Casa Funte prices

[montecristo#2]

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.

It's the oxygen they pump into the casinos and retail areas. :r :r

I did the same thing on the anejos, but considering the only places I could find them online where charging about five dollars more and my local B&M had been selling them for close to $40 dollars, I figured I would give them a try. I did pay the extra dollar or two to get the #49 over the #46, I figured I was getting a lot more tobacco. :r :r A couple of days ago I actually smoked one of the anejos I bought at Casa Fuente (bought in June or July) and it was mighty damn good. These cigars get even better with some age.

Here comes a tangent - I was actually kind of pissed last time I was there, it seemed like one of our favorite restaurants had gone out of business. This just reminded me that I wanted to check online to see what happened (thanks CS). I guess they just closed the restaurant for remodeling and are going to change the name. I guess it is suppose to be the same food. Hopefully, the prices don't go up that much. It used to be called bertolini's, but now it is going to be called Trevi.

 

[RJT]

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.

Moki you make some good points. As I said I do not deal with Fuente on a business level and can only state what retailers have told me. Fuente makes great cigars and I am sure they know how to run a business or they would be out of business. You just cant make everyone happy. Maybe I will go find me a Opus X to fire up this weekend...lol :ss

 

[Accident]

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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.

.

Quote cut down to relevant portion:

I had my 1st really good cigar experience at Casa Fuente, when my Mentor bought me a wonderful cigar and a Mojito.

Accident

 

[Hammerhead]

Genius, I tell you, genius...
Glad to see the priorities are in order here...
It's exactly uninformed rants like these that do damage to good causes the world over.

I think you've gone over the edge and gotten personal, and rather than respond in like kind, I'll simply say that your relationship and special attention from Fuente has shifted your bias and clouded your ability to see a few simple points that others in this thread have clearly understood.

I'll also state for the record that as a marketing professional with over 25 years experience ranging from local B&M through Fortune 100, in various roles and industries including retail, OEM goods and distribution, I have not just a little experience, therefore some credibility in this matter. However from the tone in your reply, I'm not inclined to discuss it rationally, since any attempt to do so would likely fall on deaf ears.

 

[mc185]

The charity and brand promotion is a good enough reason for me on why they charge more. If I ever went to Casa Fuente I would have no problem paying extra to get a couple of sticks I can't get locally.

 

[TTgirl]

The Fuentes could really help a lot of disadvantaged kids if they instituted their charitable contributions policy across the US. Why just confine it to Vegas?

 

[icehog3]

The Fuentes could really help a lot of disadvantaged kids if they instituted their charitable contributions policy across the US. Why just confine it to Vegas?

I think that is an excellent point.

 

[mosesbotbol]

The Fuentes could really help a lot of disadvantaged kids if they instituted their charitable contributions policy across the US. Why just confine it to Vegas?

How about a reserve line of cigars for just that purpose? Maybe the cigars could be tax deductible? It could be the same cigars in a nicer box that is $10 above what their normal price point is...

 

[JDC20]

The Fuentes could really help a lot of disadvantaged kids if they instituted their charitable contributions policy across the US. Why just confine it to Vegas?

That is what the Toast Across America is for. And believe me most store owners are in business to make money, not be an outlet for raising money for charity.

 

[icehog3]

That is what the Toast Across America is for. And believe me most store owners are in business to make money, not be an outlet for raising money for charity.

Understood, the owners are in it for profit. But since some of these low production cigars are ridiculously priced anyway, the owners can still make their money and the charities could still be served. :2

 

[JDC20]

Understood, the owners are in it for profit. But since some of these low production cigars are ridiculously priced anyway, the owners can still make their money and the charities could still be served. :2

But they are ridiculously priced because they are extremely limited. If one could go to their local shop and pick them up, they become neither low production or high priced, the market wouldn't hold up.

No matter what we all believe, the market for these types of cigars is very, very, minuscule.

 

[TTgirl]

That is what the Toast Across America is for. And believe me most store owners are in business to make money, not be an outlet for raising money for charity.

The store owners are in business to make money. OK, we've established that.

Does Fuente put a cap on what a store owner can charge for Fuente cigars?

 

[JDC20]

The store owners are in business to make money. OK, we've established that.

Does Fuente put a cap on what a store owner can charge for Fuente cigars?

Not necessarily but they do try to watch out for consumers (like everyone here on the board) and make sure that retailers aren't holding customers over a barrel just because their cigars are popular.

 

[RJT]

Not necessarily but they do try to watch out for consumers (like everyone here on the board) and make sure that retailers aren't holding customers over a barrel just because their cigars are popular.

How did the "brand building" go today? Nice chatting with you today.

 

[TTgirl]

Not necessarily but they do try to watch out for consumers (like everyone here on the board) and make sure that retailers aren't holding customers over a barrel just because their cigars are popular.

So if I had a shop in Podunk, NJ, and I wanted to charge the same price that they're getting in Vegas for a Shark, I could do that?

 

[moki]

I think you've gone over the edge and gotten personal, and rather than respond in like kind, I'll simply say that your relationship and special attention from Fuente has shifted your bias and clouded your ability to see a few simple points that others in this thread have clearly understood.

