Davidoff maybe can compare. General and Altadis are not even close to the hoops. They do not have any restricted products, or limits, etc with their cigars. Padron is somewhat restrictive but they retailers have acesss to the good stick on a regular basis and noone of you have to buy X amount to get X stuff. They also alow new acounts to get the limited stuff and not have to wait many years to get it.
Casa Funte prices
- Thread starter RJT
- Start date
Davidoff maybe can compare. General and Altadis are not even close to the hoops. They do not have any restricted products, or limits, etc with their cigars. Padron is somewhat restrictive but they retailers have acesss to the good stick on a regular basis and noone of you have to buy X amount to get X stuff. They also alow new acounts to get the limited stuff and not have to wait many years to get it.
Cheo Malanga
Maturing Primate
trogdor | the burninator
SilverBack
From moki's site: "To further emphasize the Fuentes' position on the store's purpose, the Fuente family opted not to be financial partners in the venture. The store is a straightforward licensing deal, structured as a partnership between the Freys and Levin, who pay an annual royalty fee directly to The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation.
The Fuentes gain nothing more out of this venture than donations towards their philanthropic pursuits, a tribute to their family's heritage, and a presence to increase brand awareness - which they are confident will directly translate into sales for all Fuente retailers. "
It seems they are allowed to charge high prices because of the donations to the cfcf and the promotion of Fuentes.
The Fuentes gain nothing more out of this venture than donations towards their philanthropic pursuits, a tribute to their family's heritage, and a presence to increase brand awareness - which they are confident will directly translate into sales for all Fuente retailers. "
It seems they are allowed to charge high prices because of the donations to the cfcf and the promotion of Fuentes.
That is not so bad, if it helps children. :ss
It seems to me that Casa Fuente can charge whatever they please without backlash from the Fuente family. The only thing the Fuente family can do is threaten to stop providing product to Casa Fuente, in which case, the licensing agreement goes down the crapper, which would obviously harm the CFCF.
:tpd: Try getting a call girl in Vegas at MSRP. HILARIOUS!!!
You are absolutely right, it is weird to have the fuentes talking about keeping things at msrp and then the house of fuente can charge the highest premium, I work in the industry and the order process for fuente is one of the hardest to order and half the time the store owner doesn't get what he wants, I like some of my fuente cigars so I won't boycott but I am disappointed in how they run business.
Hammerhead
2B1 ASK1
Not directed at you, RJT, but just to vent in general, another way to help children is to teach them lessons of integrity. Like not having two sets of rules whenever it suits you. Like being on the level with your business partners.
Not to disparage the Fuente family's philanthropy, but I'm so sick of having all kinds of irresponsible unfair and often downright unconstitutional or just plain old unethical behaviors excused because "it's for the children", that my head is ready to explode.
Is it any wonder why kids today don't know how to behave? Could it be the reason is because our children aren't seeing any leadership as a result of constantly overlooking the double-standards?
Charity is only virtuous if it's fair.
The reality is that although the Fuente family might not be holding up the bank, they're driving the getaway car, in that Casa Fuente, licensed as it is, would not be there at all if not for the supply they receive.
If the Fuente family were REALLY concerned about setting a real example for children, they'd make the Casa Fuente line available to all dealers, disclose exactly how much per dollar goes to their foundation and into the hands of the children, and make level the playing field so that all dealers great and small can, within reason, avail themselves of the product line.
/rant
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Vent brother.... :tpd: I just didnt want to say it. However I am glad to know the price gouging and unfair double standards are "helping the children" to some degree.
As I see it, the high prices at CF would come down if people refused to pay them. Part of having a free economy (i.e. regulated by the consumer, not the government) means that businesses are free to charge what the market will pay.
Now that y'all probably hate ol' Puff, I want to point out that CF is not the only place to buy Fuente cigars. We have a choice... Larry
And P.S. I can live without the chili pepper cigars, which most likely taste no different from others in the line...
Now that y'all probably hate ol' Puff, I want to point out that CF is not the only place to buy Fuente cigars. We have a choice... Larry
And P.S. I can live without the chili pepper cigars, which most likely taste no different from others in the line...
I'd like to note that Casa Fuente has the cheapest price for Opus X cigars on the Vegas strip; check the Davidoff stores for a bolstering of this argument.
You also need to read this:
http://www.smokeshopmag.com/0805/cover.htm
To further emphasize the Fuentes' position on the store's purpose, the Fuente family opted not to be financial partners in the venture. The store is a straightforward licensing deal, structured as a partnership between the Freys and Levin, who pay an annual royalty fee directly to The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation.
