Warehouse visit overview

[El Presidente]

Interesting couple of days.

In many ways it was one of my most productive visits and also one of my most disappointing of the year.

All in all I picked some 400 boxes for FOH which met the requirements of superior stock. they will be available progressively over the next few weeks.

The biggest disappointment was the lack of Winstons and Montecristo Especial. we have had a great run of them through most of this year but unfortunately not of late. Similarly, trying to find skinnies which were not chronically underfilled was a challenge although the problem appears to have rectified to the back end of 08 and into 09. due to the slow take-up of skinnies, plenty are in the 07 early 08 period.

I have to say I was underwhelmed by some of the basic stock. There is still a lot of rubbish being produced and the strides made over the last 2 years while not going backwards appears to have plateaued.

Still, there were times over the past few days where I was simply amazed at what can be done. We will bring you those boxes over the coming weeks and those who specifically asked for things to be set aside will be notified as they come in.

I always enjoy the 2 days selecting and sampling for FOH. The process certainly gives me a real understanding of what is currently great, good and just plain awful. Get ready for some stellar pictures

[CanuckSARTech]

....Still, there were times over the past few days where I was simply amazed at what can be done. We will bring you those boxes over the coming weeks and those who specifically asked for things to be set aside will be notified as they come in.

I always enjoy the 2 days selecting and sampling for FOH. The process certainly gives me a real understanding of what is currently great, good and just plain awful. Get ready for some stellar pictures

Excited to see this update - thanks Pres.

Question - is there any way that we can be notified of items from our wish list being in or not sooner, rather than later? Don't mean to sound like a bother, but I just want to make sure I don't overextend my monthly alotment. I'd hate to pick up a bunch of things in a LFTH thread, not knowing if requests are on the way or not, but then to only be notified of them a week or so later, when I'm spent out, and not able to pick them up.

Just a thought/question. Thanks.

[DGuterman]

Thanks for being so involved Rob, I'm glad to know that every box I get is so amazing that the smell comes leaking out of the cardboard, it amazes me that customs doesn't smell these things and pick it up a mile away!

Canuck, you can always just let me buy what you were waiting for, everybody wins that way.

[El Presidente]

Excited to see this update - thanks Pres.

Question - is there any way that we can be notified of items from our wish list being in or not sooner, rather than later? Don't mean to sound like a bother, but I just want to make sure I don't overextend my monthly alotment. I'd hate to pick up a bunch of things in a LFTH thread, not knowing if requests are on the way or not, but then to only be notified of them a week or so later, when I'm spent out, and not able to pick them up.

Just a thought/question. Thanks.

No problem at all. We will handle it this way.

The process is that I give Lise my list of stock selected. She will note against that list the names to specific stock and call it up over the coming two weeks. everyone should be notified by Monday/Tuesday.

[CanuckSARTech]

Canuck, you can always just let me buy what you were waiting for, everybody wins that way.

LOL. Hands off the PSP Monte 4's!!!!

[LateApex]

Rob, Is this the importer's warehouse? Is this how you pick all of your stock, or just the PE, HQ, and PSP? How often do you visit? Any pictures?

[KB24]

Rob, Is this the importer's warehouse? Is this how you pick all of your stock, or just the PE, HQ, and PSP? How often do you visit? Any pictures?

I was wondering the same things? Love to see some pics of this process.

-Patrick

[investandprosper]

I think there was another thread where he said photos were not allowed, whether it be outside or inside the building.

[Lotus400]

I think there was another thread where he said photos were not allowed, whether it be outside or inside the building.

This is correct. Rob was asked in the past about details of the warehouse and gracefully declined to comment.

[CanuckSARTech]

No problem at all. We will handle it this way.

The process is that I give Lise my list of stock selected. She will note against that list the names to specific stock and call it up over the coming two weeks. everyone should be notified by Monday/Tuesday.

Awesome, thanks Rob. I know this is a lot of work for you guys, so I do appreciate it very much. That's awesome to know - I'd hate to spend on other stuff, and miss out on potential prime grabs. Thanks very much.

Rob, Is this the importer's warehouse? Is this how you pick all of your stock, or just the PE, HQ, and PSP? How often do you visit? Any pictures?

Don't ask. I brought this up in the Shoutbox last night, and got a....um....friendly shellac-ing?? Private business details.

Maybe if we get Rob to come to this side of the Pacific, and ply him with some Canadian beer and American bourbon, maybe then we can get the keycode for the security system!

[Charltonc]

I can't wait to check out the new supply. I wish I could have tried some of the customs. When is their going to be more customs? My finances are finally in better order to buy cigars..

[El Presidente]

As i pointed out to some of the lads yesterday insurance for tobacco products in Oz is hellishly expensive running at some $5000 per $100,000 coverage by some of the few insurers who are prepared to cover the product. Each year in Oz there are several big thefts from tobacco warehouses and albeit they are in the main cigarettes, the product (tobacco) all gets roped in and hit by the high risk premium category. We don't pay such high fees as we have a non disclosure rule with our insurers. While we have two small warehouse facilities + the Czar Divan, only the address of the Czar Divan is allowed to be made public or photo's taken. We keep minimum stock at the Czar Divan and have shipments transferred in almost daily. We disclose the addy of our warehouses and we have a robbery (even in a year or two )and our coverage is at risk. I hope that clarifies it.

Next shipment of customs should be here before Christmas. All going well we should have a small shipment very few months.

[investandprosper]

If anyone ever robbed the Czar, I'm sure there would be droves of us with torches and pitchforks to find the bastard

[CanuckSARTech]

If anyone ever robbed the Czar, I'm sure there would be droves of us with torches and pitchforks to find the bastard

Here here!!!! Hopefully, Rob would get Ken that shotgun for Christmas!!!!

[adic88]

That's crazy insurance rates. Oh wow. Do you get

No Claim Discounts every few years?

[Colt45]

If anyone ever robbed the Czar, I'm sure there would be droves of us with torches and pitchforks

I'd bring duffel bags......

[mazolaman]

I wait excitedly for news of new stock,but sad to here youre not too cheerfull regarding quality.

nice to hear the pitchfork is making a return as a weapon of choice!