Anyone feel like a good gouging?

[layinpipe]

This thread is fucking great!
MLC, you should be named "minister of awesome random information and tobacciana", thank you for that tidbit.
I agree with woodsroad and those on that side of the argument, although i can also identify with peck's view on the matter. If you want it bad enough, you'll pay what you need to get it.
CAVEAT EMPTOR. It shouldn't take an ancient dead language cliche to figure this one out...go elsewhere to find the flavor of the week. The internet/google is a wonderful thing. P&C is still awesome in my book, i'll just have my laughs at the price and find it for what i am willing to pay.

 

[layinpipe]

BTW, i scored some artist's shit for $1.99. It had some random guy named "pollock" signature on it and looked like someone threw up all over the floor.

 

[daimyo]

Watch words like gouging- have some respect.

I do believe a 500% markup is gouging and I would say it to anyone who presented me with such an option, in person. I believe that it is overcharging, although the market may disagree and validate their choice. I was under the impression Cigar International was owned by Swedish Match but if the owner is indeed a member, it is not disrespectful to assert my opinion on this business practice without mincing words. I respect him/her/them as a person/s and I respect their right to run their business in any fashion they see fit. I do not have to respect their price points to avoid disrespecting him/her/them personally. I have linked the dictionary definition of gouging and I feel it an appropriate term in this context and do not mean it to be a moral statement. While others may not agree, we are arguing semantics. As a customer, I will express my opinions to a business and if they are a good business they will take those opinions as praise or constructive criticism accordingly. I have owned several businesses and always take everything my customers say to heart without taking it personally. I would hope the owner/s of an international tobacco conglomerate would understand this. When something becomes a hot ticket, different business will respond in various ways. I prefer SP choice but it is only that, my opinion and as others pointed out we all know what opinions are like. Half a dozen hot ticket tobaccos have become available recently and I shudder to think it this type of pricing was applied to all of them.

 

[brian64]

"Welcome to the land of flame and fizz...where you will learn that packaging is all that heaven is." -- Don Henley

 

[daimyo]

On second though bulletsnbriars, I will take that into consideration although I do not completely agree. While I find the amount of the price increase insulting and would wish to convey that, I did not realize how volatile my word choice would be. My point was only to express that I though it was excessive bringing a $1.75 tin within $15 of an eight ounce bag of Esoterica, not to disparage P&C in a larger fashion. I do not equate overpricing a recreational good to overcharging for water and food during a disaster and that is never what the word meant to me. Also I do understand that placing tin limits will be criticized as well so sometimes stores are in a damned if you do , damned if you don't position. P&C has extremely fair pricing and aside from some badly packed tins, I have been a happy customer. I was happy to pick up a pound of Newminster 400 at less than $25 recently but it doesn't make me like this any more. I do not expect anyone to agree with me nor the store make any concessions but I do believe in consumers speaking their mind and respect stores that listen. I am sorry if anyone was offended by my word choice as it was not my intention to sensationalize the issue beyond what it is or personalize the issue.