If you want to see some serious overbidding going on, have a look at the Short Storys up for auction today. The winning bidders are currently paying 15% over retail for them. :o)

I have gotten some great deals on CB, but I can't get any super premiums on there for less than I buy them for already. Too many misinformed BOOMERS with more money than sense. ;o)

Ooops! My mistake...I as looking at the wrong cigar on the Fuente price list(masterpiece), they are actually currently paying 26% OVER retail for them! ;o)

Goose...search back through the message archives for the last time Hemingway provided some auction excitement. And the discussion that followed the close. I don't think the current bid is that far off the price you'll find in retail store fronts. I paid $8 each for Signatures last week and was happy to get them.

Really? You think that is a good deal? I can get Short Storys for $4.00 each which is just a tiny bit under retail. At the current bid price of 29.00, those guys are paying $5.80 each!

I love my Short Storys! But I don't love them THAT MUCH! ;o)

Goose...I this it's arguable that a 26% premium for these cigars at $29 really doesn't mean the bidder is cost-unconscious. Now if the autobid goes to 60% or higher, then I agree with you, call the price control commission...you know who they are: Mr Ed, The Old Grey Mare, Trigger, and recently Seattle Slough.

On the sad-but-true front, $5.80 each is clearly a bargain price when compared to the price I would have to pay in one of the cigar stores here in SF or anywhere else in CA ... if you're lucky enough to live in a state where the taxes aren't out through the roof as they are here, I can understand how that $5.80 looks like less of a bargain.

Hee hee...The archives seem to only go back a month unless I am missing a link to actual archives some place.


Well, I stated in my introduction that I am a cheap ass, but I am not afraid to layout a bill or two for a box of cigars I know I love.

I buy Fuentes by the box and always have. I know I am going to smoke all of them.

I am glad for CB though that they are getting so much profit from this and other super premium auctions.

It doesn't make me feel so guilty for getting the stuff I won at 10-25% below wholesale! :o)

Hi Steve,


MAN! I had no idea they were charging that much over retail for these in California!

The taxes can add a bunch to the cost, but even considering that, it looks like dealers a gouging you guys big time!

I would think it would be wise to put your name in with some online shops that sell them at retail or less and just buy a box the next time they have them.

The "congratulations" to the winner of a box of Hemingways thread was back in March ...here's one reply worth repeating..."I guess I'll de-lurk to take my bows, since you all are being so nice and polite and congratulating me and all. I happened to have been having a lot of trouble finding hemi sigs in stock and when they are in stock, there is a limit of two singles or some such nonsense. I have to pay $8.00+ for singles in my local shops, but I wanted a BOX!!! So I got a box, even if I did have to fight for it $3.00 at a time with someone else. Did I pay less than I would at my local retailer? Yes. Did I pay a premium? Sure. Is the instant gratification worth it? You bet. Am I sorry? No. I've saved enough on this site to make an occasional over-bid tolerable. You'all play this game your way, I'll play it mine... "

I can see his point based on his situation, but I can tell you that Fuente deals ARE out there if you take the time to find them.

The taxes here are nothing short of confiscatory ... a current proposal in the state legislature would raise the already exhorbitant tax to 87% ... a cigar that would sell without tax for $5 would then cost $9.35 PLUS the state sales tax, giving you a $10.35 total price out the door ... you can see what I mean about that $5.80 looking good

YIKES! Thats insane!

Can't you just buy everything online?

Washington State is almost as bad as your current taxes, but I stopped buying locally years ago (local cigar boom price gouging forced me to shop out of state/online) even before the taxes started rising above our eye balls.

I'm so glad I live in Virginia. Home of one of the lowest tax rates on tobbacco in the country. BTW, the last box of Hemingway Shortys I bought was less than $80.00. Don't even think about asking for my source 🙂

Hee hee... I don't blame you for keeping it a secret Penz! ;o)

I read somewhere even perhaps here that Fuente is VERY much opposed to price gouging of their products, so I find it odd that there is so much of it about out there in cigar retail land.

I know that it is the scarcety of the products that add to the prices, but you would think that Fuente would make an effort to produce more cigars if they are so dedicated to reducing the common practice of charing 30-40% OVER MSRP for them.

California does suck for buying at a shop. Taxes and gouging have the prices way up. Unfortunately it creates an overbid situation on CB. I haven't bought a single stogie from a walk in humidor in CA for 6 months.

1. Ca. is horrible for $$'s

2. While it sucks for mom&pop shops, online is the way to go for the best prices.

3. Cbid is still the best deal going for cigars, with few exceptions where you have to pay, (OK, everyone shudder now) RETAIL But the deals do tend to offset them in the long run, don't they?

I've mentioned this before at CF ... but there is a local tobacconist here in CA that sells Short Story's for $18.50 each ... no joke.

The 1st tax hike of a few years back,added 25 cents to a pack of cigarettes,but a cigar I was buying at my local store,went from $2.60 to $9.80. The tax hike on cigars and other related tobacco products was raised an ungodly amt. The 2nd tax hike on cigs added $.50 to a pack,and now that same gar was at $17.85. Some tobbaconists,and a cigar mfg co in San Diego went out of buseness. It was at this point I started buying on the internet. Plus no local sales tax. I haven't bought a gar at a local shop in years. Yes,I live in CA. X

The taxes on cigars is really out of hand. Besides that, the money the raise that is supposed to go towards healthcare costs is being deverted to other areas of the state's bugets, thus defeating the purpose of the tax in the first place!

The whole thing is way out of control and even though I feel bad for the local retailers, I have no interest in helping to line the coufers of the state any more than I already do with property taxes, sales taxes, etc. etc.

Slimboli --i was offered a masterpiece in vegas for $32.50 and that did not include a short time, i mean a short story.