Wanted to Throw up :pu

[Volt]

Originally Posted by neoflex

....This stores prices for most(not all) of their sticks tend to be a little high but the part of town it's in supports it but I thought that was just outrageous. That cr@p pisses me off. When I went back to NY for Christmas one shop had Sharks for $19 and that's with NYS tobacco tax which is high to begin with but $30 a stick! It was just fun to see her demeanor change with the conversation but I guess since they had a good amount of customers there she just wanted me out which I can't blame her. I am friendlier with one of the other guys that work there and we get along well so I'll have to bust his chops when no one is around next time I am there which isn't too often. Just thought I would share plus it astounded me since the shop I was at earlier in the afternoon has great pricing and has prices comparable to some online retailers and a much better selection of smokes to boot.

Hopefully your thread here doesn't say much about you really are and the BOTLs you are representing. Every business has the right to charge for even the air your breathing in their store. On the other hand, you have the option to take your business elswhere where you feel your getting the value for your money that you expect. If the store is charging those prices and getting them then why in the world would they charge less? They are there to make money. Unless they had some Red Cross painted on the front door indicating they are a charity and were giving them away I wouldn't expect any less from them.

I had the same conversation with a friend concerning the cost of NASCAR tickets. I told him the stands are full so the tickets muct not be too high. We teh customer control pricing, vote with your $$$, it works. Being an a$$ just makes it harder when the next BOTL walks in after you. My and worth about that much.

[neoflex]

Originally Posted by Volt

Hopefully your thread here doesn't say much about you really are and the BOTLs you are representing. Every business has the right to charge for even the air your breathing in their store. On the other hand, you have the option to take your business elswhere where you feel your getting the value for your money that you expect. If the store is charging those prices and getting them then why in the world would they charge less? They are there to make money. Unless they had some Red Cross painted on the front door indicating they are a charity and were giving them away I wouldn't expect any less from them.

I had the same conversation with a friend concerning the cost of NASCAR tickets. I told him the stands are full so the tickets muct not be too high. We teh customer control pricing, vote with your $$$, it works. Being an a$$ just makes it harder when the next BOTL walks in after you. My and worth about that much.

Your right, I probably should not have said anything and normally I wouldn't have but I guess when I saw the extreme prices of these it just struck a nerve that has long been annoyed with this store for a while so I had to poke a little bit. Obviously most of there other customers feel the same way about their Anejo prices which is why they still have Sharks and torps left in February. I'm sure someone who doesn't know any better will jump for joy when they find them. It's not like I have never bitten my tongue there before. I've bitten my tongue in the past when I have gone there and heard the same spiel from two different employees about their separate humidor with Gurkhas that only they can get with price points of $50 a stick for the Habano wrapped stick and $100 a stick for the Maduro. Both times I let them try and sell me on these ultra rare super premium Gurkhas without saying a word other than, No thanks not a fan of the Gurkha brand and than even sat through their rant on how great Gurkhas are and that I should give them another chance. I agree I prob should not have said anything but I did and figured I would share the story with you guys and yes normally they wouldn't get my business but their Liga Privada account is what brings me back since they are the only ones locally who carry them. I am not a complete idiot, I know that I am douche sometimes My wife makes sure to remind me from time to time.

[md4958]

Originally Posted by bobarian

Sorry Bobby, but that is just an ignorant statement. A store owner has the right to charge whatever they want for their product. As consumers it is our right to not shop at that establishment.

There are several factors that may be involved other than greed. High overhead or they may not be a Fuente dealer therefore paid more on the secondary market.

Challenging a shopkeeper regarding pricing is always unwise, just walk and move on to another shop.

Originally Posted by Volt

Every business has the right to charge for even the air your breathing in their store. On the other hand, you have the option to take your business elswhere where you feel your getting the value for your money that you expect. .

I couldnt agree more with Bob and Mike. Smartest thing to do if you dont like the price on certain items is DONT BUY THEM.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by md4958

I couldnt agree more with Bob and Mike. Smartest thing to do if you dont like the price on certain items is DONT BUY THEM.

Ok, now I'm really geting concerned. The day I type something and it makes sense gets me worried. I truely want a #43 Troy Palamalu Steelers jersey. On the other hand the closest I can find is a knock off $80 look a like. As bad as I want one, I just can't see $80 for a fake jersey..... So I vote with my dollars. Still love my non play off making Steelers though.

[ScottieM]

Originally Posted by Volt

Hopefully your thread here doesn't say much about you really are and the BOTLs you are representing. Every business has the right to charge for even the air your breathing in their store. On the other hand, you have the option to take your business elswhere where you feel your getting the value for your money that you expect. If the store is charging those prices and getting them then why in the world would they charge less? They are there to make money. Unless they had some Red Cross painted on the front door indicating they are a charity and were giving them away I wouldn't expect any less from them.

I had the same conversation with a friend concerning the cost of NASCAR tickets. I told him the stands are full so the tickets muct not be too high. We teh customer control pricing, vote with your $$$, it works. Being an a$$ just makes it harder when the next BOTL walks in after you. My and worth about that much.

I disagree with your comments. He's the Customer. He didn't like the price of the Cigars so he let them know. Thats part of doing business and I don't see anything wrong with that.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by ScottieM

I disagree with your comments. He's the Customer. He didn't like the price of the Cigars so he let them know. Thats part of doing business and I don't see anything wrong with that.

Feel free to disagree - I don't mind.

