Plain Packaging Options.

[El Presidente]

The question relates to plain packaging (in operation or proposed for: Oz, New Zealand, France, Norway, Ireland, Canada, Hungary, Slovenia , UK (cigs)). There are about 25 more governments assessing it now.  I am quite sure it is the global future for cigars. 

For those uninitiated, plain packaging is where all marketing material  (including branding/colours/labels/logos/boxes) are banned.  The colour and font of the packaging is set down and all distributors/wholesalers/retailers must comply to the legislation. 

Here is a box of Joyitas. 

 

 

So my questions are :

1. How much would plain packaging worry you?

2. Would you prefer to go to bandless bundles?

3. Do you have any other "unique" solutions?

4 . Do you start an online cuba band and box store? 

 

I am quite sure HSA has not asked any of its consumers before......so please pretend they were asking 

 

[Philc2001]

I personally would love to see bandless, and plain SLB packaging. I don't care about frivolous decorations that don't do anything to enhance the flavor or the value of cigars. I'd much rather see Cubans invest in improving quality and consistency. 

[boopdeep]

1. Albeit completely superficial, plain packaging would take away an important aspect of enjoying cigars for me as I enjoy the aesthetics of the box and bands.  Part of the hobby would be lost for me.  There's something about obtaining a a new "shiny" box and admiring the packaging and it's labels.  While it would not curtail my enjoyment of the hobby completely, some aspect of it would be lost.  Plus, boxes and bands are currently one of our best indicators of authenticity.  How much more difficult will it be with plain packaging, i can only imagine. 

2. I would prefer bandless bundles to cigar warning/generic boxes.  While I may slightly prefer the generic band stay on simply for identification. 

3. No unique solutions here other than to say I, and I am sure many others, will likely pay a premium for "pre-regulation" boxes. 

4. I am sure "pre-regulation" boxes will be marketed. 

Again, the loss of an important authenticity check is probably my most valid complaint.  Though, the "baseball card" collector in my will be sorely missing the packaging for collecting sake. 

[Lotusguy]

Bandless bundles sound pretty good to me - I don’t smoke the packaging, after all.

[MrGlass]

The main thing that annoys me about it is that you can typically easily identify the cigars in your humidor by the boxes (or bands in the case of singles).  The plain packaging takes that away.  To specifically respond to your questions:

1.  None.  It annoys me for the reason above, and it disappoints me for the history and artwork being lost.  But ultimately it doesn't affect the product I'm actually purchasing.

2.  Probably not.  Bandless bundles means that I actually have to go to some effort to identify the cigars before storage, otherwise my humidor would become a mess of unidentifiable sticks.  The plain packaging still offers some level of identification, if not a pretty as previously.  And I can always remove/replace the plain packaging if I'm that way inclined.

3.  Plain white bands, generic but accordingly sized cedar boxes and "historic" brand logo stickers (one larger suitable for application on something roughly the size of a cedar box, and the others roughly the size of a band) with every bandless bundle purchase?

4.  These stores already exist.  But maybe we can start applying their product to genuine cigars for a change.

[Islandboy]

Cigars and box sold separately...but together...but separate?

[thedame007]

 

1. How much would plain packaging worry you?

I would feel the loss of tradition and artistry, and like many have already said, it will be more of a pain to identify a stick from the collection. Like others, I feel the look of the cigar and the box adds to the experience of buying and collecting cigars, though ultimately will not detract from the smoking experience. 

I have mentioned it before on the Canada thread, I would worry about counterfeiting (just makes it a lot easier for people), and what is to stop a flipper from buying one cigar and using a plain label to mark it as another?

I would also like to once more highlight the distrustful and foil hatted ways of many cigar smoking folks (particularly on this forum. Like myself.) - all it will take is one wrongly banded stick to get into a cab of another variety, and then all hell will be let loose - 'how do we know this is even a Cohiba?' I mean, we all know Cuba quality control isn't the greatest...

2. Would you prefer to go to bandless bundles?

Nope, for all of the reasons above, x2

3. Do you have any other "unique" solutions?

I like the sticker idea someone suggested, though again this will play into the hands of counter/flippers who could relabel whatever they wish  I guess, and i know this is impossible, I would only be happy if each stick had a unique serial id that i could track 

 

[ayepatz]

Call me old-fashioned, but I think the original Cuban packaging is infinitely preferable to the close-up of Shane MacGowan’s mouth.

Although, even that has gone plain packaging these days.

[Fugu]

2 hours ago, ayepatz said:

Call me old-fashioned, but I think the original Cuban packaging is infinitely preferable to the close-up of Shane MacGowan’s mouth.

Although, even that has gone plain packaging these days.

....don't smoke crystal meth with my cigar...

[SweAviator]

Tradition, function and esthetics aside, which is worrying on its own. It opens up the doors even wider for fake cigar manufacturers. 

[anacostiakat]

I am against it!  If forced, probably bundles would be fine as long as there was clear identification.  This would/will be a huge mess. 

[Fugu]

Ok, let's get into this (warning: rant!)

I for one would boycott any further purchases and would smoke from my stash from then on. I bet if we'd all do it and boycott the product, you'd wonder how quickly those measures would be taken back. I really have to wonder about the passivity of the industry (yes, some tried..., but still, and sorry Rob, but threads like this will help not any bit further), which we are observing since years. Slowly slipping into prohibition. Really no better answer than giving customers a shrug? - motto: take it or leave it, our hands are tied.

