Embargo Ends

[OZCUBAN]

Just a thought i had the other day ,if and when the Embargo ends ,how in reality will this affect our American Brothers

Cheers OZ

P.S Here is one Poll I cannot vote for

Sorry guys tried to fix poll question to fix error Ken pointed out ,but accidently stuffed it up lost polls that were before that time

[reg]

well, would seem like prices would go up around the world, but who knows. not sure how poorly the current stock is selling and how much more the US market would purchase.

[rdb6]

The embargo which has been in effect since 1963 will probably be lifted before the end of President Obamas first term(could be a one termer). After all of the confusion and scurrying for position ends , my life won't be much different. It will just be easier and more expensive to obtain CC's. I'm sure elsewhere there will be repercussions. CC dealers will be affected. I would think the balance of power in the cigar industry would surely change.

[El Presidente]

Oh how I look forward to this day!

We will still pull the best stock available and with no qualms in shipping! Given we supply a majority of stock to Oz, France, Germany, China, Japan, Eastern Europe.....there is a tremendous upside!

Quality Habanos stock will always be sought after. Let the Embargo end now!

[samb]

My major concern would be higher prices, (taxwise) and a possible lessening of quality, at least in the first few years until HSA got the means to supply the US.

[Wicky]

I know I wouldn't be buying them locally. At least in the short term. For Christs sake... they're asking 30-40-50$ for a decent Dominican/Nicaraguan now! Can you imagine the feeding frenzy if CCs hit the shelves?

[Wicky]

My major concern would be higher prices, (taxwise) and a possible lessening of quality, at least in the first few years until HSA got the means to supply the US.

I'd be concerned with the possible drop in quality as well.

[partagasd4]

Will the Czar's prices go up, down, or stay the same? That's all that matters.

[SandmanTR]

My major concern would be higher prices, (taxwise) and a possible lessening of quality, at least in the first few years until HSA got the means to supply the US.

I agree. I'd have to stock up to weather the "lack of quality" storm. Ride it out till it leveled out again. I can't even imagine the HUGE influx of CC's into the US if this were indeed the case...

...and I'd still by from the czar.

[Ken Gargett]

Just a thought i had the other day ,if and when the Embargo ends ,how in reality will this affect our American Brothers

Cheers OZ

P.S Here is one Poll I cannot vote for

whilist it is certainly a legit question, perhaps thoughts should be with the cuban people. it doesn't seem right to wonder if we'll have to pay a bit more or less for cigars compared to what they have endured.

next. surely the same people that vote one way or the other for 'better off', yes or no, vote correspondingly for 'worse off'?

[OZCUBAN]

Oh how I look forward to this day!

We will still pull the best stock available and with no qualms in shipping! Given we supply a majority of stock to Oz, France, Germany, China, Japan, Eastern Europe.....there is a tremendous upside!

Quality Habanos stock will always be sought after. Let the Embargo end now!

Maybe the increased demand would force HSA to get their act together or a least have the extra revenue to do so

Will you have to ditch the Pirate Garb

[El Presidente]

If I were to put money on it, 30% price increases in the US will be a given. A lot of this will be due to the fact of taxation moving from wholesale price to tobacco weight as is the case in most of the rest of the world. More revenue for the states.who are doing it tough. This wouldnt just impact Cuban cigars. but cigars in general.

[OZCUBAN]

whilist it is certainly a legit question, perhaps thoughts should be with the cuban people. it doesn't seem right to wonder if we'll have to pay a bit more or less for cigars compared to what they have endured.

next. surely the same people that vote one way or the other for 'better off', yes or no, vote correspondingly for 'worse off'?

KEN it was intended as a legit question (just curiosity). Every body on the planet who smokes cigars complains about the price at some point in time ,as far as the Cuban People go ,i know they do it tough ,but to be honest i don't think there is much I can do about that problem

I was hoping that if the Embargo ends may be Cuban will open up more and more freedoms will follow (one can only hope)

And as far as the poll goes (better off worse off yes and no to both) I realize that i have made a faux-par with that one but to late to delete now ,but the result would be the same would it not?

Cheers OZ

[sloth]

i can't wait for it... the idea for me to go to a local cigar store and buy a Cuban cigar is worth the risk of any doomsday scenarios some of you seem to think of...

[soltino]

Worse off... prices will probably rise.... more demand will also probably lower quality as well, as HSA try to get more product out the door. Guess we'll just have to wait and see... assuming the embargo lifts anytime soon which I doubt now.

[OZCUBAN]

i can't wait for it... the idea for me to go to a local cigar store and buy a Cuban cigar is worth the risk of any doomsday scenarios some of you seem to think of...

Hi Sloth

As somebody who can walk into shop and order from Rob, and package here promptly,I cannot imagine what it must be for you guys stateside having to smoke something deemed Illegal ,not that seems to stop you guys

Being able to walk into a shop would be a nice experience for you

I guess from what I can gather the prices will rise and taxes etc.

