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(#1)
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Administrator
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Big News for CigarLive.com -
04-04-2008
Big News for CigarLive.com
By: Daniel Lopez Editor: Sibyl Hilton Hello members! I am excited to announce the launch of the CigarLive expert cigar review panel! This is a milestone for our forum and I want to tell you about the new feature and describe how the idea was born. Over the last year I have had many conversations with cigar manufacturers about rating products. I have gradually gained an understanding of the cigar rating process and formulated ideas about how we could improve the process. In CigarLive's first year we started the blind rating panels for members to participate in and give feedback to manufacturers. The blind rating panels got members involved and interested in the cigar community. Participants found the blind rating panels to be a lot of fun, allowing members direct input in the review process and providing their opinions of the cigars. I thought it was a great feature on CigarLive.com, and with the help of Bill Hood "MrGatorman", the system is working better to get feedback using the ICRS rating system on a 10-point scale. Manufacturers expressed their interest in CigarLive developing an expert panel that would put out a 100 point rating. At first, the idea didn't seem to fit and I believed it was not needed for CigarLive.com at the time and I really needed to focus on other projects. I continued to talk with manufacturers and the subject kept coming up over and over again. During a trip to Nicaragua, one manufacturer sat down for a long talk with me about the future of CigarLive.com and how he felt "it was time to take it to the next level". To Mr. Leccia I say thank you for the push in this direction! Usually this phrase means more money and work. But, if it was a feature that would push our site deeper in the industry, I was all for it. The idea kept coming up and I knew it was a path CigarLive needed to take. I thought about our success using Colin Ganley's ICRS Rating system and wondered how could it be modified for an expert panel of four or five reviewers. I wondered "What would we gain as a community for having such a panel? How could I pick the expert reviewers?" I found the answers were difficult and I imagined it would not be easy if I didn't have help. I kept the idea in the back of my mind and talked with Russ Hilton "Tekeeladude" and Bill Hood "MrGatorman" about the possibility. Are you thinking what a logistical and financial nightmare? Initially, that's what I thought. Let's say I bought two boxes of cigars a month two different cigars, then shipped each of four panelist at least five cigars to each review for accurate and consistent rating. I was already financing and packaging the current tasting panels so I predicted this expert panel to amount to a greater financial stake and my wife wasn't going to believe I bought boxes for $20 each. Also, I had to consider another problem that has showed up in current tasting panels: some people like mild cigars and they should be rated accordingly. I continued to discuss the expert tasting panel logistics with Russ and Bill for several weeks. On one of my trips to Nicaragua, I was introduced by George Rico to Alex Svenson, the Chief Merchant buyer for Cigar.com, and paid close attention to his taste descriptions. As the buyer for Cigar.com, Alex has the opportunity to smoke anything he wants. I thought who better to discuss how to pursue the expert panel project? So I talked with Alex a few times and we discussed how to create a rating system appropriate for the cigar industry. Little did I know I was speaking with a person that had the same drive to want to take on the task of helping to create this as well. You see, Alex and I share the belief that we have no boundaries. Alex said the panel of cigar experts would have to be diverse but consistent and with little turnover over the years to come. The surprise came when I contacted Alex about supplying the cigars for our expert panel. He quickly and generously agreed to exchange any cigar we wanted for a small link to purchase the reviewed cigar donated by Cigar.com. We would not push our member to buy from Cigar.com, but we would give them the choice purchase from the same source. The condition of the cigars we smoked would be the same condition our members would get without a doubt. Furthermore, we didn't need out of pocket money because Alex intends to ship the cigars to the expert panelist. Also, we would work together to build a solid rating system. To keep the panel unbiased, Russ Hilton, "Tekeeladude", would pick the cigars. A link to the cigar the expert panel rated would take readers to Cigar.com but for tracking purposes only and not part of the usual affiliates program some sites use to drive people to buy the cigar for a kick-back to the site in the form of money. The logistical nightmare was over….at this point I was very excited because I knew the expert panel was possible. Ok guys - so now this project is in the hands of the Expert Panel Leader - Russ Hilton "Tekeeladude". I wish him and the other three panelist well on this new endeavor! Russ Hilton - Expert Panel Bill Hood - Expert Panel John Rider - Expert Panel Chris Darling - Expert Panel I wish everyone could be part of the expert panel, however, the expert panel members are individuals I feel will do the enormous amount of work to keep this going. I have talked to each expert panel member and they are all willing to do the work. Some may look at this as a great way for them to smoke whatever they want, but do not be mistaken, it's not only a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. |
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(#5)
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Law Enforcement
 
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04-04-2008
Daniel I know I'm in the minority when I say this and am not looking to bash you or be bashed by anyone in return but there are only a few people this is good news for and thats the couple of guys on the pannel and cigar.com. Now where I do feel these guys are probably the best guys to do reviews but I feel that this sounds more like a marketing ploy by cigar.com to have our member by cigars from them, if theres a great review and a link right to the cigar there alot of people may just jump on it. Maybe I'm wrong and if I am I'm not afraid to admit it. However whatever you decide to do I will be there to support you and the rest of my cigerlive family but I do feel I needed to say what I did.
