24:24 Box Codes Matching

[subport]

23 minutes ago, encephalization said:

The tone in your posts isn't that friendly, I really don't see the point in hounding a member that is new to the boards with your personal opinions about taste or the importance of box codes. Neither of those were solicited in the original post.

Taste is obviously a personal preference (if nothing else, your RASS MUR can serve as an example) and so is the importance of box codes. OP has a legitimate question (most likely with a perfectly fine answer).

 

my personal opinion about taste? Excuse me?You are surely misunderstood something there.

The question was answered too I believe. 

Sorry about the tone  wasn't meant to be 

[luv2fly]

Not a code chaser here.  If some do, good on them.  I have been more than thrilled with my purchases.  I look at the box date when I first get them for future reference.  Not an issue for me just what I do.  I have the upmost trust in Rob and the crew when I make a purchase.  I do not care about box codes but I do understand those that do.  Let me be clear, I put my faith in Rob and have never been let down.

I know I am in the minority as far as box codes go but I want to smoke the cigars.  That is why I love this place.  And no I have never gotten the pretty box that was shown in the pics.  I do not care.  I have never gotten a bad box from the FOH crew and I would never think otherwise.

[RijkdeGooier]

Before goung public, I believe this should have been discussed with Rob by those who care about it. 

Was this done?

[Corylax18]

I always enter each new purchase into my spreadsheet when they finally land. Box code and date are information that I include, but I never screen grab or write down exactly what the offering is. Because of this, I really have no clue what my hit rate is on the "advertised code". Its just not that important to me, but I certainly understand if it is to others. As long as the box is the right date (on some cigars) like the ENE 15 Fonseca 1s the other day, or say the Vintage offerings I'm ok. I don't know if you saved any of the posts, but it might be helpful to go back and check. I know there have been a few times where in the heat of the moment I placed and order for something slightly different than what I was expecting. (usually different packaging)  

[El Presidente]

I do my best in being accurate on Box codes. 

The process I go through is as follows. 

I go through my stock (part or full) of say Partagas Lusitania. 

I sort the boxes into 4 piles.  Fail  PE HQ PSP

I then look at the box code from the top half dozen boxes of the PE/HQ/PSP piles. 

If there are two codes, I will list them both. if there are more I will take the predominant code and put  *Mostly  in the listing. 

There is every chance that one or two other codes are in that batch. They may be in the mid to bottom level of the box pile.  Because I grade on quality, it doesn't concern me. 

If you are looking for a specific code on a specific box of cigars then that is case of e-mailing me personally and making that request. if they turn up I will touch base. 

In the end the only service 24:24 provides in PE/HQ/PSP format (hopefully) is that it represents the sort of boxes you would pick if you had the opportunity to sort through boxes in a well supplied B&M. 

 

 

[jazzboypro]

15 hours ago, miamipadronsmoker said:

I recently stopped purchasing from here myself because of this same problem. Only one code listed many times. No mostly written. Never got the code. Always seemed to happen with a more desirable code. Anyone ever get a box of ETP Lusitanias????


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I do, ETP JUL 16 and i bought it here.

[el chino]

15 hours ago, miamipadronsmoker said:

I recently stopped purchasing from here myself because of this same problem. Only one code listed many times. No mostly written. Never got the code. Always seemed to happen with a more desirable code. Anyone ever get a box of ETP Lusitanias????

No I haven't... I picked up a ETP OCT 16 PSP HQ  (Mix)  on a 24:24 but got an ASO SEP 16 instead.  It's happened before on a few of them but I don't count the PE's to match.  Its the PSP/HQ's and handpicked that I'm inquiring about.  Even though it's been 17yrs since my first CC, I'm still new to CC compared to many in our hobby.  Still learning here about codes and if it even matters.

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[1LegLance]

I am going to echo the folks who state that around here you are paying for Rob to lay eyes on the boxes more than any specific box code.

For me if someone I trust picked the sticks I could care less what the blue stamp on the bottom says.

 

[planetary]

Rob's clarifications should go into the 24:24 FAQ thread.

[NSXCIGAR]

95+% of the time, the code is what is listed. Yes, as Rob says, some get by. But each box is inspected according to Rob's standardized criteria. And these days, that's all that matters to me. Code chasing is pointless unless you're dealing with El Laguito and maybe La Corona recently, which has just been way to the right on the curve overall for the last few years. If I'm buying blind, I'll code chase a bit. But when I'm buying from Rob, there's no need. If an odd code squeaks through I know it's as good as the stated code. Great stuff and bad stuff comes out of every factory these days. The days of provincial factory bias are long over. Cubatabaco has made great strides in factory uniformity over the last decade. If it passes Rob's inspection, it's fine. 

