Budget Box Pass

[craig]

Next question:

Will it be necessary to stay in the "theme" of the tray? For example, would it be bad form to suggest a put that is a maduro and take a stick in the long stick tray? Will it be necessary to trade maduro for maduro, long-filler for long-filler, etc.?

Thanks again.

Nope, the names are just names.

However, it would be good to stick <sic> with cigars that fit in the trays. The 8-stick trays won't handle Churchills, for example. You'll see this from the pics (coming).

[craig]

Craig.....explain how value would be derived given the below price listing on cigarcyclopedia:

$ 178.00 $ 226.95 $ 186.40 $ 201.00 $ 209.00 $ 195.00 $ 186.36 $ 227.00 $ 175.50
$ 180.48

specifically to the "exclude outliers" instruction. Box is 25 ct.

The general idea is to come up with a fair price. This is generally more of an issue with HTF and ISOM. For example, a site may list the cigar at a heavily-discounted price, but they don't actually ever have stock. OTOH, a site may always have stock, but charge heavily (e.g., Casa Fuente). Neither situation should be included in most cases.

In the example you show, I would probably keep the lowest value ($178) in, but toss the two high values ($227 and $226.95). However, this particular set doesn't make for a clear-cut decision, so if all prices were used, that would work as well.

[CAJUNBLAZE]

Welcome to the Budget Box Pass! - Order set, pass starting!

What's a box pass?
1. You receive the box of cigars from the previous participant in the pass.
2. You "take" out some cigars that you'd like to try, and you "put" in some cigars that you'd want others to try.
3. You send the box to the next participant in the pass.

Are you new to box passes?
Then this pass is for you. This is a get-your-feet-wet pass. Besides fun, the objective is to learn. There will be math. Discussion is encouraged.

Regular and timely communications are key to a fun and successful box pass.

Participants must be active members with a trading history (e.g., box-split, newbie sampler). Experienced members also welcomed.

Budget pass cigars
LIMITS: You can take a maximum of two cigars from any one tray. Put NC, take CC allowed.

There is something for every budget in this pass. The provisional starting line-up (1st rev.) is:

Maduro Tray
1 Padron 6000 M
2 Padron Churchill M
3 Padron Executive M
4 Padron 1926 80th M
5 Perdomo ESV 91 M Torp
6 Oliva O M Torp

Triple corta tray
7 José L. Piedra Petit Cazadore Jul 08
8 José L. Piedra Petit Cetro Oct 07
9 José L. Piedra Conserva Sep 07
10 Quintero Breva
11 Quintero Londres Extra Jun 07
12 Quintero Quintero Panatela Sep 06
13 Por Larrañaga Panatela Jan 08
14 Rafael González Panatela Extra Oct 07

Long stick tray
15 Gran Habano Corojo #5 Pyramid 2007
16 Cohiba EL 2006 Pyramid Nov 06
17 Partagás Presidente Apr 08
18 Partagás Salomone Oct 08
19 Por Larrañaga Montecarlo Feb 06
20 José L. Piedra Cazadore Jul 08

Long-filler tray
21 Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo Torp
22 Bolivar Short Bolivar RE Asia/Pacific Oct 08
23 Montecristo #4 Jun 06
24 Bolivar Belicoso Fino Apr 07
25 Por Larrañaga Petit Corona Cab Sep 08
26 Bolivar Simones RE Canada Nov 07
27 Ramón Allones Specially Selected Jun 07
28 Partagás Short Cab Aug 06

Tray names apply only to the original line-up, not puts.
Blatant opinion:
PL's can be smoked a few months after packaging (the box date). JLP's balance out with about 18 - 30 months from box date. The MC#4, Partagas Short, RGPE, and the Quintero's need two or three years to reach their (first) peak. The rest of the CC's should benefit from at least three years of rest from box date, and most should be even better with+ five years. In other words, some prefer smoking a brand earlier; most prefer aged.

