While it is good that DrinkUpNY is slowly adding more selections, I am curious as to why they charge so much?

With shipping included, it is cheaper to order overseas....and that is compared to DrinkUpNY's prices without shipping.

Seems like it defeats the purpose of making absinthe available for sale in USA.

Maybe it's just a New York City thing because everything is expensive there.

If that is the case, hopefully someone will start an absinthe distribution company
in rural West Virginia, Arkansas or Mississippi.

I think we may have more conclusive information on that soon but I was wondering about that myself only a week ago. I made an "order" from four of my favorite online sales businesses: DUNY, Mission, Wine Chateau and Binny's. The prices (once shipping was factored in) were remarkably similar. I didn't continue the exercise to our overseas friends because it wasn't an absinthe order I was working on. A nice comprehensive study is in <ahem> order.

As in all things, let the buyer beware. Unless one of these businesses is having a hell of a sale, the emphasis isn't one the price since they're pretty much the same. Time to factor in quality of service.

There are other online vendors. They may not ship to certain states, like the one I live in.

The pricing issue, the bottom line is it's called "Free Enterprise". They can charge what they want.

I still shop overseas but not as often. DUNY also carries quite a few more varieties of other booze than my local retailers. Gin is a good example.

They are convenient for me. Convenience costs more $$$. *smile*

DUNY prices would seem more reasonable if shipping was included.

<spit take>

The ice cream cone in his avatar needs to be replaced by a glass of absinthe.

Seriously though, the DUNY prices without shipping are equal to or higher than the overseas prices with shipping.

Seriously though, the way you order absinthe, the shipping prices are already included.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but aren't the cheaper prices (LDF for example) due to the recent rally of the US$??? I was shocked when I put in a mock order. So shocked that I actually placed it & cannot wait to test out the Jade's!!!

1. When you order from DUNY, you are paying US duties and taxes, and for the added margins made to cover the costs of the importer, the wholesaler and the retailer. All costs that you take for granted (or maybe don't know about) if you buy a bottle of Scotch, Cognac, etc today in the USA.

2. If you are buying absinthe from a UK shipper, you are currently getting the benefit of a very weak pound. If a UK shipper needs to replace his absinthe stocks from France/Switzerland tomorrow, he will have to pay a much higher price in pounds to reflect the comparative Euro/pound ratio.

If/when the currencies change, the situation will be very different.

Yeah, but I only order once every 2 to 3 years.
I really don't like the overseas ordering process
and technicalities. Especially the surprise added
charges by the banks for overseas purchases.

Every time I have made a purchase from overseas,
the credit card bank adds an extra $10-$20 charge.

I have noticed that the prices at LDF are lower than a couple years ago.
They were charging the same amount for Jade 0.50 liter bottles as they
are now for the 0.75 liter bottles. Shipping is a bit lower now as well.

Here you go!

Plus we're buying much more for much less due to recent currency fluctuations.

And as Joe mentioned, there will be a comprehensive list of costs of almost every absinthe on the market posted very shortly. I wanted to have it done last night, but an unexpected hookah with melon shisha found itself in my hand, and I couldn't let go.

Hey COOL!!!!

Thanks.

Dang. Retrogarde beat me to it.

You guys do nice (and fast) work!

Having just brought a brand to the NY market, I can answer this: everything costs more in NY. There are more hands out and they're larger hands. The average cost of living in NY is almost twice what it is in Portland. Each state is different.

I can think of past threads where people have remarked about the exorbitant costs of overseas shipping; they blamed the retailer then, too.

Personally, I don't miss the days when I had to wonder whether I was actually going to get my order. I've never lost one, but others here have. I was just wondering when it would be my turn.

[edit to add:]

Plus what Alan said.


Did you figure this into the bottom line cost buying overseas?

Yes they do!

It took me 2 hours to learn how to post a pic from flickr!

Did you figure this into the bottom line cost buying overseas?

I didn't know that my bank was going to add these charges at first.

Then I forgot about it until the next time I ordered.

Now I expect it and actually do add this into the bottom line.

So the difference between overseas orders isn't really that great, except because of the currently weak UK pound.

It also depends on the brand.

LDF has a great deal on Verte de Fougerolles now that equals around $59.00
per bottle including handling charge, shipping and overseas charge from the bank.

This is for ordering 3 bottles at a time.

Now with Jade selections from LDF, the total cost for everything comes to $95.00 per bottle.

So a bottle of Jade costs $36.00 more than a bottle of Verte de Fougerolles.

Unfortunately, I don't think anybody sells either of these brands in USA, so it
is difficult to compare overseas ordering costs vs. domestic.

Doesn't DrinkUpNY give you free shipping with orders over $100? So order two bottles, problem solved

If that is the case, then I would be happy for sure!!

Plus, I wouldn't receive the overseas charge from my bank.

I'm here to serve Unless of course you are Canadian, in which case my condolences all around..

I just checked, and DUNY does offer free shipping on orders over $99.00.

So if I ordered 3 bottles of Marteau, they would come to $89.99 each.

That is $5.00 less than bottles of Jade from LDF including handling,
shipping, and domestic bank charges (overseas fees).

Ahem.

Would it make you happier if I only place small orders?

It would be difficult for me to be any happier and still be wearing clothing.

I was merely pointing out, I had suggested to you already, DUNY had free shipping.

10-4 Good Buddy.

For the record, I might have been faster with my PhotoShopping, but I like Phoenix's job better. It matches the original artwork more closely.

Oh, and what everyone else has said that was actually on topic: I agree.

I just switched to the other avatar version to see the difference.

They're charging you for investigating the purchase. I have a Visa credit card that I always order with. My first order was put on hold, so I called Visa and told them to automatically wave any purchase limits and investigations into overseas orders.

I haven't had a problem since; give it a go! *smile*




You currently have no avatar! Unforgivable, after two members made you new absinthified versions!

As a Canadian, I usually complain about the absinthe situation here, but after reading this thread, I see that things aren't great everywhere:)

As for me, I'm just really happy with the new selections we have at Premier:

http://premierwines.ca/store/category/22/180/Absinthe/

The prices are really cheap, and the shipping is like 5 bucks.

We've got Clandestine La Bleue, and Taboo absinthe. In a couple months they'll also be stocking Claude Alain's Angelique!

Support our market Canadians!

Just a FYI... If the card you use to order over seas is a banking card (linked to a savings/checking account) you will be charged a international fee (normally 3%). This fee is from the backer of you card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), these fees normally only apply to banking & debit cards. I work in IT for a bank and have investigated the same charges and was told they do not assess the same fees to regular credit cards.

I have had the added charges applied to Visa debit cards and credit cards.
Both with Bank of America.

I also had a big problem with them declining the charge because it was in Great Britain for some odd reason. Had to call them 4 times to get it cleared and then go back and redo the order all over again. What a pain in the ass!! The last time, the guy in the fraud dept. said he would place an override on my account for overseas charges until July. Then I will have to call back again. He said usually the override lasts only 4 hours. Jeez, I thought I had taken care of this each time, only to have it happen all over again over and over.

This also happened for charges made to Germany as well, so it isn't only Great Britain like he said.
What a crazy world!!

Yes any card for BoA that is Visa back will have the 3% fee. If you where to apply for a card that is not linked to a bank you will not have these fees or issues.