A Diplomaticos Excelencia RE rant

[Olga]

HSA did not make an increased profit. Like Rob and others have said, they dont give a rats ass about the little guys. Its all about the Benjamins baby!

Yes but when retailers in Europe buy master cases of this Regional, do they pay the 86 CUC per box or do they pay a premium?

[JohnInCleveland]

As a filthy capitalist myself, I'd prefer that they either charge more for them or limit the amount of boxes per person in order to eliminate the bulk buys.

Yes, charge more. $86 isn't enough if people are buying stacks of them. You have a demand that is rabid for a product because it's underpriced. You can always discount them if the market won't yield the desired sales.

I got a box to commemorate my first trip, I was insanely lucky and stumbled upon them as the first boxes were released. Haven't smoked one yet, but other than my nostalgic value, I don't think anyone missed out on the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[Merovius]

Flippers are annoying. Just be glad you're not trying to buy a home in San Francisco.

Tbh, you're probably not missing much.

[LGC]

How many of the poor people saw a single peso from these sales? Ha

From their employers, none. You can't tell me that nobody gets bribed by these vendors reserving those boxes. In countries where the wealth is held by a small fraction, corruption rules. Bribery is used to get most things accomplished.

[shlomo]

Yes but when retailers in Europe buy master cases of this Regional, do they pay the 86 CUC per box or do they pay a premium?

I would imagine 86 or less.

Rob would be best to answer, when he buys skids, think he pays more?

[shlomo]

From their employers, none. You can't tell me that nobody gets bribed by these vendors reserving those boxes. In countries where the wealth is held by a small fraction, corruption rules. Bribery is used to get most things accomplished.

Maybe. These vendors are LCDH and other highly reputable vendors, not sure higher officials in cuba would be happy to see them selling cigars they are not SUPPOSED to have.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Some added perspective Chris. Like Riaz mentioned in regards to smoking those Infantes. Back when those were hot we were afraid we'd get shut out from buying them. They had been out already for a few months by the time we got there and we were already hearing about shortages and big runs on them. When we arrived in Havana, there were none to be found until our second or third day. And it was only because Hamlet had done an end run for us. We went to Partagas, Hamlet put is in the adjacent room across the entrance, plied us with some 10YO rum, showed us some of the new stuff at the time and then took our orders for the Infantes.

He made some arrangements and told us to come by the next day. Sure enough, they were in and he set aside a mastercase for us, which we took and then some! Riaz doesn't remember as he and Simon had yet to arrive. But Hamlet did us a solid favour. I'm sure similar people are getting the same treatment down there in regards to this Diplos this week. I'll never forget the look on other patrons with one or two boxes of Infantes, happy to score, catch a sight of the tower of Infantes Hamlet was stacking in front of me. I had an obscene VISA bill thanks to that one purchase. Sadly, not all of those were mine. We left Partagas content, cracked open a box to split and were delighted that the cigars smoked well. Like Riaz, flipping a couple crossed my mind, given that they were commanding $250USD+, but I decided against it. Smoking those over the years will be far more satisfying than a little profit. For some added karma, I donated one to a herf auction.

Sometimes, the thing you're railing against stacks up in your favour. Sometimes it does not. The big difference in this example is that one group was a bunch of friends, another; retailers. End result. Anyone who followed either swarm had a tough time landing a Cuban RE.

I get what you're saying, but you're missing what I'm railing at - it's the fact that a handful of retailers swept the shelves clean....for the express purpose of selling them off for a much higher price that benefits only them. If these retailers were getting a favour to pick them up before others, with the intention of getting some boxes to share with friends, that's one thing - but they aren't. They are buying to corner the market and sell at their inflated price to their own customers. They are buying everything and leaving none for anyone else. The greed sickens me.

Communist country... poor people... highly desired product by people with money...

Just put yourself in their shoes. I understand your frustration, but I don't believe in entitlement. Fancy bands, numbered boxes, different size... I'm glad I stopped chasing the flash a while ago.

