A Diplomaticos Excelencia RE rant

[Colt45]

I suppose if you extend the practice in theory that, for arguments sake, all regional distributors decide to band up and increase the price of what they sell their stock to retailers by 300%, then HSA would go ballistic.

Why would they go ballistic - they got their silver. Regional distributors set the RE prices. Cuban REs seem to be an anomoly. Demand dinner!

[LGC]

Business ethics in a communist country... rationalizing with a 4 year old... just sayin'...

[Pixa]

I wonder after all the import duties are paid what he actual mark ups are?

In the UK a 10 box of robustos would only have 35 quid duty and that's one of the highest duty countries

But look at the Spanish RE programme, they vanish within weeks and we all know that it isn't from tourists, add to the fact that it is illegal for tobacco to be sold online or sold outside of the country and it just adds to the murky picture of how business is currently being done in some places of the cigar world.

Again, HSA could stamp on most of these issues instantly if they so wished, totalitarianism does have it's benefits!

Most of the Spanish RE don't find there way to secondary sellers and can be found it most shops still people are still going to places like Barcelona and finding RE from the last few years available

[earthson]

It's not a few boxes or even a few dozen - it's hundreds. Several retailers are doing this.

I'll live just fine without trying these cigars but it does leave a bitter taste and affects if I would do business with these retailers or not.

Based upon your comments here and on OLH, I like your style!

[kuma]

Just took a look at said vendors site man she sure knows how to charge. Think I'll save my money for

Rob's PSP/Hq/PE stock. If I never get to try a certain RE well that may not be a great loss. If I'm

reading and hearing right tabac strains and there DNA make up have been maybe cross bread

to the point where it is hard to tell one marca from the other. Yes I know there are people that have

taste buds of a blood hound and can tell this or that about a smoke. But ask them where did it

came from or what area / region (plant / leaf) and they are right back into the soup. So my point is

these seeds they are using are most likely GMO'd to the point where the only thing

that ends up mattering is the color of the band and what they call it. Hard to keep brand recognition

when you have a lot of cross fertilization going on. Must be very hard to keep the same blend

for 20 / 30 years when a litlle thing like water ( example acid rain) could have a profound effect on the plant.

So many variiables now a days to take into consideration............just saying

[Lotusguy]

Based upon your comments here and on OLH, I like your style!

Thanks

Ah well - I've been called a gouger and flipper as well as arrogant so I apologize in advance.

[Smallclub]

If I'm reading and hearing right tabac strains and there DNA make up have been maybe cross bread

to the point where it is hard to tell one marca from the other. Yes I know there are people that have

taste buds of a blood hound and can tell this or that about a smoke. But ask them where did it

came from or what area / region (plant / leaf) and they are right back into the soup. So my point is

these seeds they are using are most likely GMO'd to the point where the only thing

that ends up mattering is the color of the band and what they call it. Hard to keep brand recognition

when you have a lot of cross fertilization going on.

Why are you smoking habanos then? Or why don't you stick to the same cigar?

"DNA make up have been maybe cross bread"

You venture into an area that you don't master.

If you can't taste the difference between a Hoyo, a SLR and a Bolivar you've chosen the wrong hobby.

And, errr, what's the relation with the issue discussed in this thread, again?

[Fugu]

You venture into an area that you don't master.

on all fronts... not to put too fine a point on it

[kuma]

Ah yes typos (bred) the bain of fast typing. cheers smallcub

[Duxnutz]

It's a Cuban RE for crissakes. Should only be avail in Cuba. Headed there on Saturday and probably gonna have to bring my own cigars at this rate!

[semifan1]

I don't mind, though It does suck for the people that go looking for some down there in Cuba ,but you can find them in Europe. I just choose to spend my money elsewhere.

[Dara]

I know we love to blame HSA for everything that goes wrong with Cuban cigars but one point worth making on this thread is that the LCDHs in Cuba are all owned by a company called Caracol and not HSA, so technically it's not HSA employees squirrelling away these regionals for retailers to buy in bulk, it's Caracols employees.

Not much of a difference I know, but its rare when we get to say that HSA isn't to blame for a problem!!

[Coloniales]

I grabbed 10 boxes, am I a bastard??? Seriously, I did give 5 to a buddy..

Keith.

[Puros Y Vino]

I grabbed 10 boxes, am I a bastard??? Seriously, I did give 5 to a buddy..

Keith.

