A Diplomaticos Excelencia RE rant

[ChanceSchmerr]

Just heard from Havana that the Excelencias are once again all gone from Havana shops as certain retailers bought up 100s of boxes, which of course will then be re-sold in their own shops at 300-500% markups for maximum profit.

So instead of being sold to folks who spent not-insiginificant coin to go to Cuba, visit the island and who hope to bring back a souvenir that made for sale only on the island, with the proceeds going towards HSA, these boxes will instead be pawned off for massive profit by greedy secondary retailers, excessively lining this pockets at the expense of folks like us.

For f***ing Shame. I'm sure there's a special place in hell for greedy shameless retailers such as these. I know our host isn't among these retailers, and I won't be surprised if this thread is erased, but I can't relate how bloody incensed I am at the greed of certain retailers. Unbelievable.

I hoped very much to be able to try one of these at some point. Seeing as I'm probably assured the only way I can is if I spend 5x what the retail price in Cuba is, to one of these shameless degenerate retailers, I guess I'll have to pass.

[Puros Y Vino]

Not surprised. There's a lot of monied types down for the Habanos Fest. I've given up on these altogether and TBH, I'm not too concerned. I'd like to try one, but not at those prices. Money is talking more then ever in Cuba since the renewed ties with the US. I can't really blame them given how the average person fares down there.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Not surprised. There's a lot of monied types down for the Habanos Fest. I've given up on these altogether and TBH, I'm not too concerned. I'd like to try one, but not at those prices. Money is talking more then ever in Cuba since the renewed ties with the US. I can't really blame them given how the average person fares down there.

Agreed, but the problem is none of the money for the Excelencias is going to the Cubans themselves, it's lining the pockets of these a$$hole retailers instead. That's the real issue.

[Orion21]

If true, this is despicable - but not surprising at all. I read weeks ago that a contingent of Venezuelan's flew back several hundred boxes as well.

[ebhead]

Meh, capitalism...what are ya gonna do?

e

[Puros Y Vino]

Agreed, but the problem is none of the money for the Excelencias is going to the Cubans themselves, it's lining the pockets of these a$$hole retailers instead. That's the real issue.

I'm sure the people in the shops got a little extra for their troubles. I've heard stories of people going into LCDH's and asking if they're in stock only to be told. "Yes, but not for you".

[Corylax18]

Meh, capitalism...what are ya gonna do?

e

Exactly. Regardless of your political leanings socialism was good for the Cuban Cigar industry.(not necessarily for the individual participants maybe) Enter Altadis/Imperial Tobacco and all of a sudden sea change in the offerings, product lines, almost everything is somehow limited or rare, or some bulls**t excuse for why its more expensive.

Far less emphasis on the product and far more emphasis on selling "a product". Marketing, to the extreme. Unfortunately capitalism and us Americans in particular have had what appears to be a detrimental affect on the industry there as a whole.

I know Cuba has had its issues in the past with no outside help (most of the early 2000s) and I am not against all change. But I think on the whole, the changes made over the last decade or so have been mostly for the bad.

[SofaKing]

While I'm in the hunt too I refuse to pay $25+ each for a $9 stick. I'd rather buy a cab of SP Eslavo..great smoke, half the cost amd twice the tobacco.

[Lotusguy]

This has nothing at all to do with Americans. It is EUROPEAN retailers ONLY that are pulling this.

Getting tired of the constant bashing "American tastes are driving the trend towards large RG, America getting closer ties with Cuba is commercializing Cuba, blah blah blah".

[Guest photorob]

Disappointing but not surprising. Was hoping they'd last until May when I'll be down there.

Oh well, many other fish to fry!

[Pedgy]

When im down there I just have the option to go to the LCDH at plaza Americas. If there is any I will grab one hopefully and advise you all on inventory.

[ChanceSchmerr]

This has nothing at all to do with Americans. It is EUROPEAN retailers ONLY that are pulling this.

Exactly. We ALL know who is doing this.

[MooseAMuffin]

Exactly. We ALL know who is doing this.

The French!! Right? That's what we're all thinking...I think

[garnett]

Just heard from Havana that the Excelencias are once again all gone from Havana shops as certain retailers bought up 100s of boxes, which of course will then be re-sold in their own shops at 300-500% markups for maximum profit.

So instead of being sold to folks who spent not-insiginificant coin to go to Cuba, visit the island and who hope to bring back a souvenir that made for sale only on the island, with the proceeds going towards HSA, these boxes will instead be pawned off for massive profit by greedy secondary retailers, excessively lining this pockets at the expense of folks like us.

For f***ing Shame. I'm sure there's a special place in hell for greedy shameless retailers such as these. I know our host isn't among these retailers, and I won't be surprised if this thread is erased, but I can't relate how bloody incensed I am at the greed of certain retailers. Unbelievable.

I hoped very much to be able to try one of these at some point. Seeing as I'm probably assured the only way I can is if I spend 5x what the retail price in Cuba is, to one of these shameless degenerate retailers, I guess I'll have to pass.

