"Brain dead" cigar smokers? Come on, really now.
For years, online cigar retailers have tried to land your business by sending emails that use everything from photos of giant cigars to witty wordsmanship. With regard to the latter, one of the best has often been a certain, very popular discount cigar outlet that's known primarily by its founder's initials. (Yes, I give credit where due.) But I have to take umbrage with several lines of copy that appeared in a recent email from this particular retailer:
I find this language insulting, not only to the tens of thousands of cigar smokers who enjoy "boutique" cigars on a regular basis, but to the dozens of fine manufacturers who produce them. Moreover, some of the top-rated cigars on the charts come from such factories, and IMO, this kind of "salesmanship" crosses the line.
It's the Don José Pepin Garcias, Jesus Fuegos, Alan Rubins, Rocky Patels, Gene Arganeses, Mike Cusanos, Abe Floreses, Abdel Fernandezes, and so many others who have kept the cigar business interesting and flourishing, to say the least. Would you call Orlando and Jorge Padrón boutique cigar makers? Based on their niche and limited production, I'd count them in.
If customers of the aforementioned manufacturers are all "brain dead," it just proves that they're a lot smarter than they're getting credit for.
Keep supporting your favorite boutique cigar brands. With all due respect, there's a lot more to premium cigars than Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta. But then, you already knew that.
Your thoughts?
~ G.K.
"Boutique cigars are theoretically limited production cigars made by people no one ever heard of before, and fabricated from tobaccos no one knew existed before. In other words, they're cigars that are targeted for brain dead people who happen to have money to burn."
I find this language insulting, not only to the tens of thousands of cigar smokers who enjoy "boutique" cigars on a regular basis, but to the dozens of fine manufacturers who produce them. Moreover, some of the top-rated cigars on the charts come from such factories, and IMO, this kind of "salesmanship" crosses the line.
It's the Don José Pepin Garcias, Jesus Fuegos, Alan Rubins, Rocky Patels, Gene Arganeses, Mike Cusanos, Abe Floreses, Abdel Fernandezes, and so many others who have kept the cigar business interesting and flourishing, to say the least. Would you call Orlando and Jorge Padrón boutique cigar makers? Based on their niche and limited production, I'd count them in.
If customers of the aforementioned manufacturers are all "brain dead," it just proves that they're a lot smarter than they're getting credit for.
Keep supporting your favorite boutique cigar brands. With all due respect, there's a lot more to premium cigars than Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta. But then, you already knew that.
Your thoughts?
~ G.K.
Comments
On the other hand, I have several imitation cigars I bought from someone I will never buy again, and the only reason those are still in the humidor is to keep the humidity level reasonable.
Who knows, however I've never used them due to reputation and the fact that like so many US cigar firms they will not sell to Brits with a UK billing address - not even the one that professes to be "International".
I'll stick with Famous - you Gents are more upmarket and your reviews and service are spot on.
Rgds - roy.r
England and Illinois