Yes. Your ban begins.... NOW! ^{This one's for you Chris!}

[Smallclub]

[Puros Y Vino]

[Ryan]

I'm in Jose Marti airport right now, waiting on my flight.

There were plenty of boxes of Diplomaticos Excelencias on the shelves this morning. The Melia Habana is getting 30 boxes every day this week with a limit of two per customer.

Retailers have not bought all of them.

So buy a flight to Cuba, put up with the current mess of trying to find accomodation here and buy your boxes. Simple as that.

[Pailong]

I was in Cuba during the festival. The Diplomaticos Excelencias are available, you just need to know where to find them and also, if you're connected then you will get them (there are hundreds of boxes and they are still slowly releasing them, 7000 boxes being produced). It sucks for normal every day customers who walk in and get told no but like I said, if you're connected, you can get as many boxes as you want.

[Smallclub]

, if you're connected, you can get as many boxes as you want.

This is precisely what justifies this thread.

If you're "connected" you can export these boxes and sell them in a foreign LCDH, in violation of the LCDH regulation, and be named best retailer of the year.

When "connected" means "$$$" rather than "relations"…

[Pailong]

This is precisely what justifies this thread.

If you're "connected" you can export these boxes and sell them in a foreign LCDH, in violation of the LCDH regulation, and be named best retailer of the year.

When "connected" means "$$$" rather than "relations"…

Yes you're right, they get sold at LCDH around the world, in violation of the LCDH regulation, but Habanos knows this and doesn't do anything anyway. Also, I won't drop names, but the best retailer of the year isn't the one with the most boxes, it's someone else in Europe. Shouldn't single out one person, as every LCDH and not just them but all cuban cigar shops around the world sell stuff they aren't meant to. Habanos won't do a thing and lets it slide - it makes up a big market for consumers and also allows every day consumers to try different cigars when they normally wouldn't get the chance because they can't travel to other countries.

But also, relations do come out of $$$. Not retailers, but individual buyers who have the relationship with the shops in Havana because they spend a lot of money - these people get access to the hidden stocks of Excelencia. If you spend a lot of money, you're going to get looked after (in any industry). But at the same time, I know people who aren't "big spenders" and have good relations because they are friends with the local shops and have been going to Cuba for quite some time. I knew someone in Havana this time who works in the cuban cigar industry and they went searching for the Excelencia but could not find one. Why? Because no one knew who they were (even though they worked in the industry). Sucks but this is the way it is right now. Some people get lucky and find boxes on the shelves.

That's just my experience. Yes the retailers buy and then sell them for a huge markup. But if I am paying £20 for a standard Montecristo no.2, why not pay £22 for a Diplomaticos Excelencia? Yes they are 86cuc a box of 10 in Cuba, but Monte 2 are dirt cheap in Cuba too but we still have to pay the higher price in our countries.

Anyway, good luck to anyone travelling to Cuba looking for them. They are indeed available.

[Duxnutz]

I'm in Jose Marti airport right now, waiting on my flight.

There were plenty of boxes of Diplomaticos Excelencias on the shelves this morning. The Melia Habana is getting 30 boxes every day this week with a limit of two per customer.

Retailers have not bought all of them.

So buy a flight to Cuba, put up with the current mess of trying to find accomodation here and buy your boxes. Simple as that.

Don't need to venture that far, I found a place in the city (2 days ago) willing to sell me as much as I wanted. I'm the least connected guy in Havana and speak no Spanish!

Actually made me smile, had a semi shitty trip otherwise.

[oliverdst]

I HAVE A SEALED BOX TO SELL!!!!

US$1.000,00 + SHIPPING

IF YOU CAN´T AFFORD IT DON´T CRY, GO TO CUBA AND BUY IT BY YOURSELF!!!!!!

[Pilsner14]

Medium strength. Started out muddled. Flavours of a cigar with a identity crisis out of the gate. Cigar settle down with that Diplo dna.......sourdough or something..(my flavour palate is weak)........distinct flavour. Nice cigar......is it a must have? No way. These come and go year after year. We will move on to the next program. Let the vendors do what they want. I do not care. It's not worth the trouble.

[Olga]

I HAVE A SEALED BOX TO SELL!!!!

US$1.000,00 + SHIPPING

IF YOU CAN´T AFFORD IT DON´T CRY, GO TO CUBA AND BUY IT BY YOURSELF!!!!!!

I give you $100 but you include shipping!!!

[oliverdst]

I give you $100 but you include shipping!!!

1 stick $100 DONE!