I'll send you a couple if you want I am just up the way in Powell River.

[PartagasIV]

Exactly. We ALL know who is doing this.

Well, we also all know that Americans are buying these at 300-500% markup, helping drive demand up. Just an extension of what happened with previous Cuba regionals, though not to this degree. At least the first one was a good cigar.

[Corylax18]

This has nothing at all to do with Americans. It is EUROPEAN retailers ONLY that are pulling this.

Getting tired of the constant bashing "American tastes are driving the trend towards large RG, America getting closer ties with Cuba is commercializing Cuba, blah blah blah".

Who do you think the Europeans are selling them to? Not the people that have had access to them at normal price for the last few months.

The French!! Right? That's what we're all thinking...I think

Thats probably the safe way to go.

[Smallclub]

The French!! Right? That's what we're all thinking...I think

No. Not far, though

[rckymtn22]

Disappointed too. Was in Cayo Santa Maria in January, nothing to be found there. The guys at the LcDH said they never see any of the LE or RE cigars there.

Would love to find some but not at inflated prices.

[habanolover]

I find the outlandish new sizes, ridiculous pricing and decimation (as opposed to sensible realignment) of the product lines quite disturbing. So, I have chosen to vote with my meager pockets! I understand the hunt and desire for new flavors, but honestly, the few "special" cigars I've tried could not consistently better the experience of the more affordable Parti short, BBF, BPC, HUHC or #2, vintage Monte #2 & 4 among many many others.

Let them gather dust, VOTE WITH YOUR POCKETS GENTS!!!

[Puros Y Vino]

This has nothing at all to do with Americans. It is EUROPEAN retailers ONLY that are pulling this.

Getting tired of the constant bashing "American tastes are driving the trend towards large RG, America getting closer ties with Cuba is commercializing Cuba, blah blah blah".

The "US Ties" reference is an all encompassing thing. Not so much related to cigar sales and American retailers. Ever since more Americans were allowed to visit, the Cubans raised their prices on things mostly based on demand and then just on their newfound visitors' naiveté. I hear it from visiting Canadians on a weekly basis. $5 cab rides from here to here are now $25. Meals that cost N are now N+2., etc, etc. These visits don't effect the retail prices of the cigars and the gouging in the secondary market. But amongst the locals, there is probably an emboldened attitude towards profiteering.

[Orion21]

I know who to blame . . .

[JohnS]

Honestly, I thought Venezuelan government officials had procured them all!

If you're in Havana, take a walk over to here and knock on the door, you never know what you might find!

[shlomo]

Another gouger/flipper/complaint thread! Sweet!

I think I may have been rubbing off on some of you!

100% agree C. Shitty situation, not worth losing your **** over though.

[Orion21]

Another gouger/flipper/complaint thread! Sweet!

I think I may have been rubbing off on some of you!

100% agree C. Shitty situation, not worth losing your **** over though.

I've read the reviews. It's not a $20 cigar, not even close . . .

Don't chase, don't overpay and make the retailers who are going post them for $500 per box eat it.

[NSXCIGAR]

Exactly. Regardless of your political leanings socialism was good for the Cuban Cigar industry.(not necessarily for the individual participants maybe) Enter Altadis/Imperial Tobacco and all of a sudden sea change in the offerings, product lines, almost everything is somehow limited or rare, or some bulls**t excuse for why its more expensive.

Far less emphasis on the product and far more emphasis on selling "a product". Marketing, to the extreme. Unfortunately capitalism and us Americans in particular have had what appears to be a detrimental affect on the industry there as a whole.

I know Cuba has had its issues in the past with no outside help (most of the early 2000s) and I am not against all change. But I think on the whole, the changes made over the last decade or so have been mostly for the bad.

I think it's important to remember what the state of Cuban cigars were immediately prior to Altadis entering the picture. It was a disaster. The Cubans were in way over their heads clearly unable to deal with the Soviet collapse and subsequent massive production increases of the mid-late 90s.

So while it may seem like things were better pre-Altadis, they really were not. There was no way HSA could maintain the state of things from 1991-1994. They were barely hanging on after the Soviet collapse and they had to change many blends around 1995 to stretch product. It all caught up to them in 1997 and until Altadis came in, things were in very bad shape.

I'm certainly not saying I agree with the Altadis/Imperial approach, but someone needed to come in and shore up the industry, and I can't imagine where things would be today if HSA had been left to its own devices.

Also, don't kid yourself--the Cubans, meaning Cuban people, don't and never have seen any of the money from anything produced on the island. 96% of Cuba's GDP goes into the pockets of the politically connected and party elite, just like any communist system. The other 4% keeps the Cubans from outright starvation.

It's virtually impossible when prices are set too low by HSA to prevent the poor Cuban distributors from selling to third-party retailers in bulk. It would have to be policed very closely by HSA/LCDH reps, and that's just not going to happen. But the main issue is HSA is pricing these too low. In their attempt to keep prices low enough for the average Joe they actually create the opportunities for flippers and resellers, squeezing average Joe out even more.