Is PSP/HQ/PE worth it?

[JHands]

The system you have in place is unique to this site and that is what sets it apart from all the others. We may pay an extra few bucks per box here, but we end up paying less per stick in the long run because we don't get boxes of clogged rubbish. I love the system you have in place and I love how informative you are with your customers. You have a lots life customers hereif you keep doing the same system you have been doing.

[...]

Food for thoughts...

On a logical basis, if you're willing to go with the consensus and do not care about the money, it means you aim to please your customers.

It also likely means you enjoy spending a week every month away from your routine. I travel for work on a part time basis and it's usually nice to leave. The feeling you get when you come back home is probably what makes going worth it; it's so good to be back home, surrounded by your loved ones and your things, something you never get if you haven't left

To me, family time is first and foremost about quality, as long as a minimal quantity is present. I suggest you figure out with your family what is that minimal quantity and start from there.

Also be aware that this minimal quantity will fluctuate depending on the age of your kids amongst other things.

I would understand if you stopped grading your material for practical reasons. However, selfish as I am, I'd rather you continue providing graded boxes, which attracted me to FOH to begin with....

[airtrade]

I personally love the grading system. I think the people complaining to each other about the cost don't understand. Most complaints come from ignorance.

To be honest it took some digging to sort out the system. What the unlabeled sale and catalog items could be considered PE,HQ or PSP and if there was a lower grade.

Maybe someone could pin a post in depth about the subject.

Thank you for your extra time and I plan on purchasing the highest quality cigars I can and my wallet and wife will allow!

[johndalton44]

I'm a relatively new member and having ordered just a few HQ boxes at this point, I could not be happier.

Generally any gripes about PSP/HQ pricing I've read on other forums comes from someone who can walk down to their LCDH and go thru boxes at their own leisure.

As an American who doesn't have that option (or do much int'l traveling), knowing that I am getting a quality box is well worth the premium. Buying boxes blind can be such a crapshoot.

And rather than waste money hoping, I'll spend a little extra knowing. So long as you, Di, and Alastair can do it, I'll keep supporting.

[Smallclub]

Man, for this reason alone, I vote to retire the format.

Or, limit the service to the cigars that are both popular AND risky, like Monte 2 & 4…

[SaintLuis]

I can understand if some people have different tastes, and prefer certain elements in a cigar, but how can anyone argue against a good thoughtful visual inspection by a fellow BOL?

Wrapper details aside, a good smelling box of sticks that aren't under/over filled, and have a nice look to them is what it is. If you don't think certain criteria rob uses makes a better smoke, fine (you'd be wrong), but how do you explain away the benefit of knowing the box is at least not a dud?

Also, anyone that buys blind all the time knows how much variability there is in CCs. Makes me question the experience of whoever criticized.

Saint is a believer, if you haven't figured it out, and I've got lots of rough boxes on my resume to support that.

[...]

Or, limit the service to the cigars that are both popular AND risky, like Monte 2 & 4…

Sounds like a reasonable option as opposed to all or nothing...

[Mojo Risin]

Service, service, service. What you do is what sets you apart Rob. It is why I, if not most of us do business with you. Thank you

[canadianbeaver]

Never had a bad cigar from you, ever. When you have your 12:12's (not sure what that means), you give your comments on the cigars.

The LFTH this week was the first in months and we all survived. If you want to do a scaled down model, get Alistair to do it.

Go fishing or surfing with your son, man.

[Hemsworth]

Ask yourself if providing that service is what made your business a success.

[amosnaim]

I think the program really adds value, plus reading your comments regarding all the different cigars you examine and smoke, is the most educational tool for me, not to mention a lot of fun.

I can give few examples of HQ cigar I bought that actually smoked differently than the regular un graded ones. Much more intense flavors. I can also give examples of PE that smoked great.

If you ask me, I think the two programs sits perfectly together - the 12:12 gives us the opportunity to jump on boxes at an amazing prices with the confident of the quality. The PSP/HQ is to when we have the extra coins and want to treat ourselves better.

So, to sum it: I think the program is awesome and truly deserve its place as shipping "the best cigars in the world", but nothing more important than having time with the family;

The 12:12 is anyway a keeper!

[DrunkenMonkey]

Never had a bad cigar from you, ever. When you have your 12:12's (not sure what that means), you give your comments on the cigars.

The LFTH this week was the first in months and we all survived. If you want to do a scaled down model, get Alistair to do it.

Go fishing or surfing with your son, man.

Yep. Well put. Life is short. Do it if you like it. Many of us appreciate it, but if you want to do it less often, do that. If you want to discontinue altogether, I personally don't mind. As long as you still eliminate the crap cigars from your inventory, that's what matters most to me. So then there are just two categories, good enough and not good enough. And then when we buy cigars from you it would be rolling the dice between what is now PE, HQ, and PSP, but all priced at PE? If that's easier for you, I'd be great with it. Actually I'd prefer it. But I'd miss the pictures.

[bigharpoon]

For me the premium put on the LFTW picks makes them difficult for my budget to handle. I like to watch the action but really won't end up paying the extra 50 or 60 bucks a box extra. It seems worth it to a lot of members, though.

