Date codes

[habanohal]

» Your last sentence confirms that you would like to know the code though.

I guesss I should of said a few months to a year. To give a bit for amonia to disapate

[El Presidente]

I hear you loud and clear JW.

The pendulum swings both ways. Not everything 04 is great, nor 05. The Partagas P2's are a case in point....there have been some crackers....and some appalling cigars...all 05. Now the great and the crappy sit stacked high upon each other in the humidor....same factory and box codes.

My point is that box codes as an indicator for quality mean nothing, nada, zilch.

[El Presidente]

Just to be clear....there is nothing wrong in asking about box codes :-D

The whole point is that it should be your second question. The first question should be "Hey Rob...In Robusto's what's smoking great".

The only retailers I know who retail with box codes specified are internet specific retailers who specifically target the US. They have no local private client network. I stand to be corrected.

Now here is a question, given 20 - 25% of Habanos boxes don't meet our private client standard and are wholesaled out to pubs, clubs, bars, Casino's.....where do theirs go? i.e they have no wholesale distribution.

This is not an attack on anyone. It is simply an attemp to open the discussion so that everyone has an idea as to how the industry works, operates and how it has developed over the past 10 years.

[Mel]

Don't discount the power of the mind on such subjective matters as taste. I would hate(love) to see a double blind taste session with cigars of fake date codes.

I can just see some one slobbering over an "old" rare cigar and calling it the best ever as I LMAO knowing it is a common young run of the mill stick from Mexico.:-D

I have guilty of the gimmie the old cause it's good and I've learned the hard way$ that it ain't so. My first mistake was buying from other than down under. Second, believing all I read in print.

Gimmie some of the good **** Rob, even if it was rolled yesterday.

[jwrussell]

I don't want to beat a dead-horse, so I won't. I think we just see the issue from different vantage points. I expect the vendors I deal with, all of who guarantee, to send quality smokes. If they aren't, I'm sending them back. All the better if I can ask a question like, "Hey Rob, what's smoking best right now?". But there are just times I'm simply going to want 04 Monte 4s without having to ask what codes are avialable. All the better if I can tell that from the web site. If I can't, not the end of the world.

You obviously run a quality shop and are very concerned with the quality of the sticks you are sending out and that's comendable.

[El Presidente]

JW you are an exception believe me.

I and Lisa receive 10-20 e-mails a day from prospective new FOH members asking, "what is your oldest stock" Do you ship intact.

Wrong questions. Membership declined.

[Colt45]

``Would monsieur care for another bottle of Chateau Latour?''

``Yes, but no more 1966. Let's splurge. Bring us some fresh wine. The freshest you've got. This year. No more of this old stuff.''

[wasch_24]

When you advertise on non cigar related sites you are going to get that though. I don't envy the huge amount of work an internet prescence and this forum have brought you and Lisa. I must say though, you guys do seem to handle it pretty darn good and I know we all appreciate it.

Just give us the damn dates codes...we just assume you are only giving us the codes for the best stock already. :-P :-D

[smk819]

I gratefully take what Rob and Lisa send me. I have never been disapointed as I believe they pick out what is best in stock for FOH members.

[jay8354]

El Prez, just a question:

On what everyone has said already, on a side note, why is there an Aged Cigar page in this forum???

I don't mind it being there but what members has posted it seems Age should not be used as an indicator of quality for a cigar.

Would it not be better to have a page of what is Rob's recommendations of what is currently great in the inventory.

All the better if it has codes. If not, doesn't matter.

Just a suggestion.

[waldo]

I find this thread somewhat funny.:-P

I've purchased exactly two boxes of aged ( I guess unwanted) stock from here, which I split with another person. Just to compare them with younger cigars that I already have , for no other reason

.

[habanohal]

» El Prez, just a question:

»

» On what everyone has said already, on a side note, why is there an Aged

» Cigar page in this forum???

»

» I don't mind it being there but what members has posted it seems Age

» should not be used as an indicator of quality for a cigar.

»

» Would it not be better to have a page of what is Rob's recommendations of

» what is currently great in the inventory.

»

» All the better if it has codes. If not, doesn't matter.

»

» Just a suggestion.

I would guess that the page is showing the 2nd question " what box codes" Rob had some great smokes....only %60 of what I order are unsmokeably plugged

SO hey those other %40 are the best cigars I have ever smoked..........

Just a joke, those %60 go to Ken ROFLOL

If you are an addictive, compulsive person like I , Its always nice to stare( only for no more that 12 hours a day) at my collection and to have a seperate shelve for anything over 4 years old.

I will quit rambling on I guess , just a little board since the wife took over my remote control

;-)

[shrink]

This is an interesting thread.

I do ask for boxcodes before I order, but I recognize that this can only tell me so much.

