Best place to buy Illusiones 68?

[VirtualSmitty]

Originally Posted by chippewastud79

There are companies that undercut the prices on different cigars everywhere. Cigarbid and cigarsinternational list millions of cigars that get sold at far below MSRP, how are B+M's supposed to compete with companies that can mail you a box at half the price? For example: How does the corner smoke shop compete with C-bid on the price of Gurkhas?

In my opinion, the problem is the manufacturers establishing these MSRP's. The product has been bought and paid for by the B+M's or internet retailers. The manufacturer got their money, they sold their box. How come a retailer can't decide what they want to make as a profit on a box? Its just a shame to think that the makers of some of these brands over-value their product so much and demand for retailers to sell their product for $X.XX or lose the ability to sell them, no matter how much of their product they move in a month.

I don't disagree with you at all. In fact I couldn't agree more with. I think it's BS too, but it's not like it's uncommon in the cigar world. I'm just looking at it from the side of the retailer. How is it wrong if a place like Tower or New Havana Cigars that sells Tats or Illusiones at MSRP like they agreed to report a vendor that isn't following the terms of their contract? It doesn't seem like a shady move to me.

How often do you see Tats, Illusiones, or Davidoffs sell for half price? I haven't bought a box of NCs in over two years, but I can tell you I never saw deep half price sales on any of them (except Illusiones, they weren't even around then lol). Everybody knows Ghurkas are a joke, i've never seen them for sale outside of CS/Cbid.

Again, just playing devils advocate, making some evening conversation

[GreekGodX]

Originally Posted by VirtualSmitty

I don't disagree with you at all. In fact I couldn't agree more with. I think it's BS too, but it's not like it's uncommon in the cigar world. I'm just looking at it from the side of the retailer. How is it wrong if a place like Tower or New Havana Cigars that sells Tats or Illusiones at MSRP like they agreed to report a vendor that isn't following the terms of their contract? It doesn't seem like a shady move to me.

How often do you see Tats, Illusiones, or Davidoffs sell for half price? I haven't bought a box of NCs in over two years, but I can tell you I never saw deep half price sales on any of them (except Illusiones, they weren't even around then lol). Everybody knows Ghurkas are a joke, i've never seen them for sale outside of CS/Cbid.

Again, just playing devils advocate, making some evening conversation

It's a shady move because each retailer should worry about themselves. Don't go sticking your nose around in other peoples business. Let the manufacturer worry about it. CI/Cbid definitely make it difficult for a B&M to sell cigars. The lazy consumer doesn't care if a B&M goes under, they just care about the price. Once a retailer buys cigars for the manufacturer they should be able to price it as they please. It would be great if we could see those cigars at half off occasionally. It is a shame for a B&M to have to sit on inventory b/c 1. Nobody wants it 2. They cannot discount it. The more they sit on stuff the longer it will take them to get the new stuff.

This all in good nature Love going back and forth on the matter, and appreciate each side.

[VirtualSmitty]

Originally Posted by GreekGodX

It's a shady move because each retailer should worry about themselves. Don't go sticking your nose around in other peoples business. Let the manufacturer worry about it.

Let's say both of us own competing b&ms. We both stock Illusione because it's hot right now and people are looking for it. One day a regular customer of mine stops in and informs me that GreekGodX is selling the same cigars for half of what i'm charging. I call my rep and ask what's up, is that me being shady or is that me protecting my business?

[yourchoice]

Originally Posted by GreekGodX

It's a shady move because each retailer should worry about themselves. Don't go sticking your nose around in other peoples business. Let the manufacturer worry about it.

I'm a firm believer that the market should set the price, and frown on the practice of the manufacturers setting minimum prices, but I would consider that a retailer is looking out for themselves by reporting other retailers if they're not selling at the agreed price. The other retailers may be losing some of their market share if they can't (within the terms of the contract) compete with their competitors.

IMHO Illusione is more to blame for something like this than the retailer who reports the other retailer....they're just looking out for themselves.

EDIT: I apparently take a lot longer to type than Smitty! lol