What Joe Cigar won't tell you, and how to fight it

[dannysguitar]

This is interesting. The Blues I got from Joe were all great IMO. Maybe I'm a little too anti-conspiracy theory to buy into this ....

[D_A]

Originally Posted by dannysguitar

This is interesting. The Blues I got from Joe were all great IMO. Maybe I'm a little too anti-conspiracy theory to buy into this ....

I agree with the majority of the points made, and it has been a very long time since I've bitten on a Joe deal. I find it hard to believe that Eddie, Erik, or Pepin would let discards leave the factory though. Everything I've ever gotten out of the CI warehouse, whether from Joe, normal CI orders, cigar.com, or cigarbid has been shipped extremely wet, but once brought down to 65% or so has been fine.

[Lucky_Hippo]

Originally Posted by D_A

I agree with the majority of the points made, and it has been a very long time since I've bitten on a Joe deal. I find it hard to believe that Eddie, Erik, or Pepin would let discards leave the factory though. Everything I've ever gotten out of the CI warehouse, whether from Joe, normal CI orders, cigar.com, or cigarbid has been shipped extremely wet, but once brought down to 65% or so has been fine.

Without a source verifying that Joe's smokes are actually "bad batches of an existing name" I really can't agree. I do however agree they are shipped too wet for my personal taste. I just let them hang out in the humi for a week or two and they smoke fine. I have to do the same for the cigars I pick up from the local B&M so it's not a big deal for me.

[Drazzil]

It's funny you should menton that. I think I overheard someone complaining about a batch of 601 Reds, and believe hearing Pete Johnson say "From CI?"

Now I still have the 601's I got a year and a half ago from Joe Cigar, because right out of the box they tasted like ass. I recently tried another two, and they are indeed okay smokes now, my friends seem to rave about them, HOWEVER I think the 601 reds I get from the cigar shop are a lot smoother.

So, I draw my conclusions from that.

[Drazzil]

One last thing I wanted to post on this subject is this:

Cigars International has a money back gurantee. Dont be afraid to send that sh-t back to the foul besmirched bunghole from which it came. If you call and complain, not only will they refund your money, they will pay for the shipping. If you get fooled by Joe or CI and dont like something, send it back.

I've started doing this myself and I've saved lots of money that I would otherwise have lost to Joe or another cigar company. If the cigar is bad, dont be afraid to tell CI or Holts or Famous about it.

Dont just hang onto em for years like I did, letting em clog up the humidor until you finally decide to gift them to neighbors or friends who won't know the difference.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by D_A

I agree with the majority of the points made, and it has been a very long time since I've bitten on a Joe deal. I find it hard to believe that Eddie, Erik, or Pepin would let discards leave the factory though. Everything I've ever gotten out of the CI warehouse, whether from Joe, normal CI orders, cigar.com, or cigarbid has been shipped extremely wet, but once brought down to 65% or so has been fine.

I agree! I buy 90% of my smokes from CI and have never had a problem. I do let my sticks rest at least a month before smoking, though. Thanks for the advice & heads up!

[Drazzil]

I am not really bashing Joe, just pointing out a few opinions I have on some of the sales tactics that he has. Dont get me wrong, I love me some Joe. As pissed as I get at Joe, I still love him like a brother... I just hide the silverware and lock up the small valuable things whenever he comes over.

[stitch]

I NEVER order from CI ... They are the King of Sh@# Sticks IMHO

[taltos]

I will agree that much of what Joe and CI ship needs to dry out for a while before smoking but I will not accept that they are selling seconds or rejects as first quality smokes. CI is too large a vendor and has too much to lose if these points were ever proven. I remember when as a group we were much more careful about calling out a vendor in a manner such as the first post.

[bilkay]

Originally Posted by dannysguitar

This is interesting. The Blues I got from Joe were all great IMO. Maybe I'm a little too anti-conspiracy theory to buy into this ....

I've bought several of the Pepin deals from CI. I've also bought a lot of boxes of Pepin cigars. Um, same smokes.

Happy New Year !

Chas

[Drazzil]

[groogs]

I can't say I have ever got a bad stick from Joe. I have got wet sticks that had to sit for a few months. I will also say that I have not seen anything worth buying from Joe in months.

[Drazzil]

9/8/08 and 12/16/08
Joe 10 DPG Blue generoso 35.00 free shipping no tax = 3.50 a stick
Joe 25 " " 174.00 no free ship no tax = 6.96 a stick
Local B&M more and taxed also

or 6/16/08
Joe 10 DPG JJ MAD Selectos 42.50 free shipping no tax 4.25 a stick
Joe 25" " 180.00 no free ship no tax 7.20 a stick
Local B&M more and taxed also

Last week 12 5 vegas knuckles for 32.50

I could list 15 more deals to further my point but this is enough. Yes occassionally the deals are not that great. Its called marketing and business. If he gives away the farm every day there will be no farm after a while. That said I was able to disprove one of your arguments with NO EFFORT.

Sorry brother, you're wrong. And you're cherrypicking to boot. Yes, I will admit the occasional deal does roll down, but thats the exception, not the rule. The trend with Joe Cigar deals if you watch them seems to be either box price divided by two w/addition of free shipping a clearance brand that they want to get rid of, or Gurkha. You rarely see a break from that established pattern. Oh, you can try that "math" of mine again today 12/31/08 and it will prove itself. Go ahead... I'll wait.