To my palate, some cigars are better young, or at least younger than "vintage" stock.

For most cigars, rather than buy aged stock, I prefer to age my own. There is a lot of satisfaction in opening a box that you have had the patience to wait for.

It's also fun and a challenge to source specific aged stock that I have reason to believe will be outstanding, and ready to smoke soon.

However, I have bought boxes of aged stock, highly recommended by people whom I respect, that turned out to be duds.

I have smoked from different boxes, of the same date and boxcode, and the cigars were dramatically different in quality and flavor.

Collecting and enjoying cigars is an art, not a science, and there is plenty of room for luck.

All this emphasizes the need to trust your vendor.

[1f1fan]

Very lively discussion we have going here.

I think the bottom line is this....

Were do you want to buy cigars?

a)From a tobacconist that shares the very same passion for cigars as you and I...or...

b)From someone else, who even though they guarantee their stock, still might pass along boxes of "passed over" stock, stock not kept in proper conditions or vendors who are merely "order takers" and have no passion for Habanos.

A piece of crap in a box with a guarantee on the side is still nothing but a guaranteed piece of crap :-D

No matter where you buy cigars just keep this in mind, there are many great places to buy cigars, and many not so great.

I admit to being hung up on box codes....I am going to try and change that after reading this. If a quality box is young I'll age it myself....if it is quality and has 2-3 years already...well...that is a bonus.

Smoke on!

[wasch_24]

I am confused as to how an American asking for the box code before ordering carries implications of not caring about the quality of the cigars being considered for purchase.

It all depends on the intent of the purchase. If it is to age on their own I can see how the code may not matter.

On the other hand, it has been stated many times in this thread, when purchasing for 'smoking now' people prefer cigars of specific age ranges which will vary from cigar to cigar and smoker to smoker. Some people prefer fresh cigars, a date code is required. Some people prefer to smoke cigars with a few years on them, a date code is required. Either way, for smoking now, a date code is considered and pretty much required.

All the original post was asking, I do have insight into his thought process because he is a friend and we have been talking about this, is if it would be possible to list this date code on the website so that people shopping while the purveyors are asleep can make an educated decision on what to buy and what not to buy. Email is easy but when you are ready to buy now it is not very convenient. Again, the fact that stock of only the highest quality is being offered up for sale is assumed...and IMO that should not be a fool-hardy assumption.

I would hope that anybody selling cigars or listing cigars for sale would only list or sell the very best stock available. If a box code exists for that stock why not list it? Too much work maybe?

[harwellplant]

its a two way street. no one questions that cigars will develop with time. how much time? it depends. many bb's lead to an "older the the better" mentality, which is not true, imo.

box codes are never my first consideration. my first consideration is the actual cigar or vitola that i would like to have, and then the quality. as lisa can attest, i almost never ask about box codes for run of the mill productions, like psd4, choix supreme, mag46, etc... if you see old boxes of these sitting around, something is wrong. you're a fool for even asking for aged stock of these.

more and more, however, i dip into obscure vitolas and cigars. i really like trying new to me things, and i certainly am not above cruising a box code list to find something that sticks out as having some nice age on it and which does not get the high volume of the more widely known examples. i often cruise rob's limited aged list that he keeps posted and, at times, have opted for an obscure selection there over a more recent production regular. that is why i initially asked rob to make a listing of any obscure, 3year+ stock he might have. here is a great example, from rob's own list: La Gloria Cubana Tainos 10 OSU Jul 01

what the hell. i like to know my options, on all sides. but quality should never, ever be sacrificed for age for age's sake.

[Mel]

Maybe date codes are just put on there so we can have something to yack about?;-) I like to consider many factors when selecting cigars for purchase and I am not a hurried buyer. Rob and Lisa will tell you that I can bug the piss out of them for days before pushing the go button.

I do find a little irony in the must buy now but age for years. I do confess that once I do commit the cigars can't get there soon enough.

[jay8354]

Very lively but interesting thread we have here.

I can see both sides of the argument. Since if a specific cigar I am asking Rob about is great, and he has older age stuff, then I will pick up the older one (since it is great and have a bit of age of them).

But going back to El Prez not liking to have the codes up, esp if he does not like the question being asked. So what is the real reason he has the Aged List?!?!?! :-D

Just joking El Prez.... pls don't ban me... no.... :-P

Anyway, I think in order for Rob to put codes on the website, you need to check the website first. Notice that the website is not updated constantly. This has been raised before, but I think El Prez is having trouble getting the whole site revamped. Too much fun to be had.

[Shiba]

» I find this thread somewhat funny.:-P

»

» I've purchased exactly two boxes of aged ( I guess unwanted) stock from

» here, which I split with another person. Just to compare them with younger

» cigars that I already have , for no other reason

» .

And your results were???

[Loki]

This has to be one of the most interesting threads that has popped up in a while.

