Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Just wanting to get some peoples opinons, I have the option to either get a 15 cigar sampler or a bundle of 20 Flor De Oliva Robusto, Churchill or Toro's.

Now I am leaning more towards the 15 sampler just so I can try out new things.....I can only choose one....so lay those opinions on me.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

I vote for the sampler if you haven't tried any of them yet.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

15 stick sampler for sure...the Flor De Oliva aren't that good. :2

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Sampler, for sure. I don't even know what they are, but Flor de Oliva are pretty rough.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

That depends on the sampler. Never had an FdO, but I trust the 2 guys who posted before me. Not saying you won't like them. But I have similar cigar tastes to Scott, and if he don't like them, I probably won't either.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

They're a quality cigar, Peter. They're just super mild and really deliver nothing that you'd want to write home about. If they still make the Grand Cameroons, they have a little bit of sweetness/spice, but it's almost unintelligible.
I suppose that'd make them a great starter cigar, or a cigar for folks who don't smoke cigars, but I think Mickey has been smoking infused stuff and stronger stuff. I don't think he'll even know he's smoking a cigar if he sparks one up.
But once again, they are of excellent quality, and their mildness has it's merits. They aren't a bad tasting smoke, and not a rocket gagger by any means.
They damn near give them away at CIbid, so it wouldn't hurt to try them, but a bundle is a lot. At worst, they'd make good troop sticks if Mick isn't excited by them. :tu

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

See? I don't even like those in the morning.

Thanks for the info though, bud. :tu

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

^^^^ Sampler :tu

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

If your price comparison for a sampler is ballpark to 20 FdO's, I'd say the sampler is gonna be craptacular. Is it going to be a low end offering from Rocky Patel, CAO, Don Tomas, and a host of other $2-3 sticks?

What have you smoked and enjoyed thus far?

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Sampler! :tu

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Sampler. Gotta love variety

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

:tpd:

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Samplers are always good if you have not tried some of the sticks!!!!

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

To answer your question I like Kristoff's, RyJ, Montecristo, Cain Daytona No. 4 to name a few.

I am going with the sampler, just like I wanted...here is the description:

"We've selected an assortment of 15 cigars to sell at $2-3 per stick. The brands included in your grab bag vary, but you will get 8 premium cigars that retail between $4.50 to $12 a stick and 7 less expensive smokes that retail between $2 to 4.50 per stick. You would normally have to spend between $40-$80 to buy these cigars individually, but you're getting them for 40 to 60% OFF!"

Thanks for your input everyone.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

I would have said Sampler as well. But that's only so you can see more of what's out there.

The First Box thread has me thinking that I wouldn't ever buy a box unless it's something that knocks my socks off, and/or limited run.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Sounds tasty!! Is there a link to this? or being sold by an individual?

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Sounds like cigars international to me.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Well my order came in and you were right here is what I received
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...7939875126.jpg

1. Gregoria Power XV puros Finos 15th Anniversary
2. Abam Churchill
3. Indios Torpedo
4. Rocky Patel 1961 Robusto (2)
6. Camacho Jamastran
7. Cusano Cuvee Rouge Robusto
8, Rolando Reyes Aliados Robusto (2)
10. CAO Italia Fatto A Mano
11. Camacho Maduro Rothschild
12. Indios Robusto (2) BEETLES!!!!
13. Quorum Churchill
14. Flor De Gonzalez The Qban Fuerte

yep Beetles in two of them, and I killed one, notice this pic
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...7943063211.jpg
Right below the band...that's the carcass and I barely touched it, because I thought it looked weird and it pretty much exploded under my thiumb.
One more pic this is the 2nd one.
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d6...7943138818.jpg

The others were inspected VERY CAREFULLY and they are in the fridge now the 2 infested ones are in a ziplock in the garage. I called Neptune as soon as I discovered them and they were closed....I left a vm.

Any ideas on how to handle this? Be upset and demand a new shipment or just inform them and be out 2 cigars? I only paid $5.95 for the whole lot, I guess I pay for what I get right?

