International Order Success

[DownUnder LLG]

I'm a happy Gorilla. For those of you who may have read some of my posts before, you would be aware that cigar prices Downunder aren't very friendly, similar to Canada but in most cases dearer still.

Well I have been scouring the net looking for vendors who ship internationally (to the extent that this is a seperate file of fav's in my browser) and on the 9th of May I made an order with a particular vendor, just a 4 pack sampler of Padrons at this stage to see how things would go (2x 3000 and 2x Churchill of which 1 of each was a Natural and a Mad). They were shipped on the 10th May and they arrived yesturday 18th May.

The sticks were well packed and in good order on arrival, taking them out of the packing they felt and smelt very good, almost as if you good have smoked them straight away however they will still sit in my Tupperdore to rest up a bit. I had no issues with Customs (import duties for tobacco products is about $235AU/kg here), most likely because it was a small amount (not for long) and the package direct to me.

So look out Lady and Gentlemen Gorillas, Downunder has arrived and is standing at the bottom of the Slippery Slope ready to take his first big step........ and most likely slip straight up on his A$$

Just for the record, the pack including shipping from the US cost me $39AU, if I purchased those same smokes from my LOCAL vendor I would be paying about $75-80AU and if I got the from another vendor on the East Coast of Aus, about $70 including shipping.

[The Prince]

Originally Posted by DownUnder LLG

I'm a happy Gorilla. For those of you who may have read some of my posts before, you would be aware that cigar prices Downunder aren't very friendly, similar to Canada but in most cases dearer still.

Well I have been scouring the net looking for vendors who ship internationally (to the extent that this is a seperate file of fav's in my browser) and on the 9th of May I made an order with a particular vendor, just a 4 pack sampler of Padrons at this stage to see how things would go (2x 3000 and 2x Churchill of which 1 of each was a Natural and a Mad). They were shipped on the 10th May and they arrived yesturday 18th May.

The sticks were well packed and in good order on arrival, taking them out of the packing they felt and smelt very good, almost as if you good have smoked them straight away however they will still sit in my Tupperdore to rest up a bit. I had no issues with Customs (import duties for tobacco products is about $235AU/kg here), most likely because it was a small amount (not for long) and the package direct to me.

So look out Lady and Gentlemen Gorillas, Downunder has arrived and is standing at the bottom of the Slippery Slope ready to take his first big step........ and most likely slip straight up on his A$$

Just for the record, the pack including shipping from the US cost me $39AU, if I purchased those same smokes from my LOCAL vendor I would be paying about $75-80AU and if I got the from another vendor on the East Coast of Aus, about $70 including shipping.

That Is odd, Rob A. has some of the best prices In the world. I guess It could be currency levels, and/or Import/Export laws that make purchasing In your home country unattactive. Or, are you talking of prices for N/C's?

[DownUnder LLG]

Originally Posted by The Prince

That Is odd, Rob A. has some of the best prices In the world. I guess It could be currency levels, and/or Import/Export laws that make purchasing In your home country unattactive. Or, are you talking of prices for N/C's?

More specifically NC's, the prices I quoted are for Padrons, you can pay just as much for NC's here as you do ISOM's.

[DownUnder LLG]

Just before anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm not trying to sound like a whinging a$$hole nor am I trying to sound like some sort of charity case. Cigars are one of my hobbies, one that I enjoy extremely , I enjoy reading anything I can find about the subject and I love CS for what it gives me in advice, help and laughs.

When you enjoy a hobby as much, it is difficult to support it when certain vendors, like my local one, take the pi$$ and charge the prices that he does. I can live with taxes etc because theirs not much that I can do about that, and the more uneducated morons keep lobbying for smoke free enviroments and trying to ban smoking altogether the higher the taxes will go (seems to be the pattern in this country).

However when I can get a box of Padron 3000 for $134AU excluding shipping from the US or $333AU excluding shipping from a vendor on the East coast of Aus (I'm on the West by the way), whaddaya reckon I'm gonna do. My local vendor (and he is the only real cigar store in Perth) charges that much that I can buy 1 STICK and pay $10 shipping from the vendor on the East coast and still save money than if I jump in my car and go to my local vendor.

Thats my situation and I'm just trying to improve it for myself so that I can continue this wild and wonderful hobby with my fellow BOTL.

Thank you all for listening, I'll get off my now.

P.S. I'm not pi$$ed at anyone here, just venting my frustrations at poeple (vendors) that take advantage of the fact there are not many cigar stores here and the cigar scene is not as big as say Europe or the US.
I'm done now

[GOAT LOCKER]

Originally Posted by The Prince

That Is odd, Rob A. has some of the best prices In the world.

Tobacco taxes are crazy in Oz. We can get cuban cigars shipped from Australia to us, and still pay half what they sell for in Australia. NC's are even worse. Of all the places I've visited, I think the Aussies have the worst cigar prices.

[DAFU]

I don't know which vendors will ship to you Aussies, but if you're wanting to purchase some NCs I'm sure there might be a few of us US BOTl that would be willing to help you out. I'm not sure if it would be any different than the shipping of Habanos though????

[kansashat]

I think it is awesome that you are getting an opportunity to try some NC's from some world class cigar makers. Many of us envy those who live in countries where ISOM's are legal, but some of the NC stuff has begun to give Havana a run for their money.......I think folks like the Fuentes, Carillo, Padron, Eiroas, & many more simply try a lot harder to make a topnotch product.