Dont click here as it fails your math test also
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...m=CS-JYB&cat=3

I am sure there are holes in your other arguments but to be honest I only skimmed your post. Dont like Joe dont buy. I will continue to buy when I see deals on things I like. Are they over runs probablly some. I have smoked them and many other non joes and rarely see a difference.

You're quoting a deal that's 7 months old and telling me I "fail a math test" for talking about trends? Riiiight....

I am sure there are holes in your other arguments but to be honest I only skimmed your post.

You only skimmed my post, of which I took the time to share insights and tactics to save people money and you want to slam me for it?

Okay. Whatever floats your boat.

[tsolomon]

Originally Posted by Drazzil

The trend with Joe Cigar deals if you watch them seems to be either box price divided by two w/addition of free shipping a clearance brand that they want to get rid of, or Gurkha.

What's wrong with box price per cigar plus free shipping and no tax? I agree that it is not always a deal, but the prices are reasonable and you only get 10 cigars you might not want to smoke instead 20 or 25. I have picked up a number of Don Pepins (and Gurkhas in my early days) at some pretty good prices and they have smoked great.

Your post contains some good insights as to why you need to do some research on cigar pricing and check some reviews before clicking "Add to cart and checkout now", but this applies to any internet site or store where you purchase cigars. In fact, calling some if the Internet stores for pricing can save you money as they are not allowed to post lower prices on the Internet.

[Drazzil]

You know what? You guys are right. Some times I present information in such a manner as to sound abrasive or as if I am attacking Joe. As I stated, I love CI, and I think the world of them and Joe Cigar, however they do things I wish that they wouldn't, as I noted above.

I suppose the breaking straw for me was missing out (or almost missing out depending on how you look at it) on a deal because it was posted at six in the morning, which seems to be a regular practice for Joe, posting all the good deals at odd hours in Jambalayah so that more people cant take advantage of it. After a half a dozen or so missed deals because they were posted in the middle of the night, you tend to get a bit cranky.

BlackIrish summed up my post far better then I could, and all without sounding like the south end of a north end mule while doing it, he is to be commended.

That is all

Originally Posted by Drazzil

You know what? You guys are right. Some times I present information in such a manner as to sound abrasive or as if I am attacking Joe. As I stated, I love CI, and I think the world of them and Joe Cigar, however they do things I wish that they wouldn't, as I noted above.

I suppose the breaking straw for me was missing out (or almost missing out depending on how you look at it) on a deal because it was posted at six in the morning, which seems to be a regular practice for Joe, posting all the good deals at odd hours in Jambalayah so that more people cant take advantage of it. After a half a dozen or so missed deals because they were posted in the middle of the night, you tend to get a bit cranky.

BlackIrish summed up my post far better then I could, and all without sounding like the south end of a north end mule while doing it, he is to be commended.

That is all

it is my understanding that joe's jambalaya is run like a woot off, they sell a set quantity of each deal, so whether they sell 500 of XYZ sampler at 2am or at noon, 500 people still get the sampler.

[Ahbroody]

Originally Posted by bilkay

I've bought several of the Pepin deals from CI. I've also bought a lot of boxes of Pepin cigars. Um, same smokes.

Same here. Infact I have had a few bad DPG from brick and mortars that were wet and burned horrid when they just got them in. I know where this shop orders from and it isnt Joe. Further if people didnt know Joe ships wet as almost every large vendor I dont know what to tell you.

The Best DPJ JJ Maduros I have ever had and still have some left were a Joe special. I tressure them and often have to fight the urge. They are every bit as good and in my opinion better then the LBM.

This said I primarily only buy CC. Joe buys are only Pepins and his associated products

*****************************************
3. "Most of my deals, are just the box price, divided by two" WT*???

Huge issue with your math by the way. Looking at my past order history
9/8/08 and 12/16/08
Joe 10 DPG Blue generoso 35.00 free shipping no tax = 3.50 a stick
Joe 25 " " 174.00 no free ship no tax = 6.96 a stick
Local B&M more and taxed also

or 6/16/08
Joe 10 DPG JJ MAD Selectos 42.50 free shipping no tax 4.25 a stick
Joe 25" " 180.00 no free ship no tax 7.20 a stick
Local B&M more and taxed also

Last week 12 5 vegas knuckles for 32.50

I could list 15 more deals to further my point but this is enough. Yes occassionally the deals are not that great. Its called marketing and business. If he gives away the farm every day there will be no farm after a while. That said I was able to disprove one of your arguments with NO EFFORT.

Dont click here as it fails your math test also
http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...m=CS-JYB&cat=3

I am sure there are holes in your other arguments but to be honest I only skimmed your post. Dont like Joe dont buy. I will continue to buy when I see deals on things I like. Are they over runs probablly some. I have smoked them and many other non joes and rarely see a difference.

#5 argument is all over the place by the way and not factual as to times deals are listed. midnight eastern on daily deal and the other ones usually come out 12pm pacific or thats when my emails come in. Where did you get these times you stated?

[Nimbus]

I have not ordered from Joe for about a year now and unless it is a really good smoke, I will probably not order from them again.

Thanks for the informative post.

[Starscream]

Been a while since I bit on one of Joe's Daily Deals but I'm a fan.