You stated that you wanted to see where the money going to CFCF went; I stated that I and others have seen exactly that. It's a registered non-profit charitable organization. They *have* to make this information available. If you want this information, you can have it -- which might be a better thing to do than speculating, don't you think?

I'll also state for the record that as a marketing professional with over 25 years experience ranging from local B&M through Fortune 100, in various roles and industries including retail, OEM goods and distribution, I have not just a little experience, therefore some credibility in this matter. However from the tone in your reply, I'm not inclined to discuss it rationally, since any attempt to do so would likely fall on deaf ears.

You'd think someone with that kind of experience wouldn't engage in speculation that borders on character assassination. You essentially said that the Fuentes were dishonest, disingenuous, engaged in ethically wrong practices, and tossed in the really odd "unconstitutional" comment.

I think I was quite rational with my reply; it makes perfect sense that you would stock a store that bears your namesake in the most high profile shopping area in the world with a fantastic array of stock. Not doing so would be a seriously stupid thing to do.

It also makes perfect sense that since Fuente doesn't profit from Casa Fuente at all (see below) that they are doing it because they believe it will bolster the brand, create new cigar smokers, and drive sales to local B&Ms.

So again, I suggest you read this article:

http://www.smokeshopmag.com/0805/cover.htm

...and I note this:

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.

 

[moki]

The Fuentes could really help a lot of disadvantaged kids if they instituted their charitable contributions policy across the US. Why just confine it to Vegas?

The Fuentes are doing what a number of high profile celebrities are doing; that is they lend their name and marketing drive to bring in more money that way than they could if they just donated personally.

As such Fuente/Newman pays for all operating and legal expenses incurred by CFCF. That means it is a zero overhead charity; every dime that is donated to the charity goes to the kids, none of it goes to pay for administration, advertising, etc. as is the norm in charitable organizations.

They are doing it this way because this is the way to run a charitable organization in a sustainable manner that will be operating for years. One time donations, or even regular donations would not come close to matching what the apparatus they have set up can bring in.

Have a look at the school opening -- have a look at the last picture to see what they are planning for the future.

Also a little piece of interest, an old man who lived in the village nearby tacked this note onto a tree outside of the compound that CFCF was building; here is a typed version of it in Spanish and below is the English translation. What they are doing there really is seen as miraculous to the people who have been passed over by the government for so long.

.....

The Blessed Valley

Our culture thinks of the outcome of a situation as luck or fate. We see that inanimate things are touched by this philosophy.

In olden times, this valley was a lake fed by water from the rivers Puntezuela, Los Hicacos, Los Muertos, and Los Cajuiles, descending from the foothills of the Pino Picao Peak, with its doves and carob trees.

It was the natural habitat of birds and wild boars.

The song of the birds was the delight of the mountaineers and walkers of the communities of Lengibre, Cercadillo, El Yujo, Sierra Prieta and others.

In the dawn, we heard the song of the Black Heron, like a crazy laugh, and the mocking sound of the Plumed Whistling-Duck. The eternal protests of the Turtledoves. The everlasting gibberish of Magpies. And the sonorous daybreak of the Nightingale from the highest reaches of some leafless tree. They made the pasage through the area very pleasant.

Around the year 1930, the political and social system of the country changed, and the peasants found themselves obligated to exchange their walking stick for a machete, as every man was expected to slave away in the fields, doing 10 different tasks a day.

These lands fell under the control of Father Melchor Mejía, a parrochial priest from Bonao. Father Mejía developed a large agricultural project.

Many people of the area gathered to work with him for various reasons, one of which was that he punctually paid $0.10 for a day's work, the going price of the time.

The following owners Sir Tomás de Peña, Gral Ludvino Fernández, and Sir Luis Peña dedicated themselves to agricultural endeavors, Sir Luis becoming the the most succesful for more than 40 years. The people who lived here were less fortunate.

Today, in this very place, is born the philanthropy of that which Jesus spoke of in the Bible, and for this, these people are glorious, these founders of this grand project for education and health: the Cigar Family Community Project.

You will have the eternal respect and the admiration of the area and of the country.

Health (Best Regards),

Papo Rosario
The Carribean, 8/26/04

 

[moki]

Understood, the owners are in it for profit. But since some of these low production cigars are ridiculously priced anyway, the owners can still make their money and the charities could still be served. :2

Just to clarify, the price that Fuente gets paid for these low production cigars is actually quite nominal. Where the mark-up really happens is in the grey market (due to scarcity), and less commonly by retailers. Fuente does not see any of that money; Fuente gets paid the wholesale price and that's it.

 

[Hammerhead]

You'd think someone with that kind of experience wouldn't engage in speculation that borders on character assassination. You essentially said that the Fuentes were dishonest, disingenuous, engaged in ethically wrong practices, and tossed in the really odd "unconstitutional" comment.

The best defense is a good offense, I suppose. Your persistent rancor has dragged your original response down even further. Methinks thou dost protest too much.

Have a nice day. I'm done here.

 

[moki]

So if I had a shop in Podunk, NJ, and I wanted to charge the same price that they're getting in Vegas for a Shark, I could do that?

Fuente cannot tell retailers what price to set for their cigars. When they sell inventory to authorized dealers, they give them a suggested MSRP along with the wholesale price that the dealer pays. Actually enforcing what retailers charge would be price fixing, and it would be illegal under most circumstances.