Cigar Reviews and Prices

[bigdix]

Originally Posted by pnoon

No. I think you're missing the point.
As Tom said, it's not worth stressing over.

x2 ....anyone wanna close this one up?

Originally Posted by pnoon

I couldn't disagree more. I think price is an integral part of perceived value. Does it change the quality of the stick? Of course not. But, assuming I trust/value your reviews, I would be inclined to spend money on a $3 stick you found to be just above average vs. a stick with the same review but sold for $30.

It's been said numerous times already. Secondly, reviews are personal opinions. If the user feels that it wasn't worth the money spent then he's allowed to post that. A $30 mediocre stick is not the same as a $7 mediocre stick. Perhaps next you'll say you don't like people giving reviews on the "presentation" of the cigar they're smoking because it has nothing to do with how it smokes.

Again, all personal opinion. Just as the value of the stick may not speak for what everyone thinks, neither does the flavor of the stick. Let's try not to get so picky.

[marge796]

Originally Posted by pnoon

I couldn't disagree more. I think price is an integral part of perceived value. Does it change the quality of the stick? Of course not. But, assuming I trust/value your reviews, I would be inclined to spend money on a $3 stick you found to be just above average vs. a stick with the same review but sold for $30.

I agree Peter, like you, its only my

[Brooks W]

While I mention the price of each cigar in my reviews, I do NOT take price (or "how hard it is to find this cigar") into account when giving a final score...

The reason is simple...I want to focus all of my attention on reviewing the flavors of the cigar, and price just gets in the way of that.

The reason I post the price of the cigars is so that every person who reads the review can make their own choices...Is this cigar worth what is being charged?

Only you can make that determination.

~brooks

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Shemp Howard

So the way I'm reading this that a majority of people are thinking about how much they paid or didn't pay while smoking their cigars instead of enjoying the hour or so it will take to burn it. Also, price will dictate whether or not it is enjoyable. WOW! REALLY? I guess I am one of the minority because cost just doesn't make it or break it for me. If I enjoyed it I will buy more. If I didn't I won't touch another, even if were free.

Originally Posted by pnoon

No. I think you're missing the point.
As Tom said, it's not worth stressing over.

You are absolutely missing the point. Don't think about price for a minute when smoking, I think about the cigar, the company, the conversation. I don't stress over the price of the cigar.

I also don't stress if others choose to put the price of the cigar they are reviewing in their review. I could care less either way...but people have had the option to do either/or for years beween Cigar Asylum and Club Stogie, I see no reason to change or stress over it now.

[NCRadioMan]

Seriously? Why would it matter if somebody states the price they paid for a cigar in a review?

Hell, I would think a review would include price just like any review of any product you might consider purchasing. Whether it does or don't, meh. Never really thought about it.

[Ranger_B]

Just my but as said before the price has to come into the equation at some point. The mere fact that a review is being done means that it is in some way or shape being compared to other cigars. In flavor, construction, availability as well as price a cigar is reviewed. Price point may be different for some. In the end as Freud said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar".

[neoflex]

If I light my cigar with a $100 bill which some might think is excessive but I do two to three times a day should I put this into my review? J/K but seriously if someone includes the price of the stick it doesn't bother me either way but I will take price into consideration when choosing whether to try a smoke or not if most of the reviews tell me it's just mediocre at best. If a group of people post reviews of a $25-$30 smoke and the majority of the reviews are saying that the cigar was less than stellar and mediocre at best than I will not waste my time or money purchasing one or seeking one out where as if a $5-$6 cigar gets the same review chances are I will skip it but I will also not be afraid to spend the money to try it myself if I happen to stumble upon one where as the pricier sticks will never get considered. Life is to short to smoke shi**y cigars and even shorter to smoke over priced shi**y cigars.

[Emjaysmash]

[Isom-niac2]

I think the price of a cigar is sometimes the first thing we think about and sometimes the last. If I buy a Coh Gran Reserve, I'm thinking please, please, please, be a "great" smoke so I feel like I got my $$$$ worth. If it's a terrible smoke, I'm thinking "boy that was a waste of money," and prolly kickin myself thinking bout all the good chit I coulda bought!

I think it's natural to want to get your monies worth and at the same time the more expensive, the higher our expectations. Some say they don't care about the price, but if the best smokes were less than $5, coupled with our best experiences, there would be far less cigar companies for sure!