The Fuentes gain nothing more out of this venture than donations towards their philanthropic pursuits, a tribute to their family's heritage, and a presence to increase brand awareness - which they are confident will directly translate into sales for all Fuente retailers.
You're clearly confused. There is nothing that the Fuentes are doing that is "unconstitutional" -- nor do I see anything "unethical". I assume that you are going to hold Davidoff to the same standards that you are holding Casa Fuente, yes? Because their prices are higher than found at Casa Fuente.
Riiiiiiight. If you were in their shoes, you would enter a partnership with the Frey brothers to open up a store that bears your namesake in some of the highest profile, most expensive retail space on the planet, and you'd do what? Make sure this high profile space made your name look bad by not stocking it with the premium merchandise expected of any such store in Las Vegas? Not expose neophytes with money to the highest-class experience and merchandise possible?
Genius, I tell you, genius.
The fact of the matter is that most retailers who don't have their panties in a bunch over Casa Fuente realize that it expands their business. People are introduced to Fuente cigars and cigars in general in a high class setting, and these are people who would otherwise not be exposed to our little hobby.
They then get interested, and patronize their local retailers, looking for cigars. Contrary to the online meme, your average person isn't looking for these rarities, nor do they care about them. There is supposed to be something special that you can only get at Casa Fuente; that's the point.
Right, right. Screw the impoverished children in the Dominican, what really counts is all those whiney cigar smokers are upset that they can't get certain cigars that they want on a regular basis.
Glad to see the priorities are in order here.
And the Fuentes DO disclose exactly how much is given to CFCF; I have the paperwork from 2005, would you like to see it? It was made FREELY AVAILABLE to anyone who attended. Every nickel and dime is accounted for, and presented in the light.
I have been to the school in the Dominican that their charity built, I have seen the children there, and my wife and I even taught a class there.
It's exactly uninformed rants like these that do damage to good causes the world over.
It is the highest rent retail space in the world.
While Nevada's tobacco taxes are high, they are not the highest in the nation. However it is worth noting that the prices you see at Casa Fuente include the sales tax.
One of the reasons for the prices at Casa Fuente is that the Frey brothers determined that they did not want to be selling cigars that would just end up on yahoo or ebay for auction/sale. And you know it would happen.
I think the prices are right in line with what they should be for a shop in the Forums shops at Caesar's Palace.
The issue some are bringing up here is the implied unfairness that Casa Fuente is stocked not just with the Casa Fuente cigars, but also with Opus, Anejos, and other cigars that retailers generally do not get that often.
First it's important to note that another one of the reasons why the price is high is so that Casa can be constantly stocked with these cigars. Retailers have generally come around to realize that Casa Fuente is an excellent introduction to cigars for a great many people, and as such drives sales in general, in addition to Fuente cigars in particular.
As for the average cigar smokers who want to get these cigars on a regular basis... you can do so at Casa Fuente if you want to pay the price. If you don't, then that's the way the cookie crumbles.
JohnnyFlake
Alpha Silverback
Nevada Taxes related to tobacco are State at 32% and County (Clark for LV) at 7.75% for a combined total of 39.75%
Johnny
montecristo#2
Chestbeating Pack Leader
This may have been mentioned already, but do LV residents get a discount?
JohnnyFlake
Alpha Silverback
I've heard claims to that effect, however, I've asked about that on two separate visits and I was politely told, on each occassion, that no discounts are given to residents. The prices are as marked and that discounts are not even available for large purchases.
Johnny
montecristo#2
Chestbeating Pack Leader
Last time I was there, I only grabbed a couple of 858 sungrowns ($11 each) and a couple of casa fuentes. Just decided it was better to look at the nice inventory and the waitresses.
I did get into a conversation with one of the ladies that works there (not a waitress) about whether or not something was plume versus mold. People really don't know the difference, kind of sad. Amazingly, we grew up in the same area and she went to a HS near mine (she actually graduate a year after me). The time before, I bought some anejos and an opusX, but that was before I knew better.
Last time I was there, I only grabbed a couple of 858 sungrowns ($11 each) and a couple of casa fuentes. Just decided it was better to look at the nice inventory and the waitresses.
The time before, I bought some anejos and an opusX, but that was before I knew better.
When I went, I knowingly overpaid for two different size GOF. I just couldn't leave empty handed, and these were two cigars I had never seen in a retail shop in my area.
Oh yeah....and I was drunk.