Discontinuation rumors

[mk05]

The E2? They're really good though.

[PigFish]

Tabacuba... "Killing cigar smoking, one customer at a time!" -Piggy

[OZCUBAN]

Tabacuba... "Killing cigar smoking, one customer at a time!" -Piggy

And now in OZ plain packaging I feel like chicken little

[dicko]

I would be dirty of they discontinue the 898

[bassman]

The 2012 Presedentes are by far the best I've had since 95. Be a shame to see them go after they finally made a great batch.

[maverickdrinker]

I got a couple boxes on ice, may have to cop 4 more.

Just brought in a couple of 07 boxes. Going to hunt for more later today. Calling Cuba to ask a few stores to put some aside for me when I go in November.....

[cottierm]

So ridiculous! As usual unfortunately.

Best,

Michel

[jedipastor]

Here is the list mentioned:

Partagas : 8-9-8, D5, E2 & Presidentes

SCDLH : All

Diplomaticos : No.2

Ramon Allones : Small Club Coronas

Wow, that would be a blow. But the last few years have been full of bad moves on their part. I agree that the PSD5 and PSE2 are both too new to cancel now, but they killed the Trini Rob T with just a little more time than that.

The 898v, Dip2, RASCC, and SCdlH would really be missed.

I guess we just wait for the next Monte Open type line to come out ...

[Matt Day]

It would be crazy to discontinue the partagas 898 and rascc in particular. I am just hoping these are wild rumours; if not what does that leave the regular line up of ra with the gigantes and the rass. I just don’t see the point of doing that to ra it’s been getting plenty of re and le of late why not use these to revitalise the line rather than cutting? And as for deleting the 898 why ? the box codes are all fairly recent if this is a deletion I just hope this is a packaging deletion rather than a full blown deletion. If so were just going to end up with cohibacristo fatties

[bassman]

It would be crazy to discontinue the partagas 898 and rascc in particular. I am just hoping these are wild rumours; if not what does that leave the regular line up of ra with the gigantes and the rass. I just don’t see the point of doing that to ra it’s been getting plenty of re and le of late why not use these to revitalise the line rather than cutting? And as for deleting the 898 why ? the box codes are all fairly recent if this is a deletion I just hope this is a packaging deletion rather than a full blown deletion. If so were just going to end up with cohibacristo fatties

Seems like RA & PL are now primarily for REs. They can charge a lot more with that second band.

[IcedCanuck]

E2 - 25% more than a CoRo

A box of Partagas E2 costs less than a box of CoRo by about $20. I agree the price point on the E2 is a bit steep though. If it were priced a little more competitively I would have bought a few more boxes for sure.

[CaptainQuintero]

A box of Partagas E2 costs less than a box of CoRo by about $20. I agree the price point on the E2 is a bit steep though. If it were priced a little more competitively I would have bought a few more boxes for sure.

UK prices generally it's 25% more, not going to mention actual prices/sources obviously

[IcedCanuck]

UK prices generally it's 25% more, not going to mention actual prices/sources obviously

Wow, that's pretty crazy. It makes sense that an E2 would cost more than a regular production Robusto because it's longer and has a bigger ring gauge which should mean more tobacco in it. CoRo's are already over priced because it's a Cohiba though ... either way not a terrible stick by any means but over priced for sure. In fact one could say they are priced to not sell.

[CaptainQuintero]

Wow, that's pretty crazy. It makes sense that an E2 would cost more than a regular production Robusto because it's longer and has a bigger ring gauge which should mean more tobacco in it. CoRo's are already over priced because it's a Cohiba though ... either way not a terrible stick by any means but over priced for sure. In fact one could say they are priced to not sell.

Just seems a completely unneeded cigar too, already have the D4, P2 and Lusi, I just don't see the need. Same with the D5 when the party shorts are as popular as they already are.

I'm guessing their thinking was, "hmm the D4/P2 is very popular so lets make one very similar, then it will sell just as well" Same logic with the D5 in relation to the shorts. :confused:

[Vortigan]

In fact one could say they are priced to not sell.

You certainly could! I wonder if there'll be a sudden upturn in panic buys.....so sorry,I mean sales over the next 2 or 3 months??

[CaptainQuintero]

I'm sure panic buys is what they are after.

Problem-Distributors and retailers have stock which doesn't shift.

Solution-Announce deletion

Response-Stock all shifts with panic buying

By product-fill up newly aquired shop space with expensive RE/ELs with high profit margins.

It's worked for the past what decade, why stop doing it if the numbers say it's what the customer base wants by voting with their wallet.

[ramon_cojones]

Here's the thing, 898s and rascc sell not like they're sitting on shelves. Would love an explanation for that.

[CaptainQuintero]

Here's the thing, 898s and rascc sell not like they're sitting on shelves. Would love an explanation for that.

Maybe more credibility to my 'phonecall to H&F' theory

There are boxes upon boxes sitting here. 898 unvarnished are still widely available never mind the V. Same with RASCC, when everyone have been talking about the lack of stock over the last 10 months every place over here is still sitting on old stock.