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(#6)
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Administrator
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04-04-2008
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(#7)
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Illinois Statesman
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04-04-2008
I sort of hate to say this as well, but I sort of agree with jitzy on this one. I'm not really sure how this will benefit the CigarLive community as a whole. I can see that it will be good for the 4 members (who just happen to do a bunch of reviews as it is and all happen to be mods) who are doing the reviews, and cigar.com, but I am not really sure what the rest of us will get other than the opinion of 4 members who are usually posting reviews on the site anyway.
Maybe if you could explain a little more how this will benefit the rest of us it might help make me understand why this is such Big News. I'm not dissing the idea, or the people, but I just really don't know how this will help CigarLive. I'm not really sure I get this, we are going to use the ICRS for "normal" people reviews, but the "Experts" are going to be using a whole different system? Not really sure that is a good thing. Oh well, I guess we just will see, this could turn out to be one of the best things to happen to cigarlive. I just hope that the little guy does not get left out of things in the future because of this move to the "Expert" panels and things. Just my two cents. Quote:
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(#8)
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Senior Member
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04-04-2008
I guess I'm anti-establishment, or maybe just a trouble maker, but I don't care one bit about what the manufaturers want. I would prefer less input from manufacturers/retailers rather than more. CL is about cigar smokers, not cigar makers. Then again its not my board.
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(#9)
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Senior Member
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04-04-2008
I'm new, happy to be here, and like the diversity... Just like one of my teacher's teacher said, "Take what is useful and discard the rest."
Words to live by, IMHO.. |
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(#10)
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Law Enforcement
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04-04-2008
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(#11)
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Administrator
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04-04-2008
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Give this some time to develope, I had good intentions when I contacted Cigar.com and please remember that CigarLive.com has not always done things the way others have. I have no rules, our site was built on the ideas of each member. This idea is something I want to do. It gets us deeper involved so that we can get opportunities to get more info about the cigars we smoke. Up to this point the only cigars we could do Blind tasting panels are from manufacturers I directly contacted and had cigars shipped to me for tasting panels. This one thing opens us up to so many more choices of cigars to review. I do want to say thank you for being honset, I posted the details because I want to be open about each and every aspect of this new expert panel. |
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(#12)
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Forum Moderator
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04-04-2008
Let me add this...
I am a board member before anything else. This is my home as well and I look at everything I do through those eyes. Hes my outcome or justifications if you will. First I am a regular person. Im married with two kids smoke on occasion and my wife complains about every time I do. I enjoy the cigars I smoke for many reasons. I have no affiliation to any manufacturers or to any retailers. I have purchased literally thousands of cigars in my day. Heres the bottom line for me...I want Cigar Live to be an industry leader. Early on, I had many conversations with Daniel and his vision is then what it is today...to make this the best place for information and comaraderie anywhere. We strive for "gentlemanly" banter and lots of getting people together. Daniel has for th most part financed this baby on his own and only recently recieved advertising monies for his efforts and not near enough to recoup the thousands of dollars he invested in this place. Thats said only so you know his motivations. We want to be able to read reviews on cigars and really see what the meat is behind the review rating. Alot of reviewers are giving the rating and a line or so on the smoke. We want you to see the reason for the rating and who its comming from. You may allign yourself with me or another reviewer and I have to say that I know them very well and they are the best of the best. Im fortunate to have been asked to participate, but these are serious class acts that Im with here. The justification for this is to me is this. we want to be as an informative site as possible, we wanted to set this panel up to provide consistant and relatable information for you to take whatever info from. I dont want to commit to the expense of the cigars as well as any may understand. The best way for this to happen and to take the site to a new level is to be able to have a source of cigars and be able to provide you a retailer to buy them from. No one expects you to buy from any one company here. But how reasonable would it be to smoke a cigar that you couldnt get ahold of or didnt know how to. This provides a source and the information on the cigars. Maybe this helps you guys see my mindset in my participation on this. This does NOT effect the review panels that we all participate in. Those continue on as originated. |
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(#13)
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Active Member
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04-04-2008
Whilst I share the sentiments of both Brent and Joe. I feel that this could be a big step forward. So many reviews that are published are skewed due to advertising revenues for the Reviewees, CA to name but one. At least this reviewing body is going to be entirely (apart from the suppliers) independant and hopefully consistent. Also the use of 4 reviewers can only be a good thing, as you mentioned not everyone likes the same strength or type of cigar, this should at least iron out some of the biases usually seen elsewhere.
Personally I wish the project well and look forward to the first review. I presume that all reviews will be posted in one section of the site allowing a one stop shop of cigar reviews, as I believe that will promote more interest from the cigar loving fraternity. Good luck Colin |
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(#14)
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Very Active Member
Posts: 747
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 208 Nichols Lane, Loami, Illinois 62661
Real First Name: Flint Kemper
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04-04-2008
Reserved and anxious both. I agree with both sides and will see how this develops. I will leave any other thoughts to myself for right now. Flint
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