While Neoflex understood what I was geetting at, you didn't. I was concerned with his attitude about taking pleasure (maybe too strong a word) in seeing them change their demeanor based on his comments. That is above and beyond stating as a customer he was disatisfied with the pricing. Even as customers, we too also bear some responsibility as to the attitudes and the way we are treated in the stores. If evryone went in being the a$$, regardless as to being the customer, we will not be treated well. Case in point, see HavanaJohn's post a few posts ahead of this one. Also take a read on my "3 man herf" thread. By not being the a$$, we walked away with over $150.00 in comps and were invited back to the establishment for a commercial cigar herf with one of the company reps showing up. But, YMMV and it's my just .02

[ScottieM]

Originally Posted by Volt

Feel free to disagree - I don't mind.

While Neoflex understood what I was geetting at, you didn't. I was concerned with his attitude about taking pleasure (maybe too strong a word) in seeing them change their demeanor based on his comments. That is above and beyond stating as a customer he was disatisfied with the pricing. Even as customers, we too also bear some responsibility as to the attitudes and the way we are treated in the stores. If evryone went in being the a$$, regardless as to being the customer, we will not be treated well. Case in point, see HavanaJohn's post a few posts ahead of this one. Also take a read on my "3 man herf" thread. By not being the a$$, we walked away with over $150.00 in comps and were invited back to the establishment for a commercial cigar herf with one of the company reps showing up. But, YMMV and it's my just .02

From what I read in his post, He wasn't out of line. In this world the Customer is always right, Even when he's wrong.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by ScottieM

From what I read in his post, He wasn't out of line. In this world the Customer is always right, Even when he's wrong.

This is completely misguided. The customer may think they are always right, but in reality they seldom have knowledge of the situation. Do you know what the rent is on the shop in question? Do you know the terms of his business loan? Do you know if there are city taxes on tobacco at his location?

To the contrary a shop owner is the one who is right and can set his prices as the market will bear. A few years ago Toyota and other dealers marked up Hybrids in California at least 30% over MSRP. And they still had waiting lists and people trying to outbid buyers. This is exactly how a free-market system should work.

A customer does not have the right to be rude or offensive. Nor does a shop owner have to take abuse from his customers. If you dont like the price, walk. Its that simple, you speak with your wallet. Being argumentative or confrontational will not get an owner to lower his prices any more than saying "I can get the same thing online for X"

[rlmedic]

Well john if you ever make to Raleigh stop in Empire Cigars they have Liga, used to have the sharks and its a great bunch of BTOL's Plus great prices

[neoflex]

I'm hoping to get up there one of these days to herf with you Raleigh guys. Every once in awhile I will go to Empires website and get jealous when I see their announcements of whats new. Seems like if it's put there they have it.

[dox47]

I recently resisted the urge to say something similar to a retailer near my house who had Hemingway Short Stories marked at 14.99 each. He's the only cigar retailer on the island I live on and we have a fairly wealthy demographic, so I imagine he must sell a few at that price, but still... I drive the 10 miles to a nearby reservation who's smoke shop carries the Oliva line at reasonable prices, or make a point of hitting a few choice shops when I have to go into Seattle for some other reason.

[weak_link]

My local cigar bar charges $70 for Davidoff Ani # 3's and $30-40 for big ass Gurkha something or others. People pay it or he'd lower his prices. Should he be drummed out of business because he offeres a nice lounge with leather couches and plasma tv's with a great wine selection and really expensive/overpriced cigars? His regular customers don't have an issue with that but I do so I don't shop there. I'm not going to picket in front of his store for lower prices, I just shop somewhere else. And I used to work there.

[St. Lou Stu]

Agree with most that say move on, and that is what I would do.
However, I imagine that a Fuente rep would be interested to hear that someone is butt raping people and using their cigars as the tool.
Doesn't paint pretty brand image. (especially in my terms )

Originally Posted by St. Lou Stu

Agree with most that say move on, and that is what I would do.
However, I imagine that a Fuente rep would be interested to hear that someone is butt raping people and using their cigars as the tool.
Doesn't paint pretty brand image. (especially in my terms )

I think I heard somewhere that if you reported that kind of price gouging to Fuente that they would pull their "Authorized Dealer"-ness.... I don't know if it's true or not, but it doesn't hurt you any to make a phone call.

[chenvt]

This is why I only smoke white owls

[Smokin Gator]

I really don't see anything wrong with making a comment about the pricing. If a retailer can't take my busting his/her chops a little for pricing things way above retail then they shouldn't do it. If you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen!

[Wolfgang]

sharks $13 dollars a stick here. Thats ridiculous.

[NCRadioMan]

The shop Neo is talking about is a fairly new Fuente retailer but hasn't been in business long enough to land the higher end stuff like Opus and Anejo's. So they buy at regular retail, then mark them up accordingly. That's why they are so expensive. If I didn't know that, I probably would ask them why the high price.

I personally love this shop and the others they have opened mainly because it realy ticks the owner of Tinder Box's in the same area off. And that dude is a "grade A" pr*ck.

[bobarian]

Originally Posted by NCRadioMan

The shop Neo is talking about is a fairly new Fuente retailer but hasn't been in business long enough to land the higher end stuff like Opus and Anejo's. So they buy at regular retail, then mark them up accordingly. That's why they are so expensive. If I didn't know that, I probably would ask them why the high price.

I personally love this shop and the others they have opened mainly because it realy ticks the owner of Tinder Box's in the same area off. And that dude is a "grade A" pr*ck.

And there is the "X" factor. A markup of 50% over cost is neither unexpected nor out of line.

[ScottieM]

Originally Posted by bobarian

And there is the "X" factor. A markup of 50% over cost is neither unexpected nor out of line.

My favorite Store does this with his Top shelf Cigars like Opus, Padron Anny's etc. not to mention his Cigar selection overall is not the cheapest in the Area but he's fairly new to the Cigar Business and not an authorized retailer of much of anything. What he does provide to make up the difference is a great place to smoke a Cigar, Great Customer Service and more of a Club like Atmosphere that his competition does not provide.