Worldwide cigar sales down

[winelover]

Cuban cigar sales out of puff (The Guardian)

Worryingly it seems to point out that far less land is devoted to cultivating tobacco than back in 2006.

I also seem to be smoking less and buying less having been financially squeezed (now a mortgage slave and sole breadwinner). What's the story like for others?

[Stalebread]

On the bright side, as has been mentioned in other threads I think, the decrease in production may be contributing to an increase in quality.

I haven't been smoking less, but then, I smoke only one or two a week anyway. But I have been buying less due to space issues more than anything else.

[OZCUBAN]

The will is still there, as strong as ever ,but for me it price ,and thats not necessarily the dealers fault ,as Rob would a test ,Its the outrageous Tobacco Tax here in OZ and the UK is the same so i am led to believe ,do not know what the U.S tax rate is if anybody wants to chime in be my guest ,it seems they don't have a customs department either (only kidding just jealous)

But over here it is murderous and as a result i have to be very selective what i buy ,and even though our economy more or less survived the G.F.C. interest rates are back to what they were and as a whole we are getting caned for being successful especially here in the west.

Well thats enough bitching about affordability , with production being down i do believe we are seeing a upswing in quality, which is a good thing, the bane of Cuban's has been the inconsistency plugged ,overfilled under-filled etc etc .

Question if Cuba dropped the price would sales increase and hence more turnover ?

I Just have to buy what i can when i can ,this is after all an addictive hobby (sorry could not resist )

Giving up for me is not an option and i only smoke 1-3 three a week anyway To quote Charlton Heston from my cold dead hand

Cheers to all Oz

[Colt45]

Smoking about the same, buying quite a bit less. No matter how you slice it, cigars have become very expensive - almost unbearably so.

[thechenman]

Tobacco taxes in NY are so high, that I find it painful to buy cigars at B&Ms. Still I bite the bullet as they need our support in this climate of anti-tobacco whether it be smokers rights or taxation. Quite honestly though...at this point Cuban Cigars from Czar are more inexpensive than the non-Cubans I buy locally. I guess that can be a good thing as I smoke more CCs than NCs now. I still smoke anywhere from 5 to 7 cigars a week during the nice weather seasons here in the Northeast. As far as purchasing...I may be buying a bit less, but not markedly so. I don't see myself reducing the level of my purchases, at least not anytime soon, as I am still in the process of building inventory for aging purposes as well as buying cigars to consume now. All I can really say is that I am grateful to have found Czar and can truly appreciate their service and prices as they make my fiscal health much more manageable, even if my wife sometimes disagrees.

[OZCUBAN]

Tobacco taxes in NY are so high, that I find it painful to buy cigars at B&Ms. Still I bite the bullet as they need our support in this climate of anti-tobacco whether it be smokers rights or taxation. Quite honestly though...at this point Cuban Cigars from Czar are more inexpensive than the non-Cubans I buy locally. I guess that can be a good thing as I smoke more CCs than NCs now. I still smoke anywhere from 5 to 7 cigars a week during the nice weather seasons here in the Northeast. As far as purchasing...I may be buying a bit less, but not markedly so. I don't see myself reducing the level of my purchases, at least not anytime soon, as I am still in the process of building inventory for aging purposes as well as buying cigars to consume now. All I can really say is that I am grateful to have found Czar and can truly appreciate their service and prices as they make my fiscal health much more manageable, even if my wife sometimes disagrees.

Great Post I agree CZARS Rock

[Van55]

Since being diagnosed with lung cancer back in March I have neither bought nor smoked a cigar. No wonder the world market is down!

[Colt45]

Since being diagnosed with lung cancer back in March I have neither bought nor smoked a cigar.

Van, that's terrible. I wish you all the best.

[laficion]

Van, I'm truly sad to hear this .

Please take care my friend.

Guy

[thechenman]

Sorry to hear the news Van. Hope the prognosis improves. Battle it out.

[ksblazer]

Sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with Lung cancer Van55

Get well soon

I think the decline worldwide is due to the current economy. When it's down like it is "luxery items" tend to take a back seat to other things.

[perfectform]

Damn Van, sorry to hear that news. I thought there was something missing from the forum(s). I wish you all the best.

[Mr Peales]

Sorry to hear the news Van. Wishing you the best. May your tenacity serve you well. -P

[MontrealRon]

Van, my heart is with you.

We, your brothers, will all send our positive vibes, and our prayers.

This is a great challenge, but I do believe you will prevail.

[cigcars]

Since being diagnosed with lung cancer back in March I have neither bought nor smoked a cigar. No wonder the world market is down!

I do hope & pray you recover, Van. We lost our mother to lung cancer in 2001, and she quit smoking in 1994! Our buddy in Atlanta told us his father died of it the same year, after quitting in the same year as her! So his philosophy is - he's afraid to quit smoking! It seems, he deduces, that you croak after quitting! May you live long and prosper

[jsd]

Sorry to hear that Van. I pray that you make a full recovery.

I haven't made many purchases over the last 10 months since being laid off. I am actually enjoying a cigar much more often though. Luckily I had built up a nice reserve to sustain me. "IF" I can ever find another job I plan to resume purchasing occasionally.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Keep the Faith, Van! We're pulling for you, man!

[mkz]

Sad to hear about the cancer Van! Hope you fight it out and can enjoy your cigars again!

Keep the faith!!

[OZCUBAN]

I am very sorry to hear the news fight the good fight wishing you well

Cheers Oz

[greenpimp]

Damn, Van, sorry to hear. Hope your recovery goes well.

[Van55]

I truly didn't mean to hijack this thread. I thought my diagnosis was common knowledge, and I meant to make light of the original topic by humorous reference. Thank you so much for your good thoughts and wishes.

I am halfway done with my course of chemotherapy and am very hopeful for a long term survival.

I miss my cigars. Maybe I will take the advice of my brother the doctor and take them up again. What would happen? I might get cancer --again?

[dicko]

All the best Van, here's to a good recovery

As far as sales being down, with no place to smoke except for dedicated bars or peoples homes, coupled with high taxes and 'luxury' item pricing no wonder it is down! I personally would smoke slightly more, and definitlely buy way more if they were cheaper. A few hundred bucks for a box really is ridiculous. I would go so far as to say I would spend more overall if they were cheaper.

I think cigars will still remain popular well into the future though, from what I've seen personally, anyone who will give them a try generally likes them. People like good things!