Anyone had any of these besides the Quorums?

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

;sThat sucks!!!

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Wow Bro! Looks like it was contained in two but I would not take any chances. I would immediately send them back for a full refund and establish communications with the manager.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Yep, what Jake said. Full refund and send them back.

If two have beetles out of 15....I think it's safe to say plenty more do.

I've never even heard of half the cigars in that sampler either.

Grab bag usually translates into "bunch of crap we cannot sell".

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Yeah you guys are right.....done, calling them back tomorrow.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Send Them Back, Brother. BTW, Those 1961's Are Great Smokes! :tu

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Which is why you avoid buying "samplers" from retailers and my reference to craptacular selection earlier in the thread.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

With or without the critters? :r

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

I've thought about this and I am calling them back today and I am going to demand a return shipping label, and trade them in for a stinky...their smokes can't be trusted it seems...well their cheapies anyway.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Hey Mickey, never trust a grab bag sampler. Not that I think you'd get beetles (as you did), but because it is normally the way a company gets rid of stuff that's been sitting around in open boxes for a long time. Premium cigars they say? Just because they come from a well-known name doesn't make them premium. Just because their original "suggested" retail price is in the $10 range doesn't make them premium.

You want a "blind" sampler? Drop me a PM and tell me how much you'd like to spend and I'll figure out what I can put together for you. When I come up with a possible package, I'll PM you with a list of the cigars that I'd send - you let me know if it is go or not. Nothing happens till we have a mutually acceptable deal.

Peace of the Lord be with you.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Thanks Rev, this was a hard lesson to learn, all you newbies listen up and pay attention to what happened to me. Forgop & Rev are wise.

Rev, I may take you up on that offer in the future thank you sir.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

*UPDATE*

I called them today and spoke to a young woman she said she received my VM and she asked which cigars had the beetles in them I informed her and she said was going to speak to her boss about what could be done.

I told her that I had a suggestion, I told her that I would like a shipping label to send them back and get a full refund then exchange it for a Stinky. She said ok and would talk to her boss and call me back.

She called back and asked if I had pics that I could send to them. I sent the pics and called them back 3 hours later to see what the decision was.

She informed me that she didn't want the cigars back (can't blame her I guess) and she is sending me out a stinky today and I will also recieve a $5 off coupon for my next purchase.

So I am happy with their customer service, I just wished they would have called me back the 2nd time instead of me calling them.

Hopefully I won't have any infestations with the other cigars, gonna freeze them for a good week at least.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

At least they did the right thing. I'd be leery of ordering anything else for fear of beetles though. I sure as hell wouldn't buy anything without freezing it first.

Here's a hint: don't buy another sampler from them. :r

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Lesson learned my friend, lesson learned. If I do buy anything else it will be accessories.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Absolutely. The Quorum, 1961, Camacho, & CAO are all good smokes. All the rest I've either never heard of or I've tried and found to be seriously sub-par. They cleaned out their non-selling products and tossed in a couple well regarded bargain sticks to make it look better.

Glad they made good on it. I would toss out the two infested ones and freeze the rest and give them a shot at least. As long as you give them long enough in the freezer you shouldn't have any more hatchlings.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Definitely not. I think the only thing I've ever ordered from them was a Xikar cutter, and I did that through Amazon. Now I know not to risk ordering any cigars from them.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

I don't even like the Quorums....well I have only had 1, but I didn't care for it.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Years ago, I recall reading an interview with Rolando Reyes in Cigar Aficionado where he stated he was against freezing and fumigation and that he didn't utilize either at his factory.

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Wow, I missed the tail end of this thread. Sorry to see you got that surprise in your shipment, Mickey. I'm glad they took care of you in the long run.

Now I'm worried about an order I have in with a place I've never heard of before. They seem legit, but I guess we'll see!

Re: Decisions, decisions...your opinions??
 

Beetles, like mould, can happen to any retailer. This hsouldn't neccessairly be a black eye on that particular retailer due to 1 instance.
Their "Premium selection" making up that sampler, on the other hand...:sl