Gougers & Profiteers

[t33bone]

[quote author=Fuente Fan link=topic=10887.msg64458#msg64458 date=1324480810]
Yea, but they don't own this store!  They have no investment here like they would if they owned their business.  They just know they have people coming to this site and take full advantage of it.  When someone like yourself supports them, they keep the cycle going.  When the demand changes, so do the prices.
[/quote]

You are so correct. I feel the same of a B&M as eventually they may want to move a product and have to lower prices. I do not like paying higher prices for something I am looking for. I rather trade for it.

[tksamtec]

[quote author=Hutch link=topic=10887.msg64482#msg64482 date=1324512472]
You are mistaken on both points in the paragraph above. Gray markey cigars are exactly the same cigars that are sold at an LCDH. They have merely been purchased by one vendor or distributer from a distributer in another area of the world. HSA frowns on this practice, so tracking is defeated. Hence a gray market box from Switzerland might come from the same mastercase that a box from a Belgian LCDH comes from. And re: the pricing....you are high on the spring '10 prices  by about 25% and I buy from an "LCDH" that has the BHK52's priced at $265USD after conversion...tracking hologram intact :) FWIW the 54s and 56s are $332 and $366 respectively.
[/quote]
Also, if I am thinking of the same source you are referring to, they do not guarantee delivery at those prices where some grey market vendors do, so, if they do get confiscated, its a total loss to you. Alot of Habanos SA shops do guarantee delivery, the price may be more, but at least you will get something in the end.  I just checked and the BHK boxes available at that vendor are SEP/OCT/NOV10 too, so past the OR release stage to most collectors.

[canadianbeaver]

[quote author=tksamtec link=topic=10887.msg64489#msg64489 date=1324514973]
Also, if I am thinking of the same source you are referring to, they do not guarantee delivery at those prices where some grey market vendors do, so, if they do get confiscated, its a total loss to you. Alot of Habanos SA shops do guarantee delivery, the price may be more, but at least you will get something in the end.
[/quote]

There are several sources I was referring to and recently all have come to be proven worthy. This is the beauty of the cigar forum - FOH is a prime example. Down side is I am becoming penniless  ;)

[Hutch]

[quote author=tksamtec link=topic=10887.msg64489#msg64489 date=1324514973]
Also, if I am thinking of the same source you are referring to, they do not guarantee delivery at those prices where some grey market vendors do, so, if they do get confiscated, its a total loss to you. Alot of Habanos SA shops do guarantee delivery, the price may be more, but at least you will get something in the end.
[/quote]

Correct. Some vendors have dropped the guarantee...to the general public :) But I agree with you in principle...I'm willing to pay a bit more for the guarantee....as long as it's not a pretend guarantee like at Lou's and their sister sites :(

After I posted earlier, I thought of a good illustration of the grey market "exact sameness". Any time you buy RE's outside of their intended distributers market, they are gray market. That is why the Asian RE's are at a decent price at Czar, but appx 30-40% higher outside of that region. Same cigars...hologram removed.  HTH

[ivo]

Great info. Thx, Hutch.

[smelvis]

[quote author=Hutch link=topic=10887.msg64493#msg64493 date=1324516329]
Correct. Some vendors have dropped the guarantee...to the general public :) as long as it's not a pretend guarantee like at Lou's and their sister sites
[/quote]

Hi
Can I ask a question is Lou's not honoring their guarantee and which is their sister site. I haven't used them for awhile and won't again if there is no guarantee.

Thanks

[Hutch]

[quote author=smelvis link=topic=10887.msg64512#msg64512 date=1324551663]
Hi
Can I ask a question is Lou's not honoring their guarantee and which is their sister site. I haven't used them for awhile and won't again if there is no guarantee.

Thanks
[/quote]

Lou's doesn't ship the replacement for confiscated boxes, even though they claim to have. And since they don't guarantee the "reshipment", the customer just gets screwed. This is not hearsay, nor the experience of a "good friend". It has been my OWN experience...TWICE. It would not have been twice, but the incidences overlapped. Oddly enough I got "the letter" for BOTH of the originally confiscated packages, but NIETHER of the "replacements". I've now had this experience confirmed by two people I trust...they also got confiscation letters for the original missing packages, but no word when the supposed "reshipments" didn't arrive.

[kafreeman]

[quote author=Hutch link=topic=10887.msg64516#msg64516 date=1324570096]
Lou's doesn't ship the replacement for confiscated boxes, even though they claim to have. And since they don't guarantee the "reshipment", the customer just gets screwed. This is not hearsay, nor the experience of a "good friend". It has been my OWN experience...TWICE. It would not have been twice, but the incidences overlapped. Oddly enough I got "the letter" for BOTH of the originally confiscated packages, but NIETHER of the "replacements". I've now had this experience confirmed by two people I trust...they also got confiscation letters for the original missing packages, but no word when the supposed "reshipments" didn't arrive.

[/quote]

Thats f'ed...

Ive heard the same from other about CL's as well.

I noticed a bunch of BHK's show up here after the FOH sale.... could be coincidence.....

[canadianbeaver]

What's wrong with that? If someone put's up the $$ at FOH during the limited time sale and the sticks come to them, and they want to sell them, so be it.

Don't buy them. If you want them at any great price, go for it.

[burnem]

[quote author=canadianbeaver link=topic=10887.msg64522#msg64522 date=1324576025]

Don't buy them. If you want them at any great price, go for it.
[/quote]

It's buy them or pass, simple as that.  Seller will either come down to their real "value" or keep them.