Buying HTF sticks from On Line Auctions.

[Cigar Man Andy]

I get a lot of PMs from BOTL asking me about prices for auctions they have found on hard to cigars. Opus X mainly. I buy and smoke a fair amount of HTF sticks, and so I check out their links. After havanajohn sent me a pm with a links to an auction for Opus vitolas. ie Chili Pepper, BBMF etc.

I search out a couple if Opus auctions and this is what I found. First, people will pay exorbitant no ridiculous amounts of money to posses forbidden fruit. You would have to be desperate or out of your mind to pay double or three times the value of a cigar.

Opus Reserva D'Chateau - MSRP $13.95 C-Bid Auction $31ea 2 days to go
Opus xXx Power Ranger - MSRP $10.50 C-Bis Auction $31ea 2 days to go
Opus Chili Pepper - MSRP $32 Famous Auction $65.00 closed
Opus "A" - MSRP $25.00 eBay $240 for four or $60ea still open

And several Opus sold on eBay are counterfeit.

These cigars are wonderful, but not worth double the price.

They are available for MSRP at B&Ms if you look and ask.

Are there no good deals? Yes there are. I have bought several boxes of God of Fire on C-Bid for under MSRP. Recently I bought a box of eight 2006 Double Robusto Tubos for $150 from Cbid MSRP $250, or I stole a Journey To Chateau De La Fuente Brown Box for $101 on C-bid MSRP $160. So deals can be found if you look, but don't let your emotions take over and pay stupid money for a cigar that is available if you are patient, look and ask.

[bdw1984]

this needs to be said

[Egis]

C-bid is kind of overpriced overall, specially on single cigars! and if you see opus x or anejo shark they sell for ridiculous price!

[baddddmonkey]

I had a post earlier, but my internet decided to stop working as soon as I hit the Quick Reply button...lets try again.

I come from a place where I don't have access to Opus, Anejo, or any other higher premium cigars. The closest may be either in KC or Wichita and I do not have the time to travel that far just for a few cigars. Don't get me wrong...like Andy said...they are excellent, but can be very overpriced.

I'm slowly starting to learn about the MSRP on cigars, I wish I knew that before I bought some while vacationing in Las Vegas in December. I think I probably spent $20 bucks on an $8 Opus! Luckily, if you need some special cigars....The great BOTL's on this site could hook you up. I wanted some Opus for my friend before he left for Arizona and Bill (GlockG23) helped me out.

Thanks for the info Andy, and hopefully all the newbs and old puffers can benefit from this!

[SMOKE20]

Very Very well put Andy

[havanajohn]

I for one am taking Andys advice, and am hitting the local B & M's looking for MSRP Opus sticks.

[mrreindeer]

Originally Posted by Cigar Man Andy

Opus "A" - MSRP $25.00 eBay $240 for four or $60ea still open

SH!T - BE RIGHT BACK.

Originally Posted by Egis

C-bid is kind of overpriced overall, specially on single cigars! and if you see opus x or anejo shark they sell for ridiculous price!

Make sure you do a historical search on CHIMP! CHIMP - Cbid Historical Information Management Program Very helpful!

Originally Posted by baddddmonkey

I come from a place

Thanks again for that Opus, Andy!

[d_day]

I agree with the general principle of this post, don't over pay. But what is over paying? Is $12.95 too much for an Opus X Perfexion #4? Most of you will say yes. Find one for less in California. You can't. Find an Opus X 'A' for less than $40 in California. Again, not going to happen. State taxes make sure you'll never be able to get this stuff at MSRP. So, someone from California (or any other state with excessive cigar taxes) can bid more, and still save money. I really don't think this is the case in the examples above, but I just wanted to remind everyone that just because it's over MSRP, does not mean it's a bad deal.

[mrreindeer]

Good point Phil...and Andy's right about needing to ask your B&M...I was in Pittsburgh a bit ago and asked and they said they reserved Opus and other HTF sticks for 'members'. So I bought a $15 membership and it worked out well.

[Herf N Turf]

Well said, Andy! I just got a mailer from one my sources. They have tins for sale in three vitola. While they are cheaper than any tins price Ive seen recently, theyre still a bit over MSRP for singles. I just can't bring myself to pay $3 for something I can't smoke and isn't waterproof.

I'll never forget the first tin I ever bought. 3 Reserva de Chat's for $79.95. The hawker behind the counter said, "The tins are collectors items." Sheesh.

Anyone wanna buy an Opus tin?

[Egis]

Originally Posted by Herf N Turf

Well said, Andy! I just got a mailer from one my sources. They have tins for sale in three vitola. While they are cheaper than any tins price Ive seen recently, theyre still a bit over MSRP for singles. I just can't bring myself to pay $3 for something I can't smoke and isn't waterproof.

I'll never forget the first tin I ever bought. 3 Reserva de Chat's for $79.95. The hawker behind the counter said, "The tins are collectors items." Sheesh.

Anyone wanna buy an Opus tin?

What size are those? my B&M is rip of on tins too, specially on singles, smallest opus x 13$, but other B&M has good prices!!!

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by Egis

What size are those?

RdC = Churchill

[commonsenseman]

Guilty

[Cigar Man Andy]

Here is a partial list of B&Ms for you in the North east

In Philly Holt's - MSRP
Virginia - Old Virginia Tobacco and on line
Maryland - The Humidor
New York - Uptown Cigars
North Carolina - JR Cigars
Washington DC - Draper's

In California find a friend on the east cost.

Opus X was created for the east coast and was not even available until a four or five years ago. The tax is what kills you. But beware. On line cigar outlets report their sale to other states to those states or they have to pay tax on them. And so do some credit card companies. I know a few guys that had received a letter from the Commonwealth of Virginia charging them tax on cigars they bought from CI.

If you are savvy, keep checking the forums (PUFF). There are a lot of Opus getting sold for good prices here. Or try this Post a thread ISO Opus X and see if anyone responds. Also, Opus usually only ship two or three times a year in quantity. Father's Day and Christmas is when I see them.

[Herf N Turf]

Originally Posted by Cigar Man Andy

In Philly Holt's - MSRP
Virginia - Old Virginia Tobacco and on line
Maryland - The Humidor
New York - Uptown Cigars
North Carolina - JR Cigars
Washington DC - Draper's

Darn you Andy! You just 'outed' one of my sources!