C&S - Purchase at Escentual?

[Storm]

I was reading a recent thread about C&S Oxford & Cambridge cologne and instead of hijacking it, thought I'd ask this here:

LuckyScent, a reputable retailer, sells 100ml for $185.
Escentual sells 100ml for $110.

This is such a big difference that I had to ask: is this a good buy or likely fake? Can you point me to a better link than this for a purchase of this cologne?

Thank you.

 

[johsa]

I bought C&S No 88 from Escentual a couple of months ago and it was the real deal. Have not heard anything about Escentual about fakes and I have not heard about fake C&S either.

The price on Escentual is basically the same price as the C&S UK page, so I would say that the price is not low, it is the other site that were expensive.

 

[warlandsboy]

Escentual is a reputable dealer, and most of their prices aren't the best around, however they do stock a lot of hard-to-find fragrances.

ShopLondons also carries it for $115 for the 100ml which is similar in price.

 

[markb]

ShopLondons also carries it for $115 for the 100ml which is similar in price.

Yep, ordered my bottle of Cuba and No.88 soap from there. Great to deal with. Will likely go back to them for any future C&S purchases. Considering a bottle of Dark Rose at the moment.

 

[The Knize]

Cambridge Chemist has C&S 100 ml for $115 minus a 10% discount free shipping for B&B members, at least last time I checked. see http://www.pharmacyny.com/pc-119-9-czech-speake-no-88-cologne-spray.aspx

Also, CC has been very supportive of B&B over time and is utterly reliable, as far as I know!

 

[The Nid Hog]

+1 for Cambridge Chemists. Good price, good people.

 

[HoratioCaine]

Cambridge Chemist has C&S 100 ml for $115 minus a 10% discount free shipping for B&B members, at least last time I checked. see http://www.pharmacyny.com/pc-119-9-czech-speake-no-88-cologne-spray.aspx

That link is to No. 88. Cambridge Chemists's price on O&C is actually $123 for the cologne, $115 for the aftershave. Unfortunately, they are currently out of stock on the cologne, otherwise they would be an outstanding choice for ordering. With the member discount and free shipping, Cambridge Chemists would actually come out to be slightly less than ordering through Escentual, and they are completely reliable.

Escentual's price is actually the same as Czech & Speake's own price on their website, so price alone should not be an indicator that Escentual is less than reputable. Ironically, the "reputable" retailer the OP mentions seems rather disreputable, if their inflated price on the O&C is anything to go by.

In addition to the options already suggested in this thread, other possible options include Pasteur's Pharmacy (phone orders only) and Colonial Drug (ditto, since their website is still in the testing stage). I don't know if either store carries C&S scents, but both are known for their wide-ranging selection, so it's worth a shot. I have dealt directly with Colonial and know them to be a first-rate outfit. Pasteur's has been known to be a bit snotty at times, but there are those who like them; I've not dealt with them, myself.

 

[richmondesi]

Cambridge actually has Oxford & Cambridge (just ordered mine from there despite their website saying they were out). Also, I discussed with the gentleman that answered the phone that we were getting the 10% discount because of B&B. However, I was charged full price. Moral of the story is to make sure to talk to Scott if at all possible when ordering from them. They are still my preferred source of C&S. Additionally, I picked up a refill shave soap puck ($36 ). The gent that I spoke to said it came with the blue tin, but it didn't. Still, I'm excited to test the performance. I love the scent of the soap. It's great!

 

[The Knize]

Sorry I missed the price diffference at CC between the 88 and the O&C. I think that is a fairly new phenomena, although the Dark Rose is even higher at $132 and I think it has been higher than the 88 for some time.

Sounds like folks ought to be talking or corresponding directly with Scott at CC. He is very responsive and all around wonderful in my experience.

Someone might ask him whether all C&S prices are headed north for some reason and report back if you do not mind as to what he says.

I would say that C&S is my favorite "house," with Pen's close behind. But it seems impossible to get the kinds of deals on C&S that it is possible to get on Pen's.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Moral of the story is to make sure to talk to Scott if at all possible when ordering from them. They are still my preferred source of C&S. Additionally, I picked up a refill shave soap puck ($36 ). The gent that I spoke to said it came with the blue tin, but it didn't. Still, I'm excited to test the performance. I love the scent of the soap. It's great!

I was about to ask who we needed to talk to in order to receive the B&B discount and shipping deal.

Please, let us know what you think of O&C.

 

[HoratioCaine]

Cambridge actually has Oxford & Cambridge (just ordered mine from there despite their website saying they were out).

That's good news. They make my top recommendation, then, for acquiring C&S scents in the U.S. It's too bad one has to go the extra step of speaking to a specific person to get the discount. That sort of thing, along with outdated information on their website, does ding their overall reliability rating, in my estimation. Still, if one is willing to go the extra mile to make sure all their bases are covered, I think Cambridge Chemists is a good place to go through. My one experience ordering through them was a good one.

 

[BillC]

I just ordered a bottle of Cuba from Cambridge Chemists - would have ordered a bottle of O&C at the same time if I'd known they weren't actually out of stock. The Cuba got here quickly and was well packaged. I got an order confirmation email but never a shipping notice. I emailed them to make sure it had been shipped and they were prompt and polite with an email response.

So no real complaints, but I really wish Cambridge Chemists would step it up a bit with their online presence. I've gotten accustomed to being able to do everything related to a purchase online and find it annoying when I have to make phone calls or even emails to complete a purchase. Now that Londons Bathecary (aka ShopLondons) is carrying C&S it will be harder for me to deal with Cambridge Chemists.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Now that Londons Bathecary (aka ShopLondons) is carrying C&S it will be harder for me to deal with Cambridge Chemists.

They don't offer a B&B discount, but they have great customer service!!