Sunday, October 30 2005
In a move that could revolutionize the way online cigar auctions are conducted forever, CigarAuctioneer.com has begun auctioning cigars in what they're calling "Wholesale Lots."
The "Wholesale Lot" auction is simply an English auction containing multiple identical items. However, unlike a Yankee auction, which also involves multiple items, each bid placed is for the entire lot. For example, if a cigar smoker has a favorite brand and size, and usually buys it in quantity, they can now bid on three, four, five (or more) boxes at a "wholesale price" starting bid. All the rules of an English Auction still apply. Bidders bid the highest price they are willing to pay for the entire lot, and at the close of the auction, the lot is sold to the highest bidder. To help CigarAuctioneer bidders find the new wholesale lots, a special "wholesale lot" icon will appear next to each item. Users can also search on wholesale lots via a drop-down search menu at the top of all CigarAuctioneer.com pages.
Because wholesale lots are determined based on what's available in stock, CigarAuctioneer.com will only be able to post cigars that qualify. Arthur Zaretsky, president of Famous Smoke Shop, which operates CigarAuctioneer.com, assures there will be a good selection of top-name brands. The first lots will all contain boxed and
bundle cigars, but CigarAuctioneer.com eventually plans to auction single cigars and cigar samplers in wholesale lots, as well.
"It's similar to buying from warehouse stores like BJ's and Sam's Club," said Mr. Zaretsky. "Local cigar stores who buy from major manufacturers at higher prices can now compete for certain brands they want to stock. Another benefit to the local merchant will be the ability to purchase multi-brand cigar samplers, something they usually can't offer their customers," Mr. Zaretsky added.
Others who will benefit from CigarAuctioneer.com's new buying method will be what Mr. Zaretsky affectionately calls "cigar squirrels." These are the cigar fanatics who always buy multiple boxes to insure they never run out of their favorite cigars. Moreover, cigar-smoking friends will be able to buy some of their favorite cigars at better prices by "buddying-up." Similarly, the same advantages will extend to cigar clubs and their members, cigar community websites (where cigar swapping is a regular activity) plus, cigar-friendly restaurants and bars that have humidors on the premises, as well as golf courses and country clubs.
What will the reaction be? Only time will tell. But for the cigar smoker who can't get enough of a good thing, the ability to buy cigars in
bulk could be a herfer's nirvana.
For additional information contact:
Arthur Zaretsky
Famous Smoke Shop-PA, Inc.
http://www.cigarauctioneer.com/
