Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Local liquor store or warehouse for the beer?

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Oh yeah! Nothing like beer and cabbage to get things moving. :ss

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Finally, something we can all agree on. :pn

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

I will be able to smell yours on the east coast. Happy St Patrick's Day my friend.:tu

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Likewise, Paul. :)

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

This is only true if you assume that the departure of that B&M creates a vacuum in the market that is not filled after it is out of business. There is a convenience factor to the guys that smoke socially to buy their sticks at the B&M so that is where they smoke and therefore that is where they buy.

Saying that they would then quit their cigar smoking outright as a result of not having the B&M is likely a stretch for 100% of them. Now of those I am sure many of them also buy online, otherwise this conversation you have had with your fellow lounge members would never have transpired (after all if they all bought there sticks at the B&M there would be no basis of comparison). I would argue that although many of them may reduce their consumption that they would not stop outright.

I don't think the "internet thing" is a fad nor is it an elitist or exclusionary group, e commerce continues to grow which is both good and bad for the consumer depending on your personal profile, for me its great, if I never had to go to another store I would be happy. Assuming I am getting the same product at the same or better price. I think there are many that have varying degrees of usage of e commerce and that is by either choice or necessity depending on each individual situation.

I would suggest that the internet has increased the breadth of cigar sales as those in markets that don't have a B&M (of which there are many ~ think of rural areas alone) now have access to cigars. On the other side of that I would suggest that manufacturers and retailers have increased the geographical scope of their offering. I am willing to bet that Rob at Tabboo would not have near the geographic penetration with his cigars if it where not for the internet.

I fail to see how any commercial application fits this theory that you propose on same products as in this box of CAO Brazilias at the B&M is of better quality than the exact same brand and type bought at Atlantic online. I as the consumer would find this to be an underhanded unethical approach to doing business as in the end it is the consumer that you are lying too and providing an inferior product too under the same branding.

This logic would imply that rental car companies who buy 1000's and 1000's of cars and trucks are getting a slightly inferior product than the mom and pop dealership that only gets 5 to 10 at a time.

It would imply that 1000's of tons of popcorn that an entertainment facility like a stadium buys is inferior to 100's of pounds the local theater buys.

It would imply that the triple A beef I get from my grocery store is of inferior quality compared to the triple A beef in my butcher shop yet it is graded by the same governmental standards.

It would imply that the cigarettes people buy at wal-mart are of lesser quality than the ones that are purchased at the owner owned convenience store on the corner.

It would imply that the 87 octane fuel I put in my truck at the local Esso station is inferior to the fuel that Esso sells to the local owned gas station.

I can go on and on and on.

While I will not dispute that the cigars from your B&M are better in the moment I think that the notion of different quality levels within the same branding and then sold based on that quality to different retailers is ludicrous.

This thread has no empirical evidence and in my opinion denies simple logic and flies in the face of ethical business practices. If it was uncovered that this was a normal practice for a manufacturer that they where knowingly providing an inferior product to the end consumer via one distribution method or another and concealing that fact from the consumer I would suspect that the repercussions could be legal in nature. If nothing else I can personally guarantee I would never purchase anything from that manufacturer if it was uncovered and I would pass that opinion along to whomever would listen.

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Damn.

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

I like the chat about corned beef and beer. It reminds me to check next St. Patrick's Day to see if this thread is still alive.:chr

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

I wasn't trying to imply that the comment was solicited. I was just stating that any good businessman or politician is going to work the crowd he is among at the time, so of course Ortega is going to say how important B&Ms are to him while he is in a B&M. :)

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Wasn't implying, just wanted to give you the context. It was within the realm of a business conversation and not schmoozing.

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

:hn http://staythirstymyfriends.com/

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

:r:r:r

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

Oh no :rolleyes:

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

We really are in the Whacko Basket.

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

This actually explains a lot

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

You should see my take of roller blading

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

But there is good news........I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to geico. :D

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

:tpd:
Who says the ol' SilverFox is retired?? :tu

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

I can't believe you all didn't recognize this a long time ago.

the tag line, stay lit, my friends!?!?

Re: stirring the pot local B&M vs big internet
 

If 500 was Legendary, what does 600 make? :rolleyes: