New Label - Pride Cigars

[mrtr33]

Hiya, Steve. Thanks for another quality contribution to the board. For the kids watching at home, the last time Steve posted was in this thread. Wait, that makes the ONLY other time Steve's ever posted on this board.

I just tried a new label and wanted to see if your opinion is the same as mine. I went over to Tampa Humidor here in Tampa, FL to relax and unwind and did the unsual. I walked in and talked with Mike the owner. I asked him if he had any suggestions for a new blend to try, he sent me to try out the new Pride. I was hesitant to try but what the heck I listened to give it a try.

I'm going to cut you off right there, Steve. You mean to tell me, you're the "Marketing Director and Regional Sales Manager in FL for Pride Cigars", and you wanted to know if a B&M owner had a suggestion for YOU? Then, you're hesitant to try it? And all of this is unusual to you? I don't know that I've ever met a cigar sales rep who hasn't tried their own cigars, or is hesitant and considers it unusual to try a brand he himself promotes.

I picked up a couple of Pride Cigars and boy did I enjoy them. The first one I tried was the Pride "Robusot" (5x50). First of all the aroma was pleasant and it was quick to get a good ash started. I continued to burn through this cigar, which actually had a smooth draw without any problems. It actually had a hit of cocoa throughout the smoke. Towards the top part of the label it had a cedary taste...pleasant because normally the smokes that I get, is bitter towards the bottom. The cigar finished perfect for me. What threw me for a loop was the price was $5.50. I was amazed!!

First of all, your website (or at least the website for Pride Cigars) doesn't feature any cigars called Robusot. Are you sure you don't mean Robusto? Honestly? That's just being lazy. I mean, it's one thing to have a generic review/ad hocking your own stuff. It's quite a different deal to not even check the brand name of your product.
Also, you're "amazed" at the $5.50 price tag? I don't know what you're used to smoking, but that's a reasonably higher-priced cigar for my dollar. I'm not knocking your product, but $5.50 isn't exactly what I'd refer to as "cheap". Maybe I'm wrong.

How can a cigar this good cost so cheap. Mike showed me an article in Cigar Snob for Jan/Feb that had the same cigar the Pride Robusto rated a 90. I believe I found a new favorite smoke...just to take home I had a Pride Lancero which was recommended to me. Let me know if you guys have ever tried this smoke, if not give it a try...cause I did and was pleased.

As for the ratings, that means very little. Everyone has a rating system. I don't know anything about Cigar Snob. I know plenty about the established reviewers on this board, and I tend to trust their instincts. Maybe if badwhale had a few smokes to review.......

Overall, this was a weak effort. You tried to come to "our level" after already establishing yourself with the brand. If you want to advertise your smokes, do it in the right section. Just don't fly in here every so often, make some weak pitch, then leave again. I understand there's lots of competition out there, especially for the smaller cigar company. But this was a fail.

So, if I don't live in any of the states where your cigar is sold, do I just lose out?