Deletions 2010...

[mkz]

Most of us have now seen the horrible list of 2010 deletions...

Here´s a hard question: If you had the chance to save just one... Which one would it be?

[kaleehb]

Punch Churchill's for me!!!!!!!!

[Fuzz]

Connie 3! Can't let these disappear.

[theo30702]

Would hate to see any of them disappear!!! But if I had to pic one it would be the Diplo # 4

Gotta luv them!!

[hoyopr]

Punch RS11!!!

Second choice would be a vote for the Partagas Conn #1

[mkz]

Dip 4. Second choiche would be the RS11...

[JMH]

Partagas SDC 1

[Buch0]

I am in absolute dismay about the Diplo 4... One cant fathom how this is justified in any reasonable way whatsoever. It is one of the best CC's going around hands down.

[jawofboston]

I would rather none of them were on the block, and I do share many's enthusiasm for the Partagas SdC 1, 2, and 3, but I will really miss the SLR Coronas.

[shrink]

Connie 3! Can't let these disappear.

Yes, but if we can save the Connie 1, you can always cut 'em down to make #'s 2 and 3!

But there's nothing you can do to a Punch Punch to make it into a RS#11.

[samb]

Rafael Gonzalez Cigarritos. Definitely gonna miss these

The SdC #3

[Ken Gargett]

Rafael Gonzalez Cigarritos. Definitely gonna miss these

The SdC #3

my view would be that anyone not voting for the connie 3's should not be allowed to vote - the sort of modified democracy that czars should be.

[riderpride]

Punch Churchill; man I love the final third of that cigar. I can't comment on the Parti Conn line, though they're on my must try list.

[compitaveggie]

Dips #4 is an easy choice for me. Second would be the Dips #5.

Jose

[Jimmy2]

RGCE 08s have been excellant !!!! So rich and full i will miss them...

[sharks]

Diplomaticos #4

[aavkk]

lots on there that I am going to be sad to see go but the LGC Med #1 hurts the most I'm afraid. Connie 3 close 2nd and Dip 4 close 3rd. ERDM GDE is on that I have had just begun to really enjoy but dont have enough experience with. Not yet at least.

[Tampa1257]

I of course voted for the Partagas SdC No.1, but the entire line 1,2 & 3 are critical in my opinion, next would be the Diplomaticos No.4 & 5, which are both staples in my humidor.

[El Presidente]

Partagas Connie 1/2/3, Dip 4,5 ....Punch Royal Seletion 1&2......LGC No 1?

Like trying to choose which child to save.

[Mr Peales]

It would seem to me that there is no way to justify the deletion of half of these cigars. The elimination of the Partagas Serie Connoisseur No.1, No.2 and No.3 is nothing short of madness. I have bought five boxes from this series in the last eighteen months as well as a box of Punch Royal Seleccion 11s and La Gloria Cubana Medaille D'or No.1. Diplomaticos #4 and Punch Royal Seleccion 12 are on my short-list. WTF. I'm voting on the Partagas Serie Connoisseur No.1, like it even matters. As I have discovered in earlier deletions—there is a silver-lining—I'll be spending less money on cigars.

[cigarros]

RGCE! But pity that I can vote only one time! I'll would save all this list!

[neal875]

It would seem to me that there is no way to justify the deletion of half of these cigars. The elimination of the Partagas Serie Connoisseur No.1, No.2 and No.3 is nothing short of madness. I have bought five boxes from this series in the last eighteen months as well as a box of Punch Royal Seleccion 11s and La Gloria Cubana Medaille D'or No.1. Diplomaticos #4 and Punch Royal Seleccion 12 are on my short-list. WTF. I'm voting on the Partagas Serie Connoisseur No.1, like it even matters. As I have discovered in earlier deletions—there is a silver-lining—I'll be spending less money on cigars.

This last point is where I would like to begin.

I have worked for some very large companies each of which has canceled some iconic and slow-moving product on more than one occasion. Every time we announced a discontinuation, we were barraged by emails and letters from loyal customers who implored us to reconsider in order to preserve their brand loyalty. While we were often moved by these letters, we almost never reconsidered. Because virtually none of the letters ever made an effective business or brand statement that had any legs. And, by the time a product made it to our 'canceled' list, a lot of research, analysis, meeting time and other due diligence had been performed and performed again--it was just too little, to late. It is never an easy decision. But, at the end of the day, it's just business. Show me the money.

For us to have any real chance of success: my advice here is to cut down the scope of the petition and make a far more compelling business argument than I am seeing in this thread up to this point. Let me be specific.

I wonder how many of the people who are now evangelists for the Diplomatico 4 and 5 have bought more than three boxes in the past 12 months. Not many, I am sure. The same is probably true for the LGCs, QDs and Punch Churchills. And, remember, this is a site of real aficionados and not a typical cross-section of the Habanos customer base. Those folks probably never tried any of these. Besides, in tough times-- when things have to be reevaluated to preserve the greater good-- one can make the argument that there are already Monte 4s and 5s and Cohiba 1s and 2s and so on--in other words, no shortage of PCs or TPCs in the lineup. So who needs the slow-moving Dip 4 and 5?. That is how a business will look at it in times like these and it's why I believe that these two cigars as well as the RS 11 and 12 are gone, sadly. This last one really hurts me as it is a personal favorite.

However, by being more focused and respectful of the business argument, we do have a better chance for saving the Connaisseur Series. As a complete series, they are one-of-a-kind, universally praised and, quite obviously when you look at the pricing compared to a Dip or an RG, a high-margin product that benefits from the premium and popular nature of the Partagas DNA vs. a Dip or RG. A good, if not great, business point -of-view that is worth trying.

What's more, two out of the three vitolas in the Series no longer exist anywhere else in the Habanos portfolio. And with the cancellation of the Grande Espana, all three of the Connaisseurs will become unique. Hence, the historic or 'brand' argument. As a 'compromise' position, it would be far more likely to see this as a relatively easy 'give back' to us. The line just has far more horsepower for possible preservation than most others on this list of goners.

It is still a long-shot but one that makes far more sense and shows far more understanding that they are running a business and a brand.

[El Presidente]

I agree Neal.

The one thing that HSA may take into account is the argument of a migration to NC and hence less dollars spent on Habanos at a time when every cent counts for them.

[neal875]

I agree Neal.

The one thing that HSA may take into account is the argument of a migration to NC and hence less dollars spent on Habanos at a time when every cent counts for them.

Exactly. Show me the money.

[tandblov]

Neal,

I have bought and smoked many boxes of both the Diplomatico's on the cut list and regularly purchase #1's and #3's when I come across them if a reasonable price.

As far as I am concerned, this is far more about homogenization of brands and the marketing of "flagship lines". Just because the market or profit margin for, say the diplomatico, is not as high as say a 100 dollar siglo 6, Coro, PSD4, or RyJ Churchill, does not mean that there is not a valuable and devoted buyer base for them.

IMO, this was a poorly thought out marketing decision, and not one based on sound business thinking.

It seems more and more, HSA is far more interested in creating homogenous lines of cigars, indistiguishable from one another, as well as focusing on production of RE's, EL's. I guess, as long as people clamor for the newest limited release, attention is diverted from the quality and diversity of the rest of the HSA portfolio. It appears that HSA sees the future of their business in limited release stuff and the collapsing of lesser known brands (some fear of brand dilution perhaps?)... I think it's a huge mistake.

The future is looking more and more like you will be able to either purchase one of 5 different regular production robusto's or CG's suffering inconsistent quality or taste, or you can drop twice the coin for some RE with the hope that it will be worth it...not a pretty sight IMO.