JadeRose wrote:I do believe this happens all the time and CI/Cbid is one of the biggest offenders. Can I say that for certain? Nope. But it's what I believe is happening. I'm not saying they are necessarily "inferior" cigars. I just don't think they are the same ones you can buy in a B&M. A perfect example of this (to me) is La Perla Habana. The old school Black Pearl Rojo's I used to buy at a B&M were great. The ones on here are not the same cigar. They just aren't. And, unsurprisingly, the ONLY place I know of where La Perla can be bought now is from CI/CBID and the mysterious "other place".
I don't know. Sorry Trish...not trying to piss you off. The noob asked a question..I answered with what I believe to be the answer.
You know, this is always touted as THE cigar that gets rebanded by us. But here's how it works:
The original La Perla hit the cigar world like a rocket! Everyone loved them and bought them up. With increased production, costs needed to be reviewed and that cute little silk footband was expensive - not just to produce but the added manpower to put it on the cigar. So when that was removed, folks immediately said it was reblended. Sales may have dropped off slightly or maybe not, I'm not certain. But the brand is now slightly diminished.
Now add into the mix this is a boutique brand so the tobacco is often-times limited in quantity. With that ealier increased production, that delicious wrapper is gone. So they go out to purchase more just like it but alas there is none to be found. And the brand loses much of its luster.
As all of you know, tobacco taste changes based on environmental conditions during its growth. When that specific wrapper was gone, they tried other wrapper from a different year. It tasted similar but not exactly the same. So no....the blend did NOT change but the wrapper leaf DID change.
Think about it....if that brand was still a HUGE money maker for the manufacturer, why would they sell it? Answer: They wouldn't.
To suggest that we reband inferior cigars is irresponsible at best and libilous at worst.
So, why is it that those cigar stores have the 'original' cigars? Simple - they stored them away or just didn't sell them. There are a lot of savvy cigar store owners out there. They may have put them away from their stock, purchased it from individuals who had them stored from their own stock, etc.
I'm not upset with you Tiger, I just can't believe that you think so little of this company as to suggest we do this.
Whatever, you'll believe what you want and its easiest to think that the giant company is evil. That for some reason we took this superb cigar and junked it up. I guess that makes sense in some idiotic way.
I know that many of you are thinking that I don't know what I'm talking about and I'm just saying this because I work for this company. But how many of you have spent the past 13 years doing nothing but learning about and discussing cigars? So while you don't have to consider me an expert, you do have to acknowledge that I may know something of what I speak. And I've never BS'd you. When we've been at fault, I've acknowledged it.
So....do with this information what you wish. I know that many of you will disregard it because its contrary to what you 'know'. Again, whatever. I certainly can't force you to understand it.