I was looking today a spain video on youtube wich states that there is a 150% increase in price of habanos. Of course , since they are not available in USA , it does not matter much here. But , what about the people who buy them outside? . It seems that the reason is the very high demand on the Chinese market.
Habanos
- Thread starter camaguey
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Mine get to me in various ways. I'm either willing to pay the price or forego the purchase. I'm never been much concerned at what others pay for items. A waste of my time I feel. So,
not a concern of mine.
They’re no longer worth it IMHO. 2 years ago, they were expensive but not prohibitively. Note, they’ve priced themselves out of the market. Plus, given the demand, they’re shipping tobacco that is too young due to the high demand. No thanks.
There are great Cubans still available. But, I'm betting their ChiCom market is booming. Sure they are a pricey stick but, not overly oppressive in my opinion. Well, if that's the cigar you desire at the time. Many great cigars from other locales will fill any voids left by the Cubans migrating to China. My luxury cigarettes have disappeared but, I'll find a replacement just as, over the years, when a blend disappears, there are many others to swap to. Chznge demands adapting, life goes on.
What would you consider overly oppressive? I can remember buying just about any Cuban Robusto except Cohiba for $5 to $6 per stick. Those are now $9 to $10 per stick. If they increase 50% you're looking at around $15 per cigar. If you're smoking one per week or month, not a big deal. If you're smoking 2 per day, that's $900 per month . I think that would be a bit oppressive for many people.
I suppose there is a price where I would consider the value to be too little. I can remember cigarettes at $.35 per pack, gasoline under a dollar a gallon, my first new car cost more than my first house. I've managed to keep my income pleasantly ahead of inflation. I was taught early in life that only rarely do things get cheaper over the years and to plan for such. My thoughts are, if a person can't afford to smoke, they should forego that particular vice.
Smoking is a luxury, not a necessity. It's my wee vice, I'm happy with it and can comfortably indulge myself. If others can't, they should quit. One really shouldn't enjoy any luxuries or vices until all of the necessities are seen to.
I've always preferred Dominican Republic cigars to the Cuban cigars i've had, mostly on business trips to Canada, but I have always been just an occasional cigar smoker. Pipe blends have always seemed more varied and interesting to me, and certainly more cost effective.
Sometimes a cigar is the absolutely correct smoke for the situation. If cost effectiveness is considered, it's literally cheaper to put match to cash, no trips to the shops, no scouring the internet for blends and/or pipes, etc. I kid of course. But, cost effectiveness simply isn't a consideration when it comes to smoking, for me anyway. It's my wee vice, I do it for the sheer personal, selfish pleasure. The pipe is my usual preference, circumstances sometimes dictate a cigarette or cigar though.
Currently I'm going through a humidor full of Fuentes, Partagas 1845, I purchased a year or so ago. Churchill sized which I've found to be well formed and pleasantly tasty.
I was fortunate enough to heavily stock up on Cubans from around 2007-2014, before marriage and kids ?. I’m glad I did. I remember the small price increases then seemed horrible, even before this latest price increase prices are crazy. As an example the last time I purchased a 24 count box of Trinidad Reyes I paid $110, now (before the latest increase) they sell for around $262. That’s crazy. Now they will be well over $300. Forget about Cohiba, I think I paid around $280 for a box of Siglo IV, now $751. I’m glad i purchased when I did and I have a nice size collection aging in my cellar. Maybe this is a warning sign for pipe tobacco?.
Haven't been into cigars for quite a while now. But sampled a number of brands while in the Caribbean some 25 years ago. Range of prices with the top being $18 a stick then, (don't remember either the brand nor size). The one I enjoyed the most was the cheapest at $4. But can't say any of them really stood out over cigars from other areas. Also tried Cuban pipe tobacco while there which was the most god awful pipe tobacco I have ever sampled and tossed into the garbage after suffering through 1 bowl.
You very likely were smoking counterfeits if you bought them in the Caribbean.
Bought them in a cigar shop, but suppose they could have been.
Unless you bought em from a LCDH shop there’s a 99.9% chance they were fakes.
I've read multiple times that upwards of 80% of the Cubans purchased in the Caribbean area fake. Maybe you were lucky.
So full disclosure, I’m not much of Cuban fan. Imo they weren’t worth the price 15 years ago when I gave up on em. The cigars/tobacco coming out of South America is far superior to anything coming out of Cuba. Once I finish of the couple of tuppers worth I have left it’s not likely that I’ll ever buy anymore.
I guess you mean Central America
Consider me oppressed. I enjoy the Bolivar Petit Corona and the Montecristo #4. Last year a box of BPC cost me about $130. Now they are around $280 per box. No thanks, they've priced me out of the market. I agree with Hoosier that at least in my opinion, the tobacco has been too young and not worth the asking price. Lucky for me, I enjoy Cuban cigars but do not find them superior to my favorite Nicaraguans.