mold from ANY of the vendors who sell much lower than Oz. Using the example of ONE gray market vendor's actions to justify Rob's "Clairvoyance Tax" is silly at best. But it's your money, and I have had no intention of telling you how to spend it. I answered another poster's question, and gave MY opinion that it doesn't make sense to ME to pay inflated prices for cigars that one man claims are better based on looking, smelling and feeling. FWIW, his tastes, and subjective evaluation don't jibe with mine anyway. He charges his "premium" for dark shiny wrappers...I pass those over immediately when inspecting boxes...my preference is for lighter, thinner wrappers. I have yet to see a PSP box on his board that I would even buy at reasonable prices. But I've only seen a hundred or so of his "super dupers".

After posting my previous message, I sent messages to 8 smokers, and called 3. Of the 7 responses so far, not a single one buys any of Rob's "graded" stock. One responded that he had, but found the cigars no better than he was getting at 75% of the cost from Oz. Again, it's your money to do with as you please, but coming across as a shill for the Czar only makes you appear desperately defensive.

[wabashcr]

[quote author=Hutch link=topic=33637.msg146222#msg146222 date=1437410468]
I guess you have an exceptional relationship with them then, because, with the exception of Asian RRs (the price of which is dictated by Pacific), I have NEVER seen their prices on the "super duper qualities" less than any vendor I use other than a couple European LCDHs (who are also in higher taxed countries).

I also have NEVER had a box sent with mold from ANY of the vendors who sell much lower than Oz. Using the example of ONE gray market vendor's actions to justify Rob's "Clairvoyance Tax" is silly at best. But it's your money, and I have had no intention of telling you how to spend it. I answered another poster's question, and gave MY opinion that it doesn't make sense to ME to pay inflated prices for cigars that one man claims are better based on looking, smelling and feeling. FWIW, his tastes, and subjective evaluation don't jibe with mine anyway. He charges his "premium" for dark shiny wrappers...I pass those over immediately when inspecting boxes...my preference is for lighter, thinner wrappers. I have yet to see a PSP box on his board that I would even buy at reasonable prices. But I've only seen a hundred or so of his "super dupers".

After posting my previous message, I sent messages to 8 smokers, and called 3. Of the 7 responses so far, not a single one buys any of Rob's "graded" stock. One responded that he had, but found the cigars no better than he was getting at 75% of the cost from Oz. Again, it's your money to do with as you please, but coming across as a shill for the Czar only makes you appear desperately defensive.
[/quote]

I think some of it has to do with access to better sources.  People like you who have been around longer and are better connected are obviously going to have access to better sources.  I personally have tried COH and IH, and while I have no complaints with either, I do find that what I get from FOH is consistently a little better in quality.  If you buy from the sales, it's pretty close in price to those other two, and it's peace of mind.  I definitely agree there's a marketing aspect to the grading, and Rob will gladly admit that he grades based on his subjective preferences.  FOH may not be for seasoned smokers with better sources (although I'm sure there are some who still buy from him), but it does serve a purpose for those of us who are still concerned about getting mediocre quality from our other alternatives.

[insight]

You pay extra for the mold?

[forgop]

Hutch-

I'm not going to post prices for any sources in public, but from those I pm'd you, just shows you can get better pricing there than any other vendor.  I do happen to like the dark/oily cigars better and like anything, taste is subjective.

[CigSid]

I can tell you that I am certainly not a shill for the Czar, (quite a few people know me here) and I have been purchasing CC's online since the mid 90's. I have found that FOH's prices have dropped considerably in the last year, and the 24:24's are much less expensive than their normal prices online. I also prefer dark and oily, and the PSP's I have received are far superior to the Pacific Cigar vendors, and noticeably better than the European vendors... Having said this, I still purchase from other online vendors, depending on what I am looking for, and the very best cigars in my cabinets are from here at OLH.

[James40]

Thanks for answering my question all.

[Hutch]

[quote author=wabashcr link=topic=33637.msg146224#msg146224 date=1437413557]
I think some of it has to do with access to better sources.  People like you who have been around longer and are better connected are obviously going to have access to better sources.  I personally have tried COH and IH, and while I have no complaints with either, I do find that what I get from FOH is consistently a little better in quality.  If you buy from the sales, it's pretty close in price to those other two, and it's peace of mind.  I definitely agree there's a marketing aspect to the grading, and Rob will gladly admit that he grades based on his subjective preferences.  FOH may not be for seasoned smokers with better sources (although I'm sure there are some who still buy from him), but it does serve a purpose for those of us who are still concerned about getting mediocre quality from our other alternatives.
[/quote]

All good points, and I have never meant to disparage Rob. I admire his ingenuity and courage (or crazy, either way) :) and I have never been disappointed with anything I've ever received from him, and that's been ordering from their basic stock. But because of their taxes, it's been limited to primarily Asian RRs. Scratch that...several boxes from him of the HU ConnAs have been as good as I would ever hope them to be. Part of my point was that they probably didn't make his higher price tier because the wrappers were pretty much Claro. That's worked out for both of us...he has quite a few folks that share his preferences, and I get the chaff at a price I'm willing to pay :) A bash Rob thread wouldn't get much traction...he's a great vendor, stuck with medium high taxes, doing what he can to counteract that suckiness.

[Hutch]

[quote author=forgop link=topic=33637.msg146229#msg146229 date=1437422570]
Hutch-

I'm not going to post prices for any sources in public, but from those I pm'd you, just shows you can get better pricing there than any other vendor.  I do happen to like the dark/oily cigars better and like anything, taste is subjective.
[/quote]

Thanks fir the tip by PM. I'll keep checking. Maybe he'll like Claro wrappers on some HU or PLs and they'll be priced like your examples. I'll gladly melt a credit card or two if that happens :)

[forgop]

[quote author=wabashcr link=topic=33637.msg146224#msg146224 date=1437413557]
I think some of it has to do with access to better sources.  People like you who have been around longer and are better connected are obviously going to have access to better sources.  I personally have tried COH and IH, and while I have no complaints with either, I do find that what I get from FOH is consistently a little better in quality.  If you buy from the sales, it's pretty close in price to those other two, and it's peace of mind.  I definitely agree there's a marketing aspect to the grading, and Rob will gladly admit that he grades based on his subjective preferences.  FOH may not be for seasoned smokers with better sources (although I'm sure there are some who still buy from him), but it does serve a purpose for those of us who are still concerned about getting mediocre quality from our other alternatives.
[/quote]

I'd say virtually everyone has all the same sources-not better.  Most everyone is buying from HK or from one of several Swiss vendors with an exception here and there. 

I've never purchased from the Oz "store" as those prices are quite high.  I have purchased "high" from the Prez when impulse shopping and before learning about how much prices fluctuate (ie, a variance in PSD4's to the tune of about $50-60/box and my last purchase was about $75 less on "clearance" than what they were listed for a week prior). 

[wabashcr]

[quote author=forgop link=topic=33637.msg146249#msg146249 date=1437452898]
I'd say virtually everyone has all the same sources-not better.  Most everyone is buying from HK or from one of several Swiss vendors with an exception here and there. 
[/quote]

I think there are plenty of people here who have better sources than those places.  Every once in awhile you'll see an unusual RE pop up in the TSBC from multiple sellers at the same time, which to me indicates the sellers have the same source.  Others seem to have good access to H&F/EMS stuff.  I could be way off, but I get the sense there's a group of people who have been around awhile, who have some pretty good connections with more underground sources.