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limoric Offline
#1 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 6:56 PM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
How does the smoke mag rating system work and how does it compare to the CA mag system? I tried to find the answer on their sight, no patience, so thought I'd ask you guys(includes gals)

I assumed you would divide the score into 5, but that doesn't make sence when I do the math or maybe 4.5 is a top score.

3.9 is to smoke mag as ? is to CA mag
GardnerFTW Offline
#2 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 8:03 PM EST
Joined: 10-15-2002
Posts: 71
I believe Smoke Mag's system is out of 5, while CA's is out of 100. Meaning that to compare the two you would either need to divide the CA score by 20 to get a Smoke equivilent, or multiple the Smoke score by 20 to get the CA equivilent. Of course all of this would be wrong if the scales aren't out of 5 & 100. Also you might want to check out the processes used to rate in each system, if they use different criteria it kind of makes it difficult to compare the ratings.
But there's my 2 cents, take it for what you want.
GardnerFTW Offline
#3 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 8:06 PM EST
Joined: 10-15-2002
Posts: 71
I've also found that I get a much better sense of the quality and goodness (I love that word, although I don't think it actually exists) by checking out what people on boards such as these think about a smoke rather than what Smoke Mag or CA thinks, but that's just me. It also allows for a wider variety of opinions, and possibly even comparisons to other cigars which you have had.
sketcha Offline
#4 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 8:23 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Try top25cigar.com. This site has been posted here before so I assume cbid is cool with me posting it again. I agree that some searches here will help. In any case go for several rounds of 5-packs. Some have done 5-packs for years and have always had something new to try. Most here go for the same if not less than box prices.
limoric Offline
#5 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 8:42 PM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
I really try not to follow ratings, but the curiosity just gets to me. I want to at least see what's been said about a particular smoke, that way I can stay away from the ones that pretty much everyone doesn't want. I definitely like going with what's said in the C-bid forum, however we all know there are a few Bad Frog lovers that ad confusion to a rather simple process. Not saying rating cigars is simple, but at least I can stay away from some of the real dog rockets and decide for myself on the others.

I've taken a closer look at the smoke mag ratings again, there is no way the 2 systems can be compared, smoke mag must us different criteria.

Anybody know?
sketcha Offline
#6 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 8:57 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
No system is perfect. I use ratings sometimes to get a general idea. I've been steered right and steered wrong. It always comes down to taste. Usually, you can at least find out whether or not a certain stoge is worth a try.
limoric Offline
#7 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 9:23 PM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
hey thanks for that web sight, I'm sure it's not the last word, but might help steer me in the right direction.
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#8 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 9:50 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
limoric

what's wrong with bad frogs? i smoke them, and they are ugly looking. but they are a good stick it in my mouth while i'm working in the garage. if you haven't tried any, send me your snailer and i'll send you a box.

RICKAMAVEN
hotmail
com
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#9 Posted: Tue, Jun 3 2003, 9:53 PM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
i read reviews occassionally because i want to find a good cigar that tastes like chewing gum, preferably spearmint.

i also want to read some exotic description about smoking dead leaves. a good description can really turn me on.
limoric Offline
#10 Posted: Wed, Jun 4 2003, 5:47 AM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
hey Rick,

you sent me a 3 pack along with som other goodies. I smoked part of one of them, waiting for a real special occasion to smoke another one.

hey you should be getting something from me by the end of the week, maybe beginning of next.
dbguru Offline
#11 Posted: Wed, Jun 4 2003, 8:29 AM EST
Joined: 03-06-2002
Posts: 1,300
Ever look at Cigar Weekly's site and their "CigarDB" database. I usually check along with CA and Smoke. They have a 5 star rating summary rounded to the nearest half star. This summary is averaged from user input, with the reliability of the rating dependent on the number of users submitting their opinions. Take ratings based on less than 4 opinions with a grain of salt. I've managed to make a few inputs.

Sure wish Cbid had something like this on this site. The forums here are so lively and this site has generated a very active online community. (much better than Cigar weekly's and even better than Usenet's cigar newsgroups (which I monitor as part of my work)) It would be nice to channel that Cbid forum community energy into some user summarized ratings on cigars.
limoric Offline
#12 Posted: Wed, Jun 4 2003, 8:44 AM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
Thanks for those sites. Boy asking is sure better than spending all your time searching.

To your second Idea, thought it would be a good idea also, than realized the good smokes would only go up in price, and the not so good ones could get ignored reducing c-bids profit margin. Than again there are those people who like a darn good garage smoke
deadeyedick Offline
#13 Posted: Wed, Jun 4 2003, 8:49 AM EST
Joined: 03-13-2003
Posts: 17,135
I often find that the profile/notes that accompanies the rating is more meaningful to me than the actual score. I can search for a stick with a certain taste/aroma that I may like independent of the total points it was given. I take all these ratings with a grain of salt anyway but often find them helpful in deciding what to try next. The confusing thing to me with the mag ratings is are the sticks I buy today the same as the one rated by the mags? It seems there are so many variables in growing seasons, aging lots, production lots, handling/storage, etc. that you can't be sure. I'm sure most of us have found big variances in the same brand when purchased at a different time.
DED
Fatshotbud Offline
#14 Posted: Wed, Jun 4 2003, 9:10 AM EST
Joined: 03-31-2003
Posts: 782
Unless the ratings are from blind tastings, I believe there is some bias involved in any ratings. Do you want to be the guy that slaps down Opus X in favor of a lesser brand? I personally think there is a lot of commercial influence involved with a great number of these ratings and that the pros are very guarded with their protocal/results.
That is one of the things I admire about Rickmaven, if he feels a stick has merit, he stands behind his opinion and damn what others think. You get the same from me - not saying I am right, but let's be honest ratings are purely subjective by nature anyhow.
IMHO - BUD
sketcha Offline
#15 Posted: Wed, Jun 4 2003, 9:13 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Rick,

Did I say Bad Frog? I meant dog rocket.
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