Is it entitlement to expect present visitors to Cuba to have a fair shot at these instead of a greedy few? I don't know.

I should say, I'm not in Cuba and won't visit until November, when I would expect these to be gone either way, so I didn't expect to buy any anyway.

I agree that the price is probably too low, fuelling this sort of behaviour.

But this isn't capitalism, this is bloody exploitation. I know that seems to be the way the world works, but if we just all accept it as "the way things work"....isn't that the same thing as saying "it's okay"?

I know there is much bigger exploitation issues in the world that I couldn't begin to propose to solve. I'm just pissed that one more thing for regular folks and visitors to Cuba has now been usurped by greedy people with the means to exploit...and I've had enough of it.

[oliverdst]

What was the maximum price you have seen it in online retailers?

[shlomo]

209 pounds, 250 euro....a bit more at some places.

[oliverdst]

209 pounds, 250 euro....a bit more at some places.

Yes, 250 Euros.

[earthson]

Saw some on secondary market going for just under $300 USD. After a friend could not find a single box in Cuba for me - and seeing such a stupid markup - I've erased them from my list. I bought 2 boxes of HUPC and laughed. Some collectors just gotta have and would pay just about whatever the flippers ask.

[Olga]

A certain retailer in Europe has "as many as you want".

[oliverdst]

A certain retailer in Europe has "as many as you want".

I dont know if it's the same but while in Cuba last november I heard that a Belgian vendor was buying them all.

[Olga]

I dont know if it's the same but while in Cuba last november I heard that a Belgian vendor was buying them all.

99% chance that's the one.

[El Presidente]

Yes but when retailers in Europe buy master cases of this Regional, do they pay the 86 CUC per box or do they pay a premium?

They would pay Cuban store price.

[Olga]

They would pay Cuban store price.

Thanks for confirming Rob.

[Olga]

[Lotusguy]

That retailer just won HSA "person of the year" LOL

[David88]

I am heading to Cuba in the summer and was hoping to pick up some REs. I will just take them off the list and hopefully be pleasantly surprised when I get there. Considering all the REs that are released you would have thought that foreign retailers wouldn't need to raid the stock of other regions. However there must be a market for it, even with a considerable mark-up.

[oliverdst]

That retailer just won HSA "person of the year" LOL

I dont know if I laugh or cry.

[Dara]

That retailer just won HSA "person of the year" LOL

Was there also an award for "most number of LCDHs owned by one person"?

[Dara]

I'm assuming these retailer pay all the relevant import duties when bringing these back from Cuba and they're not just piling them into their suitcases?

I know in the UK and Ireland the duties and tobacco taxes could double the Cuban price right away and probably more in Canada.

That's in no way a defence, everyone deserves a fair crack and in an ideal world it would be first come first served but obviously the shop staff are "incentivised" to look after retailers....

I remember when they released the Upmann 520s I saw boxes in the Havana Libre LCDH with a paper note saying "50 reserved for mr X".

I was there with a mate so we counted the boxes and found there was 54. We brought 4 to the till and the guy said he couldn't sell them to us so we said check the stock, the 50 are still there....he wasn't a happy camper to be selling them to ordinary smokers but we made a fuss and got 2 boxes each and I split one of mine with friends in el Ajibe on gala night!

I heard a story a few years ago that a retailer was warned by a now former member of the HSA senior management team that the retailers bags would be checked for custom rolls leaving Havana as they had been openly selling said custom rolls for about 8 times their Cuban price and the importer in their country was not at all happy about it!!

[Fugu]

That retailer just won HSA "person of the year" LOL

welll 7,000 units need to be moved.... haha

[oliverdst]

If it is "Man who made more profit for us of the year" makes sense.

[Olga]

That retailer just won HSA "person of the year" LOL

Last night, I was going to write that she might win the award and this morning I saw she did.

Too funny. LOL