No matter what kind of review you are reading rather its a cigar or a car there is always a mention of price. Back to the original post, if I read a review and it sounds like it is something I want to try why should I have to look it up to find any info on it? I think a review should include price along with type of tobacco used for wrapper, binder and filler. I hate reading a review and then not seeing that info in it. Just my 2 cents.

[tsolomon]

A cigar is either good or it's not. The price may be an issue for some and can either add or substract from your enjoyment, but it doesn't change the way the cigar smokes or tastes.

[MajorCaptSilly]

Just to keep it simple: I know people who won't pay more than $5.00 for a cigar no matter how good it is. $5.00 is the most they will ever spend on a cigar. If they are reading a review, they will skim to the price. If it is $5.00 or less, they will read the review as it is smomething they may want to try. If it is more than $5.00, they will not read the review as it is more costly than their spending limit.

MCS

[d'am]

I want to know how the cigars scored both of price, but I also want to know how the cigar scores when compared to similarly priced sticks.

Like many here have said, prices can change drastically. If you score a cigar based on price, will you update your score when the price changes? No. So price can't be a part of an accurate rating.

On the flip side, if the reviewer ignores the price and rates all cigars from an equal footing, my favorite $3 sticks would get an abysmal ratings. So yes, price has to come in to the equation somewhere.

There's a fine line here, and some reviewers do a better job than others.

[Brooks W]

Originally Posted by d'am

On the flip side, if the reviewer ignores the price and rates all cigars from an equal footing, my favorite $3 sticks would get an abysmal ratings. So yes, price has to come in to the equation somewhere.

Why? If a cigar tastes like crap, but costs $3, are you really thinking to yourself as you smoke it "Wow, this is crappy, but at least it was only $3"?

If a cigar tastes like crap, it does not matter how little (or how much) it costs, it still tastes like crap. Anything else is just justification of some sort.

I have tasted some great $2 cigars (like the newish Origen Original) and I have smoked some absolute Craptastic $750 cigars (see my review of the HMR for details).

There MUST be a baseline in any review, and taste (or flavor if you prefer) is the ultimate qualifier...

~brooks

[d'am]

Originally Posted by Brooks W

There MUST be a baseline in any review, and taste (or flavor if you prefer) is the ultimate qualifier...

~brooks

I agree that taste is the ultimate qualifier, but it can't be the only qualifier. What if someone reviews a $5 and $10 stick, and rates them both "90" without regard to price? That's fine, but I would be more interested in the $5 stick. I'm not saying that the price should influence the score, but I'd like the reviewer to point out a comparative bargain.

[Ogre]

The price of a cigar does net effect the initial purchase and trial. For purchases in the future it does. Example, the Ashton VSG is a good cigar to me, just not worth $20+ dollars. The AVO Maduro Torpido is a great cigar $11, the price does not let me smoke one everyday. Tampa Sweethearts great stick at $2. So price does play a factor in purchases.

[Bax]

1 picture is worth a thousand words

[md4958]

For casual smoking the price isn't important to me. Reviews however are different because I'm judging the cigar, and offering my opinion to thousands of others. A $30 cigar should not smoke like a $3 cigar. They are in a different class. Just like you can't fairly compare a Yaris to a Lexus even though, they are both Toyota, and will get you to the same spot.

[Brooks W]

Originally Posted by d'am

I agree that taste is the ultimate qualifier, but it can't be the only qualifier. What if someone reviews a $5 and $10 stick, and rates them both "90" without regard to price? That's fine, but I would be more interested in the $5 stick. I'm not saying that the price should influence the score, but I'd like the reviewer to point out a comparative bargain.

And I agree that the price should be mentioned in the review somewhere, but I think it is asinine to deduct (or give) more points to a cigar in a review, just because of price (or better yet, because of how hard a cigar is to find).

The review should be about flavor, (and construction) and nothing else...why?

(The use of the words "You" and "I" in the following comments are meant to be taken as "Everyone" not a specific person): Well, just because a cigar is expensive for you (anyone) does not mean it is expensive to me (anyone else) ...and those HTF cigars that you (anyone) just deducted points for being "Too hard to find"? I (anyone else) can go 10 minutes down the road and buy 15 boxes of them...

~brooks