More about the pass
1. Canadians and Americans welcome. Virtual participants welcome (e.g., if you don't want to touch CC's). Participants commit to inspecting, packing, and shipping the pass promptly as per host instructions (to follow).
2. Each cigar put must at least equal the estimated value of the cigar taken. Do not put dupes. Do not post sources.
3. A cigar's value will be the lowest of: MSRP, what you paid, the previously-used value, or the average current US box pricing. Exclude outliers in calculating the average pricing.
4. Participating in pass contests is voluntary, but participants must enter contests to win.
5. Host has final say on everything, including pass order and all P/T's. Host approval is needed before the box can be shipped. No extra puts. No host bag. No asshattery.
6. "Leave the pass in better shape than you received it."

Additional examples and step-by-step instructions to follow. Questions welcomed!

Pass Order
1. Cajunblaze, Louisiana
2. Mrtr33, Louisiana
3. Ashauler, Kansas
4. Prophetic_Joe, Iowa
5. EGQ, Illinois
6. Cigarsarge, Tennessee
7. Big Bill, North Carolina
8. Factored Reality, Virginia
9. BadWhale, Pennsylvania
10. Irish79, Pennsylvania
11. Diesel Grinch, New Jersey
12. Craig, Ottawa

(ignore letters in map)

Pass Schedule:
May 17 - Pass posted
May 22 - Sign-ups close. Final pass line-up/order posted.
May 25 - craig -> Cajunblaze

I guess this is were I got confused.

If I take 1 and 2 in the Maduro tray, my puts become 1 and 2 in the Maduro tray?

Rich

[craig]

I guess this is were I got confused.

If I take 1 and 2 in the Maduro tray, my puts become 1 and 2 in the Maduro tray?

Rich

My apologies, I did not word that sentence well.

Your puts go into the spaces in the "Maduro" tray that were vacated by your takes. The puts do not have to be Maduro's. Your puts would be labeled with the next two available numbers, e.g., 29 and 30.

I had to work all day today so I missed the shipping deadline for today. I'll drop the pass off on my way into work tomorrow. I'll take pics and post the detailed instructions later tonight.

[FactoredReality]

Will and Irish79,

When the pass comes to our end want to try and meet up for the hand-off?

[badwhale]

Will and Irish79,

When the pass comes to our end want to try and meet up for the hand-off?

Good idea, and could be possible... I'll have to conference with my social planner...

Will

[Irish79]

Will and Irish79,

When the pass comes to our end want to try and meet up for the hand-off?

I agree with Will. Good idea and I would definitely be interested in meeting up for the hand-off. Maybe we can get you to bring some of your home brew to try.

[craig]

Pass herf! COOL!

Please take pics .

The pass is (finally) on its way. It should land early next week.

More to follow.

[FactoredReality]

Maybe we can get you to bring some of your home brew to try.

I can definitely bring some home brew, and I also understand it has to work out schedule wise as we don't exactly know when it will be arriving at my door. Lets cross our fingers and I'll pack the cooler.

[craig]

Detailed instructions finished - for the moment (see first five posts). I went overboard with the pics, but there's lots of first-timers. Any questions, please post .

[FactoredReality]

Nice work Craig!

[badwhale]

I can see I'll be able to "take" some sligtly popped packing bubbles, and "put" some fresh stuff in when it gets to me

Will

[EGQ]

Will there be a post that keeps track of/updates the P/T values?

[craig]

Will there be a post that keeps track of/updates the P/T values?

Not by me .


While I'm here, on a slightly different note, here's a situation that shows up fairly often:

Example 1:
Cigar # 35 is in the pass. Person A takes cigar #35 with a value of $4.40, and puts cigar #47, valued at $4.98.

Later on, Person B takes cigar #47 and puts cigar #55. When person B checks values, cigar #47 comes in at $4.75.

Cigar #55 must be valued at $4.75 or more - not $4.98 or $4.40.

Example 2:
Same as above, except when Person B checks values, cigar #47 comes in at $5.66.
Cigar #55 must be valued at $4.98 or more.

[badwhale]

Will there be a post that keeps track of/updates the P/T values?

Ed, I'm working on a spreadsheet tongiht. I'm not sure how to post an excel file though...yet....

Will

[CAJUNBLAZE]

Ok guys here we go...

