Man.

$35.95 starting opus? I get map, but why don't manufacturers see having pricing close to support BOTH B&M and online sales?

More sales is better for business no? Or are they trying to creep prices up on us to gain profit? That has a serious point of diminishing return much like eating doughnuts.

Maybe three lots I'd bid on.

Fuentes are always cheaper in the stores and more available too.

858 sungrowns, Opus, Anejos, Hemingway maduros... Stores out here for all those.

Edit:

If you can find them online, prices are usually inflated.

I realize that, it's the extreme increase on the starting point I was referencing.

Ya, that price is kind of obnoxious.

I guess if people keep paying it...

Is the production of Opus less than other similarly priced MSRP brands, or are they just that much more in demand.

I don't mind paying MSRP for them, but I really don't want to pay more than that, because MSRP is already pretty high IMO. I really don't go out of my way to find them either, I might ask a shop if they have any, if they don't, I really don't care.

What?!
Mommy not giving you special treatment anymore?
What did you do this time?

I am thinking they just got tired of losing money on their opus auctions so they are starting them off higher. Besides that $35.95 is not a bad starting point for the box in the picture.

It's the cigar manufacturers trying to set selling prices. It's unamerican and Padron, Fuente, CAO and anyone else doing it should be totally boycotted by cigar smokers.

Loved his performance in Dr. Strangelove.

Love that movie!

let's not forget George C. Scott too.

I'm not sure Fuente thinks they need online sales to sell Opus, and they certainly don't want Opus selling cheaply online, whether by sake or by auction.

B & M retailers with Fuente accounts don't actually order Opus. They typically get Opus shipments a few times a year, and they get what Fuente wants to send them. Fuente really has the B & M retailers by the short hairs, because the retailers know that if they send any Opus back to Fuente, they're not likely to get them again. So they take what Fuente sends them, and seem to sell them out sooner or later.

Fuente's story is that the supply of Opus is limited by the amount of wrapper leaf they can grow. That may be true -- and even if it's not, an artificially limited supply helps keep prices and demand high. That's what makes the whole Opus business model possible. So, as to "more sales is better for business," that's only true to the extent that it doesn't cut into margins. I suspect that Fuente has the Opus market right where they want it ... they sell every Opus cigar they make at top dollar.

It's not.

Wait... are we talking about Drew estate?

Sounds more like lanceros.

The only way to stop this is for everyone not to buy Fuente (or any other MAP cigar) anywhere, anytime. That will never happen.

Then get ready to pay whatever the manufacturer decides you will pay.

I would never recommend NOT buying Fuente!

Nor would I take a recommendation from some one that needs permission before buying.