The only time that I make a request for date codes is when I have purchased a box earlier and hoping that by purchasing same code and date that cigars will be similar in flavor profile. If this is not the case then Hell I feel that by purchasing from the Prez due to our email correspondence and this forum I will receive the best product that he has in stock.

It comes down to TRUST and the development of a good vendor client relationship.

Rob and Lisa have already told me that certain cigars that I have wanted to puchase aren't quite up to snuff and I truely respect that and do not order said smokes.

How many vendors due this? My guess "Not Many"

[wasch_24]

Geez you guys, no one is questioning anyones trust when asking for a dang code.

The codes are on the box. The codes are provided when asked for. The original post was asking why not just list them on the site instead of replying to hundreds of emails everyday.

I am starting to feel like this is the Twilight Zone.

[El Presidente]

Todd

The only reference to Americans is that Americans are the only ones who request box codes. I don't have a problem with that.

I have a problem with certain sections of the cigar community who want only to purchase old stock regardless of condition. In the main they smoke a little and trade a lot. They revell in the pissing contest far more than the love of the leaf. They are Tossers and I hate tossers. I don't want them around, I don't want them as clients.

There is no-one here who I can recall who falls into that category. No-one and to be honest, I would kick them off.

Want box codes for Singles....No Problem We do it all the time and we appreciate that it is good to get an idea of age and ageing on cigars.

Want a commentary on our older stock ......No Problem We will open our stock and give an honest assessment. We don't put crap on our aged list. If it was crap it was sold wholesale and smoked at a bar, club, casino a long time ago.

However if you are a prospective member looking to purchase don't ever ask me "Rob, what older stock do you have not on your aged lists, you know the older the better, don't particularly care what it is. Want it shipped intact. You guarantee delivery?"

F))*k off. Why would I give it to you. If I have aged PC's I will offer them to members I know who love Petit Corona's. Similarly I will try and match stock with member passions. I am not going to offer it to a blowin Neville Nobody with a high limit on his AMEX.

So back to the opening thread by JW.

You want date codes on stock I can do it. Accuracy is a little more of a problem. Why? We receive approx 300 - 500 boxes a week in maybe 3 different deliveries. Unless I can make it accurate I will not do it. At any one given time we could have 4 different box codes for say Monte 4's? Which do we list? All of them? What if we sent you the wrong one but same month code because it was a better box? Will you want to exchange?

I have enjoyed this thread and I have been open in relation to my thoughts as I always will be with members. You think I'm wrong? Well you won't be the first Hell say so, argue your point. It is no different to mates arguing a viewpoint at the pub on a Friday afternoon.

[ironman]

» Todd.

»

» I know where you and JW are coming from but the Date Code Dilemma is a

» thorn in my paw. Let me explain why.

»

» Date Codes are a fascination for US citizens. I have never had a UK

» client/japanese client/Israeli client/Malaysian Client/Australian Client

» ever ask me for a date code before asking me about quality. US clients do

» it all the time.

»

» I am sick and tired of having ignoramuses ask repeatedly for all the old

» stock without any question on quality. When I ask about what they are

» looking for I get "anything old..I don't care"

»

» I DON"T CARE! That somes it up. What we have is a pissing competition in

» the US where Neville Nobodies compare their latest aged box acquisition.

»

» What it has bred is a a whole new industry of aged fakes.

»

» I love a client who asks about quality and then box age. To me it is the

» sign of a discerning buyer, a thinker, a lover with a passion for the

» leaf.

»

» Just my 2 cents

I agree with your point Rob but not you presentation sort of belittles the US members IMO. I might be an ignoramus but I enjoy learning and that is why I am here..

[wasch_24]

» Which do we list? All of them? What if we sent you the wrong one but same

» month code because it was a better box? Will you want to exchange?

»

Thanks for the clarification Rob.

The above is a good point. I would think that it would make perfect sense that here is when an email is in order.

"I am sorry, the code you have requested is out of stock/of poor quality/unsmokeable/etc. Would it be alright if we send XXX code instead?"

Not just send the box and then see if it is ok...ya know?

[El Presidente]

Ironman.

We have what we call the Ugly Australian Abroad. Loud, arrogant, ignorant tourist who gives all Australians a bad name while not being representative of Australians at all. I have seen them first hand.

I in no way categorised all Americans as ignoramuses, have a re-read.

I am sick and tired of having ignoramuses ask repeatedly for all the old stock without any question on quality. When I ask about what they are looking for I get "anything old..I don't care"

If you have asked me for all my old stock listings and have said that you don't care what it is regardless of quality then in my opinion...you are an ignoramus.

You of course are not mate and nor are any of our US members on this board....but many of you know of them. Many of you have witnessed at Herfs and other boards first hand how these guys operate.