Then you will on par with the rest of us ,is this the price of freedom ,I ask you

What ever happens Rob will keep his customers I am sure, as what we have here is something special ,and rob is a nice guy as you stateside will find out soon enough.

cheers and Take care

OZ

[MIKA27]

KEN it was intended as a legit question (just curiosity). Every body on the planet who smokes cigars complains about the price at some point in time ,as far as the Cuban People go ,i know they do it tough ,but to be honest i don't think there is much I can do about that problem

I was hoping that if the Embargo ends may be Cuban will open up more and more freedoms will follow (one can only hope)

And as far as the poll goes (better off worse off yes and no to both) I realize that i have made a faux-par with that one but to late to delete now ,but the result would be the same would it not?

Cheers OZ

I agree with Steve here.

IMO, as much as this may seem cold, as a consumer of 'Cuban cigars' my interest is in cigars. Cuba as a country seems beautiful and rich in history and culture, I've never been, but Cuba is also not the only country that suffers hardships. There are many that are suffering just as hard, some have wars, genocide, starving children and whilst the world watches on in horror, neither of us 'regular folk' can do a thing about it. He'll, most governments don't do a thing either.

I think from a consumers point, Steve raises a fair question that may or may not turn into a political one.

For the country of Cuba, I wish the very best and should the lifting of the embargo help those suffering, I'm all for it. As for additional costs for cc consumers in the US, it doesn't bother me as in OZ we have been paying through our teeth in duties and taxes already, I doubt it would get worse for us here. The US consumer will obviously move with the relative world who pay the higher duties and costs. STOCK UP NOW!

[anacostiakat]

While prices will probably be high in the US this will still be a big win for us IMHO.

1 - You will be able to purchase a single cigar (price notwithstanding) at lunch on whenever.

2 - You will still be able to shop for the best prices.

3 - I hope with the cubans competing in the american market their product quality will go up.

[laficion]

Fed taxes, State taxes, local taxes, Anti-smoking Bans, PLUS, Rights over ownership

of some brands, Demands by NC's to use cuban tobacco in their blends, Habanos sold

in shops, can you imagine Cubans sold in Casa Fuentes etc etc.

I'm sure that the big NC companies are dying to see the end of the Embargo start

[OZCUBAN]

Sorry guys as stated earlier i fiddle with the original poll options ,and end result lost the earlier votes ,but no seems to be a clear winner

sorry about that

But anacostiakat brings up some valid pluses

While prices will probably be high in the US this will still be a big win for us IMHO.

1 - You will be able to purchase a single cigar (price notwithstanding) at lunch on whenever.

2 - You will still be able to shop for the best prices.

3 - I hope with the cubans competing in the american market their product quality will go up.

But the NC companies will not want the Embargo to end any time soon i would imagine

Cheers OZ

[Disburden]

The Embargo is a Dinosaur law that needs to be dismissed. There is just no reason for it to still be considered a legitimate restriction on Cuba's right to trade with the US. We now trade with and owe money to another Communist country that is bigger and more red than Cuba and that country is China. We all know every single thing we buy in the US was made there and they're communist right? Look at the labels in on the product packaging in our stores. Isn't communism evil? But wait............if it's evil why do we owe them money? Why do we buy all over our products from them? Why do we allow trade with them? Because Apple and other companies make our gadgets there for cheap and we need those gadgets!

Let the contradictions of the US begin.

[Daidemo]

- higher prices for cigars

- lower quality (remember cigar boom ten years ago)

- more annoying people in the bars (not only during weekends)

… and a lot of happier Cubans!!!

When it’s happen I will probably stop my regular visits to the Island for a while and stock some good products for next 3 years. But I will be extremely happy because of the future of this wonderful people.

The other question is – what will happen with Dominican and Nicaraguan cigar producers?

[Disburden]

- higher prices for cigars

The other question is – what will happen with Dominican and Nicaraguan cigar producers?

I think this is the most important question. Would they go back to Cuba or would they stay?

[laficion]

I think this is the most important question. Would they go back to Cuba or would they stay?

Even worse, will they start making "clear Havanas" again ?OMG

[SethLG]

Well since I live in America, and I am able to get Cuban cigars, Cuban rum, and Cuban coffee, I am doing alright. It's an effective system our embargo, we're really doing a bang up job. I would love to see the embargo end, I think it would really open up markets for both nations, the interesting question would be if the embargo ended, what type of government would Cuba have. I would really like to see the privatization of Cuban farmers and cigar makers because that would lead to greater possibilities with blending and the whole process.

I know I have talked to a lot of cigar manufacturers who would continue down the road they are going right now, because they are very happy with it, but would most likely purchase Cuban tobacco for blending. I have talked with the Plasencias, Perdomo, AJ Fernandez, the Torano's, and many more and all say they would stay where they are.

I do believe though that if it opened up, the quality in Cuba would drop dramatically, maybe I am wrong, but with that large of a market and demand, quality control would go out the window.