God of Fire (Don Carlos) Robusto

[Melensdad]

I've just finished the BEST cigar that I've ever smoked. Period. Even the photo of the Cuban cigars are not as good as this uber-premium Dominican Republic made beauty.

Very smooth, very full bodied, alternating between a mildly spicy and mildly sweet smoke, this cigar is truly an amazing experience.

 

[bczoom]

Bob, do you have a ballpark price and availability?

 

[Melensdad]

MSRP, which is all that can be stated due to contracts, was $19.95. Its $22 in the tube. The manufacturer's contract with us says if we offer it below MSRP they can come in and remove our remaining stock. Some of the internet retailers mark them up above retail but then 'discount' them down to full MSRP.

As for availability, I got what they shipped me. They ship 2 times per year, November and May. We are down to less than a box of this particular cigar that I tried, the shipment arrived on Monday. On some of the other sizes we have several boxes. But we've got customers buying full boxes.

At the shop we do discount to our regular customers only. But only for in store sales and only to regulars and there is no published sale price.

 

[tiredretired]

Boy, I enjoyed a good cigar from time to time when I smoked. Been 26 years now so I need to stay on the wagon. Sounds like you are having no trouble selling your stock.

 

[Melensdad]

Boy, I enjoyed a good cigar from time to time when I smoked. Been 26 years now so I need to stay on the wagon. Sounds like you are having no trouble selling your stock.

Actually the God Of Fire sales have been astounding. We have "shelf" inventory and we have full boxes in storage. We have sold about 25% of the God Of Fire cigars on the shelf . . . but we've also sold 80% of the full boxes. These cigars have been in stock for a week. I won't get another shipment until May.

My guess is that the full boxes will be gone soon. There are only 3 or 4 full boxes remaining. The individual sales will last much longer, possibly until the first of the year, largely because there are some sizes that will sell slower than others.

ON THE OTHER HAND, the FuenteFuente OPUS X Lost City cigars are not selling very well. We had a run on them the first few days, sold a few full boxes of them. Now they are sitting on the shelf. Seems like God Of Fire cigars sort of stole the thunder from Opus X.

 

[tiredretired]

Actually the God Of Fire sales have been astounding. We have "shelf" inventory and we have full boxes in storage. We have sold about 25% of the God Of Fire cigars on the shelf . . . but we've also sold 80% of the full boxes. These cigars have been in stock for a week. I won't get another shipment until May.

My guess is that the full boxes will be gone soon. There are only 3 or 4 full boxes remaining. The individual sales will last much longer, possibly until the first of the year, largely because there are some sizes that will sell slower than others.

ON THE OTHER HAND, the FuenteFuente OPUS X Lost City cigars are not selling very well. We had a run on them the first few days, sold a few full boxes of them. Now they are sitting on the shelf. Seems like God Of Fire cigars sort of stole the thunder from Opus X.

That's very interesting. I can certainly imagine how hard it is to gauge the mood of your retail customers and try to anticipate what is going to sell. I was never in retail myself, but I can appreciate the intricacies of it. Take care.

 

[Melensdad]

Unfortunately with both the God Of Fire and the Opus X brands, they ship to you what they want, not what you want. You take it and you thank them for letting you have what little you got. Its that or you get nothing! You also have to agree to their marketing terms, not promote them below the MSRP, etc. They make a specific number of boxes a year, if you are on "the list" then you might get 2 boxes of something, 4 of another, etc.

And they ship 2 times each year, May and November. If you sell out the day after you get your delivery you are out until the next shipment.

On the bright side, they do offer some exclusivity, so we are the only shop in the county that has these cigars, if you are in NW Indiana you buy them from me, or you drive up into Chicago.