The only short supply of the deleted ciagrs that I've noticed running out are the Partagas lonsdales and Dip 4s. They are still ou there though you just have to ring about.

perfect example, a B&M somewhat near me can't sell their stock. The manager had to break up a 1999 box of fundies into singles because the box had been sitting in his limited-capacity humidor for 13 years! I took a box of Upmann Grand Coronas off him after he literally begged me to buy them, the per-stick price was £2 more than a Quintero panetelas.

[Smallclub]

I'm sure panic buys is what they are after.

Doesn't make sense. The RASCC sells like hot cakes here, and the 898 has a following - you can't find aged 898s in France or Spain…

[CaptainQuintero]

Doesn't make sense. The RASCC sells like hot cakes here, and the 898 has a following - you can't find aged 898s in France or Spain…

I literally can buy armloads of 1999 boxes of both varnished and unvarnished 898s right now if I wanted! The prices are not even at a premium because of their age, they are exactly the same price as 2012 stock. That speaks volumes about how much stock they have sitting about.

Go to the majority of places here that sell cigars and say you are new to the hobby and what should I try, they will show you right to the Monte Opens, RE and ELs and Cohiba.

There is essentially one store/chain that won't do that and the owners are special friends with Rob (Hint there). Most others have regular meetings with H&F to discuss how best to improve sales (ie how to sell more of the above four products).

It's just my opinion but I think it's the reaping of the rewards from a very amaturish business model that H&F set out. Don;t get me wrong H&F do some very good things, but IMO their business stratergy is downright stupid

[LGC]

Here's the thing, 898s and rascc sell not like they're sitting on shelves. Would love an explanation for that.

Maybe they need the leaves to roll the over-hyped EL and LE crap.... and the additional 2"x60rg vitolas coming out soon

[CaptainQuintero]

Infact I can list what is in the 'Here take as many as you can carry!' aged sections which are not being sold at premium because of their age. If they have not already been deleted you can probably bet they are up for the chop soon:

-Bolivar Inmensas 1999 vintage

-Cuaba Exclusivos 1999 vintage

-Upmann Coronas 1998/9 vintage (deleted in 2002) a decade later and they still can't shift them

-Hoyo du Dauphin 1998 vintage

-Hoyo Churchills 1998 vintage

-Montecristo A 1998/9 vintage (I think these have been reduced to single coffins only now?)

-Partagas unvarnished 1998 vintage

-Partagas varnished 1999 vintage

-Partagas Lusi 1999 vintage

-Punch Churchills 1999 vintage

-Punch DCs 1999 vintage (25 and 50 cabs)

-RyJ ex #4 1999 (25 and 50 cabs)

-Sancho Panza Molions 1998 vintage

-Sancho Panza Sanchos 1998 vintage

-Vegas Robaina Unicos 1999 vintage

There are lots more deleted cigars still widely available eg Partagas coronas, Boli lonsdales. SLR lonsdales etc but they are not in the 'bargin bin' sections of stores like the above so I'm guessing they are somewhat selling.

[Lotusguy]

Infact I can list what is in the 'Here take as many as you can carry!' aged sections which are not being sold at premium because of their age. If they have not already been deleted you can probably bet they are up for the chop soon:

-Bolivar Inmensas 1999 vintage

-Cuaba Exclusivos 1999 vintage

-Upmann Coronas 1998/9 vintage (deleted in 2002) a decade later and they still can't shift them

-Hoyo du Dauphin 1998 vintage

-Hoyo Churchills 1998 vintage

-Montecristo A 1998/9 vintage (I think these have been reduced to single coffins only now?)

-Partagas unvarnished 1998 vintage

-Partagas varnished 1999 vintage

-Partagas Lusi 1999 vintage

-Punch Churchills 1999 vintage

-Punch DCs 1999 vintage (25 and 50 cabs)

-RyJ ex #4 1999 (25 and 50 cabs)

-Sancho Panza Molions 1998 vintage

-Sancho Panza Sanchos 1998 vintage

-Vegas Robaina Unicos 1999 vintage

There are lots more deleted cigars still widely available eg Partagas coronas, Boli lonsdales. SLR lonsdales etc but they are not in the 'bargin bin' sections of stores like the above so I'm guessing they are somewhat selling.

I'd say a lot of those don't sell because most people are scared of the bad years and stay away.

[CaptainQuintero]

I'd say a lot of those don't sell because most people are scared of the bad years and stay away.

Those are just the oldest available, eg I can grab 2004 898v's if I wanted

[dB69]

...There are lots more deleted cigars still widely available eg Partagas coronas, Boli lonsdales. SLR lonsdales etc but they are not in the 'bargin bin' sections of stores like the above so I'm guessing they are somewhat selling.

I was in London in Jan/Feb 2011 and searched for Partagas Coronas, Lonsdales, Petit Coronas and other vintage Partys. The answer was the same everywhere: "They have been discontinued (Yes, I know) and are not available anymore."

If there's still a large quantity of those boxes in stock everywhere, then who else they can blame than themselves? Having a shop and not selling a problem product that is asked by the customer... Yeah, for sure!