Maduro tray:
Take: #3 Padron Executive, $5.87 - Put: #29 La Riqueza No. 2, $7.25(pd)
Take: #6 Oliva O M Torp, $5.59 - Put: #30 Cabaiguan Guapo RX, $ 7.12

That should make it a Padron and Tat tray!

Triple corta tray:
Take: #10 Quintero Breva, $2.40 - Put #31 Cuaba Divinos 2008, $3.81
Take: #13 Por Larrañaga Panatela, $2.49 - Put #32 Punch Petit Punch 2007, $4.00(pd)

Long Stick tray:
Take: #16 Cohiba EL 06 Pyramid, $25.99 - Put #33 God of Fire Carlito Piramide '05, $28.98
Take: #17 Partagás Presidente, $7.05 - Put #34 Vegas Robaina Unicos 2008, $7.60

Long-Filler tray:
Take #22 Bolivar Short Bolivar RE A/P, $11.84 - Put #35 Romeo Y Julieta EL 2007, $12.03
Take #24 Bolivar Belicoso Fino, $ 7.86 - Put #36 Cohiba Maduro 5 Secreto 2008, $7.87

Those marked pd are ones I paid less then the going rate.
Thanks Craig for letting me join!

Rich

[craig]

Ok guys here we go...

Maduro tray:
Take: #3 Padron Executive, $5.87 - Put: #29 La Riqueza No. 2, $7.25(pd)
Take: #6 Oliva O M Torp, $5.59 - Put: #30 Cabaiguan Guapo RX, $ 7.12

That should make it a Padron and Tat tray!

Triple corta tray:
Take: #10 Quintero Breva, $2.40 - Put #31 Cuaba Divinos 2008, $3.81
Take: #13 Por Larrañaga Panatela, $2.49 - Put #32 Punch Petit Punch 2007, $4.00(pd)

Long Stick tray:
Take: #16 Cohiba EL 06 Pyramid, $25.99 - Put #33 God of Fire Carlito Piramide '05, $28.98
Take: #17 Partagás Presidente, $7.05 - Put #34 Vegas Robaina Unicos 2008, $7.60

Long-Filler tray:
Take #22 Bolivar Short Bolivar RE A/P, $11.84 - Put #35 Romeo Y Julieta EL 2007, $12.03
Take #24 Bolivar Belicoso Fino, $ 7.86 - Put #36 Cohiba Maduro 5 Secreto 2008, $7.87

Those marked pd are ones I paid less then the going rate.
Thanks Craig for letting me join!

Rich

Thanks for being first Rich!

Very nice That last take/put looks inspired - and the GoF - I didn't expect that . One minor point - month of box date is nice if available.

edit: that looked like a lot for the Short Boli. Use $10.95US as my purchase price. Feel free to change your put(s).

For first-timers, class is now in session . I said there will be math .

Who agrees, who disagrees Please show your work .

Check for what cigars have already been looked at, pick one or two different puts/takes, post which ones you will look at, and edit calcs into your post before Tuesday.

Please note that this is not about adjusting for nickel or dime differences, but the pass is about learning via explaining differences .

[CAJUNBLAZE]

The short Boli trade is ok with me. I would rather error on the pass side then my side!

Can you change a trade in a tray once your puts and takes are posted? I am thinking of changing one if allowed.

Rich

[EGQ]

I agree with the math on the Oliva O M Torp -- assuming it is the 6" Torp II, which it looks to be based on the pic. Seven retailers on cigarcyclopedia, all within $20, none excluded.

115.20
98.95
101.90
117.95
118.99
111.95
117.75
______
782.69/7 = 111.8129/20 = $5.59

Also agree with the math on the Cabaiguan Guapo Rx -- two retailers within .04 of eachother.

170.99
170.95
______
170.97/24 = $7.12

[craig]

The short Boli trade is ok with me. I would rather error on the pass side then my side!

Can you change a trade in a tray once your puts and takes are posted? I am thinking of changing one if allowed.

Rich

Yup, you can change. You can post up changes once you see the cigars, too. Sometimes a cigar just calls out to you when you see it .