[Stanislaw]

years ago, when I had a B&M shop to go to that supplied cubans (this was in Germany) it was a small bavarian place run by two old ladies who made most of their money selling pipe tobacco... so one day when I entered the humidor requesting a monte 2, they shared with me a box that not only looked like it fell off the back of a freight train but then was kicked all the way to the shop where these two lovely old ladies then placed them on the shelf. When I asked why they were in such shape, they were almost angry and told me, "they arrived from the factory this way, I must sell them".

to those who think that the rating system is bogus and don't want to pay "extra" (it isn't) by all means go buy blind, let your cheapness pay for itself, leave us alone....

In the nearly 20 years I've been smoking CC's this last year has seemed like cuban cigars have been their highest quality and experiencing a golden era.... wonder why that is????

Oh, yeah... THANKS ROB!

[CigarAsh]

Having been on the forum for a couple of years now - this question made me think about what brought me here and why I've stayed. Trust. You've built a business model around trust and faith - not in your product, but in you and the FOH team. People WANT to do business with you once they've hung around for a while. Most people just naturally gravitate towards doing business with people they like and enjoy being around (a principle in my own business life). You seem to have captured that and the grading system is just a bonus for we cigar lovers. It adds to the trust factor because its doubtful that any of us have ever received bad cigars from FOH. For the most part PE quality is fine for me, but every so often I crack one of the HQ boxes I have and I get a little tingle.

Plus the added bonus for me is, I'm always hoping for a repeat of the buy 5 boxes and get 15 boxes special (ahem, cough cough, Grand Edmundo fiasco, cough)

You just can't find that kind of value elsewhere!

[bradbrennan]

but at least when I bring the garbage out the weeks you are away I do so....with just a tee shirt with my glory showing.....but that is between you and me and the neighbours

I think Diana has a little fun with this as well

But seriously, if I've learned anything from my business, some quality hands on from the boss is absolutely necessary! And once you've seen the higher quality boxes, how can you not separate them and share them as such!

[leftimatic]

Man, for this reason alone, I vote to retire the format. As much as I have loved having the "man on the inside" type of experience, and the great quality cigars, always, when ordering from Oz, I can't think selfishly after reading that verse.

Family first! Thanks for all the great cigars, and a helluva forum Rob!

I guess I have to agree, construction took me out of town for to long. Family first.

[TiminBC]

I suspect allot of the voters already enjoy the program. I have not yet participated but will likely give it a try soon. Selfishly I voted keep it so all apologies to your family for their loss of time.

I will say I do not consider buying from FOH out of *****INT buying blind as each box is opened and inspected from gross errors. Obviously not the same as being inspected by an experienced aficionado.

You opened a can of worms when you started this program. The regulars who participate might not buy as many boxes if it stops. Those who doubt the process will always look for the cheaper boxes and in the end you need to sell them as well.

[asmartbull]

I think inspecting boxes and having a good idea of what is "acceptable" is fine, along with giving a closer look to those that historically been inconsistent.

The 12:12 is worth keeping.

[joeypots]

I like the idea of having a trained eye select the best boxes. The current format of posting pictures and so forth seems a bit tedious to me. Why not just post a list of select stock once a month? It would be a whole lot easier to post the list and a whole lot easier for me to view the cigars. I know, for example, what a Monte #2 looks like. I don't need the photo and I wish I didn't have to scroll through fie or eight pages to see what the list holds. Just my .02$ and I love the cigars and service I get from you guys.

[Tino]

I rarely watch them live because of the time difference but I always enjoy reading through them and I've picked up some great boxes afterwards. The PSP boxes are always a frenzy and people will pay a premium for the best of the best when it's hand picked and rightly so. Perhaps the way forward is more occasional PSP events, say quarterly? Maybe the team could do an initial grading at the warehouse and Rob could pick through that at Czar Central for PSP?

[gr8eman]

Keep it up Rob...The most I have learned about the quality of cigars and how to be discerning is from you taking the time to open the boxes, photograph them, and document the differences between PSP, HQ, etc. There are subtleties that only come from years of experience and I think that is the most attractive thing about you taking the time to do this. Yes...I know...the business is running you instead of the other way around. Everyone is happy if they have the best cigars in the world.

[Dbone]

The PSP program is what differentiates your business. I find value in that and it's why I buy from you. Don't get distracted while you're running the race. However, you can't run forever.

[Newkarian]

I love the system and it is the reason I buy from you. I love not having to take a gamble on possible crap. I have had some real dog **** boxes in the past and everything that you grade is top notch. Me and a biluddy were just fretting the other day about what happens if Rob retires lol. Keep up the good work.

[wookiemofo]

I'll be honest, I love the system, but because of the cheap ass in me I often find myself going to a competitor for a lower price and quicker ship times. But like I said, I'm a cheap ass (I shouldn't be smoking CCs, those two don't mix).

I do go after the 12:12s though, and I didn't realize if they aren't listed as HQ or PSP that they were PE... that could change things.

Out of curiosity... why do purchases ship out a week later?