Have you noticed that a lot of cigars are wearing 2-4 bands lately. A pretty box, a shiny wrapper and a beautiful band on a dog turd have stolen the money of many a cigar buyer. First time it is shame on the seller and the second time it is shame on the buyer. I came upon the following on a website this morning and wondered if the percentages provided are anywhere near factual.
"This means that corporations are making decisions about what goes into your cigar (and into the production of it) based on how it will look more than what is best for the health and enjoyment of the end user. As much as 75% – 80% of the price of a cigar can directly represent cosmetic decisions made to increase the visual elements of the product that have nothing to do with the actual quality or smoke-ability of the cigar. Because most cigar buyers make their selection based on cosmetic reasons, factories spend millions on purely cosmetic decisions."