[TheMonk]

The OP's question is perfectly legitimate, and so is Rob's answer, but I definitely saw some replies here that border on fanboyism... which to me is simply unnecessary, specially in this forum.

[Jimmy_jack]

I recently stopped purchasing from here myself because of this same problem. Only one code listed many times. No mostly written. Never got the code. Always seemed to happen with a more desirable code. Anyone ever get a box of ETP Lusitanias????


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You stopped buying because of codes? Huh...


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[treberty]

Here's my 2 cents...

What I enjoy doing the most when I am in Havana (aside from strolling aimlessly around the city) is to go to my favorite LCDH, open boxes I am interested in to find gems. 

I believe that Rob's standards are as high as mine, if not higher considering his experience and the fact that he has probably opened/inspected more boxes than all the members of this forum combined.

In short, I entirely trust his judgement. If I didn't I would buy elsewhere.

That is what is so unique about FOH.

I would rather rely on Rob's expertise than on a box code - as many posters have stated before me...

His "seconds" are better than 80% of what you'll find in B&Ms. That is good enough for me.

Again, just my 2 cents...

 

[Optic101]

Happens from time to time, not often though. 

For me personally it is about the quality.

Code sometimes matter for other reasons (Remember "MOB DIC")

MHO.

[Smallclub]

3 hours ago, treberty said:

His "seconds" are better than 80% of what you'll find in B&Ms. That is good enough for me.
 

how many B&Ms in how many countries have you visited?

[Ken Gargett]

interesting thread. i wonder if a few people are getting just a little too anal about this? i mean that in the nicest way, of course.

never bought a box because of a code in my life and cannot ever envisage doing so.

either rob selects the box for me (as he'll do for every single one of you) or if he is not around, i will examine the cigars myself and decide either way. both ways have seen some home runs and also the occasion dud box. inevitable with cigars.

codes are only relevant, to me, in that they give me an indication of age, via the year made, and the factory where they are made - and that rarely bothers me. i've had guys in cuba tell me i should look for this code or that code, and also only buy cigars made in this month or that month and avoid such and such months (once because i was told all the workers head off for the holidays). never taken any notice at all. all too difficult. so much more successful to check yourself or have someone you trust do it.

i must say, taking this further, i sometimes wonder how effective some of these codes are, other than for identifying the likely year and factory (likely/mostly, because i would never like to see anyone guarantee anything in cuba). 25 smokes in a box could be rolled by 25 different rollers and have leaves from 25 different fields. they get bundled together because of colour of wrapper. and then, when someone gets around to it, a code is stamped on the back. big whoop. and we have people refusing to buy boxes because of the code, or insisting on it. i guess whatever makes you happy.

[RijkdeGooier]

Points well made Ken

 

[canadianbeaver]

Excuse me lads but I never saw the word fanboyism before so I went and looked it up.

I find this site so educational every day.

Canada thanks you.

Fanboyism. Fanboyism. Fanboyism...  

***EDIT*** I just realized I am a dated cigar buyer, so the date on the bottom does matter to me. My post makes me a hypocrite.  But I only have a couple of sources and this is one. Because of Rob.

Fangirlism I guess.

CB.

[dominattorney]

I'm really liking this Canadian beaver gal. 

[garbandz]

I agree with the " hand picked is hand picked " school of thought.

I may discover a great box with a code I have never seen. Happens some times.

Before I found 24:24 I received  some pitiful cigars by shopping blind.

I have never gotten a mediocre box from Rob, and a few have become benchmark boxes.

Rob does a great job, and I thank him profusely.

If you cannot appreciate what he does for us, please don't bitch and moan.

There are other places to shop that don't care what is going out in the box.

Some of them do not even check for damage......

[Colt45]

[luv2fly]

Colt, that is the funniest thing I have seen in a long time.

Needed a laugh today and I got it!

[treberty]

16 hours ago, Smallclub said:

how many B&Ms in how many countries have you visited?

I have been to every shop in every single country.

But you are right; the real number is 77% - I rounded up. 

[BarryNY]

The one thing you can rest assured about is that unless you are personally inspecting the box before purchase Rob delivers more boxes with the code "OMG" than any other merchant that exists!

[DBNInc]

Nearly every box I've received has had the same box code(s) as advertised, just my experience.