Questions from the floor.

[sw15825]

Quit killing off all the petit coronas !! and other small cigars!! I love the punch rs12, pcdp, dip 4s. I don't get this as pc seems to be smoked alot everywhere.

[CaptainQuintero]

Half of these questions can already be answered

With the new HSA/Government move for all cigars boxes to be made only with ceder from Cuba will that signal the end of SLBs/more SLBs or no change?

[brazoseagle]

Guys

This is two blokes who are mates having dinner together. Cut the angst now.

Do you believe he has the ultimate say? Think otherwise. As always propose arguments and tools to change a direction (if that is what you are looking for) or otherwise simple positive suggestions.

Carrot and stick approach is always 90% carrot. Keep that in mind.

I edited my original question with a new one.

[hdryder]

In that case, you could ask him if he enjoys a Sunday morning cuddle.

[ramon_cojones]

Wasn't there a meeting awhile back where we were waiting for some answers? Was that one ever updated I don't recall.

Seems this is a similar exercise.

[Canadahamlet]

Ask him why they have increased domestic prices and have plans to make it harder/more expensive to buy custom made cigars. It appears Habanos wants to decrease domestic sales and push more smokers into the cigars where habanos gets revenue. But his answer would be more interesting than speculation.

[canadianbeaver]

What kind of influence/power/interest does Maique have during a dinner conversation? What kind of questions would yield the most info? How about giving us some more guidance.

When guys have dinner with Matthew (CEO of a national pharma co), he might not know the future status of a specific drug, even one that it is their warehouse at that moment. Same goes for the status of drug legislation, although he might speculate, but he would say don't hold him to it because one election and the right answer could go down the toilet :-)

[MPS]

Ask him why they have increased domestic prices and have plans to make it harder/more expensive to buy custom made cigars. It appears Habanos wants to decrease domestic sales and push more smokers into the cigars where habanos gets revenue. But his answer would be more interesting than speculation.

What are the plans?

[Styler]

What is HSAs overall view on the number of distinct brands/cigars they feel they want in their portfolio.

I remember when I started collecting cigars seriously a few years ago it seemed like there was an ever expanding world of Cuban cigars to explore. However having seen all the deletions in that time it now feels more like there is an ever decreasing world of Cuban cigars and if you don't have the capacity to stockpile your favourite smokes you may well be out of luck. The gradual shift towards larger RG sticks hasn't helped any.

I suppose I'm wondering how much they care about the heritage of the industry, do they still want a wide variety of cigars for aficionados to explore as a hobby or would they happily reduce their lineup to a handful of cigars if that was where the most profit was (I'm sure you could put it a little more tactfully!)

Sent from my GT-I9100

[PigFish]

Guys

This is two blokes who are mates having dinner together. Cut the angst now.

Do you believe he has the ultimate say? Think otherwise. As always propose arguments and tools to change a direction (if that is what you are looking for) or otherwise simple positive suggestions.

Carrot and stick approach is always 90% carrot. Keep that in mind.

I understand this comment but respectfully disagree with it. I understand that you won't be passing along what I would have you do with the stick and carrot and anyone at H SA (rhetorically). I understand that these are friends of yours. No one wants you to ruin your relationship with your professional colleagues or your friends. But some of us are pissed off mate!!! You can't ask us for input and then say, 'hold your tongues.' That is simply not fair. I think that you should not dissuade such comments, look at the angst objectively and report it to your friends.

Here is what I would ask.

"Can you please spend some time on my board and review some of the comments made about your business model and catalogue? Can you please also take note of decline of older member participation, and the general lack of interest in many products, the less than flattering statements made about them? Can you give me some assurance that as a retailer I will be left with products to sell my more mature smoking clientele?"

"Do you understand that some of my clients have stopped buying Cuban cigars because they think that you have abandoned them?"

This is what I would ask. I would never ask my clients, the enthusiastic ones who take their time to post about and live cigars to tone down their criticism of the company that comprises their smoking world.

Cheers, mate! -Ray

[ramon_cojones]

Great post Ray.

[PigFish]

... you might want to add!!! This one bloke on my board would just as soon light your hair on fire than the foot of and EL!!! -LOL

[Cohiba Stevie]

I would like to know what the future plans for Ramon Allones as a marca are...

If the RA portfolio continues to diminish I can only forsee discontinuation. Obviously i sincerely effin hope not.

[El Presidente]

Wasn't there a meeting awhile back where we were waiting for some answers? Was that one ever updated I don't recall.

Seems this is a similar exercise.

Different people and via a scratchy phone line. Calling Havana can some-days be like calling mars during an electrical storm

[El Presidente]

In that case, you could ask him if he enjoys a Sunday morning cuddle.

Laugh all you like Colt...but even pirates need cuddles

[dvickery]

something i have wondered for a while...of the inner circle at hsa(however many people that is)...how many of them smoke cigars???

derrek

[winelover]

Ask him if the petition re discontinuations was noticed.

[OZCUBAN]

Ask him if the petition re discontinuations was noticed.

Great question Graham very relevant

[PigFish]

Ask them if they read This Thread

-the Pig

[canadianbeaver]

Ask them if they read This Thread

-the Pig

Ray (hey I know your name now!), both your posts were terrific and I think are great questions to ask over dinner. We talk about this all the time when we get together here in Toronto.

[in0gravity]

I have some further questions.

Since there are some interested in the future plans for Ramon Allones. I would like to know the future plans for Saint Luis Rey?

And if it true that he is becoming vice-president within HSA (and resuming the position previously held by Manuel Garcia) at the beginning of October?

And could he comment/confirm the line-up for 2013

regards

Lars

[mk05]

I would like to add the following:

Change the banding. Rid of the LCDH ring, and insert as a side text on primary band like the Dunhill and Fox selections.

[finecigar]

Make the PL Robusto into regular release

I second that!!!

[Markfoz]

Ask him his favorite pairing with a RASS

It's definitely not any kind of rum.

[Markfoz]

Also ask. How the hell are fake glass top cohibas..making it out of Cuba.