MadMonk
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2008
- Messages
- 6,657
It's the "whoever is the most obnoxious sells the most cigars" business principle.
Put your competitors down gimmic only works on certain uneducated consumers. It turns me off.
Here is my hair brained speculations/wonderings on this.
Padilla Miami, 1932, and 1948 are far superior smokes (imho) than Old Henry, Connoisseur, or the latest cigar which impressed me so much I can't remember the name after smoking 10 of them. I've smoked plenty of each, and I would never buy the Holt's brands again. I'm sure Holt's is smart enough to know that.
Nothing like having all the big guys making cigars for you, and of course you only want folks buying your wares. I've never felt comfortable with "conquer the market" business.
Remember, Holt's ran a special of Holt's / Pepin blends to prove that Pepin wasnt dropping in quality. All it did for me was reinforce that they are trying to shove crap down my throat. Not to mention the "I'm cool and he's not" and "you're cool if" and "you're not cool if" marketing principles of late.
Based on my experience, I agree with the buzz that Pepin has dropped in quality. Loose rolls, plugged cigars, blends off. I smoke 3 or 4 cigars a day..I get a pretty good sampling pretty quickly compared to those who smoke 3 a week.
Nicaraguan Pepins are my focus. The Miami cigars have all been great. Pepin had to do something to right this. He made a decision that fit his business model, needs, or whatever, but it was his decision, and who knows how much input Fernandez had in these decisions. So I have to respect that, as much as I love Rey Miguel. We do need cigars of the caliber Pepin is capable of. If his recent moves result in an overall better product, that's a good thing.
Based on what I've heard, and experienced, I'm happy that Padilla is taking steps to preserve the quality of his cigars, which he HONORS HIS FATHER with.
But the truth is, only Holt's knows why they chose to be completely obnoxious.
edited for coherency.
Put your competitors down gimmic only works on certain uneducated consumers. It turns me off.
Here is my hair brained speculations/wonderings on this.
Padilla Miami, 1932, and 1948 are far superior smokes (imho) than Old Henry, Connoisseur, or the latest cigar which impressed me so much I can't remember the name after smoking 10 of them. I've smoked plenty of each, and I would never buy the Holt's brands again. I'm sure Holt's is smart enough to know that.
Nothing like having all the big guys making cigars for you, and of course you only want folks buying your wares. I've never felt comfortable with "conquer the market" business.
Remember, Holt's ran a special of Holt's / Pepin blends to prove that Pepin wasnt dropping in quality. All it did for me was reinforce that they are trying to shove crap down my throat. Not to mention the "I'm cool and he's not" and "you're cool if" and "you're not cool if" marketing principles of late.
Based on my experience, I agree with the buzz that Pepin has dropped in quality. Loose rolls, plugged cigars, blends off. I smoke 3 or 4 cigars a day..I get a pretty good sampling pretty quickly compared to those who smoke 3 a week.
Nicaraguan Pepins are my focus. The Miami cigars have all been great. Pepin had to do something to right this. He made a decision that fit his business model, needs, or whatever, but it was his decision, and who knows how much input Fernandez had in these decisions. So I have to respect that, as much as I love Rey Miguel. We do need cigars of the caliber Pepin is capable of. If his recent moves result in an overall better product, that's a good thing.
Based on what I've heard, and experienced, I'm happy that Padilla is taking steps to preserve the quality of his cigars, which he HONORS HIS FATHER with.
But the truth is, only Holt's knows why they chose to be completely obnoxious.
edited for coherency.