Sure one can be laisser-faire about the packaging ("I don't smoke the box" rolleyes, rolleyes), and be happy with the product. Seriously?! Folks think about it twice! The original packaging is innate component of the product! We are not dealing cigarettes here!

Apart from any marketing aspects, first issue being you are taking away all measures for anti-counterfeiting and cigar authentication. The connoisseur's market and the second market (collector if you will) will be dead (ok, I couldn't be caring less, but just saying). Special packaging - humidors, coffins, tins, jars... - gone. Then, how about the age-statement, box codes?!

This, and what also always gets me regarding plain packaging: You are simply bereft of a genuine part of the product you paid for, and a protective part at that. What's worth a 898 you wanted to put away for some 8 years, with cigars been tossed into a cardboard container? Maturing and aging processes, anyone? Perhaps not for everyone, but for me an important aspect.

As for bands - covering/hiding the bands is one thing. Removal of bands is quite another, as likely to do damage to the product. The band is an indispensable token for authentication - well the last one actually when everything else has gone plain. I certainly wouldn't spend my hard-earned money on high-price Cubans anymore without the chance to verify the object by myself (age and authenticity). Therefore, surely and in all honesty the end of CC-purchasing for me. For me that's all like requesting Champers to be refilled into neutral PET bottles - you'll spoil the product.

And finally, just look at the health sticker picturing that poor hobo who hadn't had a chance to take care of his teeth - what a plain shabby and of the sickest propaganda. Met any cigar smoker look like that in the nearest? Quite the opposite, most of them are above-average well-groomed and cultivated. Taking personal offence by such a crap!

This is all nothing but a big mislead, a joke.

[BrightonCorgi]

We should fight tooth and nail to keep the packaging as it is and has been for as long as we can!  Altering the packaging appease the gov't is just one more nail in the coffin.  Fight, fight, fight...  Call your political representative, support your pro-cigar lobbyists...

[patrick_harmon44]

I love the look of certain boxes. I believe looking at a nice set of packaging eases the cost and makes it more of a ritual.

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[Tollickd]

For me I am against, we all know the dangers we don't need it slapped in our face! The boxes and artwork are part of the history and some part of the experience of cigars!

Also on a huge counterfeit issue this would be a major nightmare for brands like cohiba that already have counterfeiters upping the game all the time! Fake cigars =less tax, less duty for,the governments that are trying to enforce this! It will hurt the industry and governments in the end.




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[Onelove]

Everybody moves to China?

[Piligrim]

I don't know if anyone of you seen the same, but our importer get plain cedar boxes of prerelease cigars for our country festival. those boxes have box stamp, warranty seal (but you cannot check it on the web). I've got 5 of that boxes of our newly released regional RA Hermitage dated by JUL 17. all oficial boxes starting from NOV 17.

[Tollickd]

I don't know if anyone of you seen the same, but our importer get plain cedar boxes of prerelease cigars for our country festival. those boxes have box stamp, warranty seal (but you cannot check it on the web). I've got 5 of that boxes of our newly released regional RA Hermitage dated by JUL 17. all oficial boxes starting from NOV 17.

Interesting any chance you could share some pics?


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[Piligrim]

1 minute ago, Tollickd said:

 

Interesting any chance you could share some pics?


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yes, have pictures on another laptop, will do later today. same was with Monte 80. those were brought in Russia for September 2015 fest, earliest box I ever had was from DIC 15

[Nino]

4 hours ago, Fugu said:

Sure one can be laisser-faire about the packaging ("I don't smoke the box" rolleyes, rolleyes), and be happy with the product. Seriously?! Folks think about it twice! The original packaging is innate component of the product! We are not dealing cigarettes here!

For me that's all like requesting Champers to be refilled into neutral PET bottles - you'll spoil the product.

This is all nothing but a big mislead, a joke.

Fully agree !

Guess I will start keeping as many of my empty boxes as I possibly can.

Certain NOT to buy plain packaged stuff, even if it involves flying to Cuba more often ... :-)

 

[FidelCashflow]

To get around this, I wonder if placing the original branding underneath the "generic" labeling would be in keeping with the letter of the law. Similarly, the "generic" bands could be placed over the "dress" bands.

[SirVantes]

On the plus side, no more moaning about double/triple bands; the Connie B megaband will be fondly recalled as the "good old days". 

[shadowACE]

I despise the "nanny state" type governments who seem to believe they know what is good for us. Leave my packaging alone! 

I wonder how many more online cigar retailers will set up shop in countries that don't impose such draconian regulations? Sure, the B&M will have to sell you plain packages, but going out and sourcing your own products and having them delivered shouldn't be an issue.

[Piligrim]

1 hour ago, Tollickd said:

 

Interesting any chance you could share some pics?


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[FidelCashflow]

I found this link to the plain tobacco packaging law Australia passed in 2012. The law specifically mentions that any surfaces visible when the pack or carton is open or closed may not contain visible branding, even going so far as to prohibit the use of colored glue. The way I read this, having traditional branding underneath the plain packaging would not seem to be a contravention of the law as passed.