Should Price Be a Factor For Cigar Reviews?

[Yarddog]

I'm one of those folks who read and consider cigar reviews, whether by so-called professionals, or by run of the mill smokers like you and me. I've discovered a number of blends that I've come to consider as a perennial humidor inhabitant.

But, some reviewers think the price point of a stick is important, and others don't consider it a factor at all...especially the blind reviewers, but of course, that would be obvious.

So, my question to all y'all is...should the cost of a stogie be considered when reviewing one?

To answer my own question...my opinion is absolutely! There are a number of sticks I've smoked that I consider to be in the stratosphere of price points, which in my personal world is anything over fifteen, sixteen bucks. I've had an Opus X Lost City, Liga Privada #9, Padron 1926, a Diamond Crown Julius Caeser, and a few others...and NONE of these have impressed me enough to say that they were any better than those I paid a lot for...to me, if I'm gonna spend $28 on a ceegar, it had damn well impress...and none of these were any better than some of the sticks I paid five bux for...and to me, that's an important issue.

Were I to review a cigar, price point would definitely be one of the factors...and I consider it important when reading a review. I give more credibility to reviews where that's a factor.

What say you?

[gordo1473]

I think price point is a factor.a $20 stick better be a better smoke than a $5 stick. Just because it's expensive don't mean it's good and vice versa.

[Tombstone]

Yes it should. There are good good cigars out there that are over priced. Its like anything else in life. Take into consideration price versus overall performance and make purchases based on that.

[Slowpokebill]

I think price should be mentioned in a review. I don't think if part of the review is giving a smoke some sort of rating it should be a factor in the rating. The reason I don't think it should be part of the rating if you give point or weight to price in your rating a so so tasting stick can get a boost because of a low cost. Conversely, an expensive but pretty decent stick can get a lower rating because of high price. I think flavor and construction should only be part of the rating that way if I see a four star or 90 rated smoke I have an idea of how much I might like it then I can decide if want to pay the required fair.

[Cardinal]

I'm with Bill - for me the price should be noted in the review, but shouldn't change the score. If a guy gives a 90 to a $5 cigar and a $20 one, then I know which I'll probably try first.

I'd need to see a pretty elaborate explanation to help me understand how much the score is affected by each dollar of price. Too complicated!

[Laynard]

I factor in price for my overall opinion. And price has two facets for me: what I actually paid and what the manufacturer thinks it's worth (MSRP). What I paid weighs heavier, but even if I got it for $3 and the MSRP is $30, I might think less of the marca if IMO it should be $3-$4.

[Lynn]

...(MRSP) never in my life paid that one.....price is a big factor with me, want a bargain..a good rating, review with the right price an its pp.

[Bruck]

+1 on price being mentioned but not factored in to a review. I look at it this way - I read a review to help inform a future buying decision. I'm going to look the price up anyway, so why not just tell me up front?

Re MSRP - total fiction.

[Nature]

I don't think price should play a factor in a review rating, but my purchase consideration certainly does; whether I get the price from the review or my own research. I think it should be included information in the review.

A consistent rating score irrespective of price allows one to see how a cigar compares head
-head. It would be ideal if price was not revealed to the rater until after reviewing. I think cost can have an effect on the perceptions, both positive and negative.

There is a place for price comparative reviews for example in a "cigars under $5", or other price point breakdowns.

[bluenoser]

A review I do for my own opinions factors in cost. Was it worth what I paid? Would I buy it again at that cost?

If I'm reading someone else's review I'm interested in their opinion on the price but put less stock in it. It may not be worth $10 to you but might be the best stick I've ever had. How would I know if I take the reviewer's opinion on the price point to heart.

Just my :twocents:

[T.E.Fox]

I'm with Blake. I find that the price point will mainly form part of my own opinion on the cigar when I smoke it, rather than when I read a review. From there it will play its biggest part under my mental "would I buy this again?" Heading. I'd like to think that the overall quality of a cigar could be distinctly seperate from the value of a cigar - where value is a result of overall quality compared to price. For instance a $2 stick might be a 6/10 cigar, while next to it, the $8 stick might be an 8/10 cigar (personal ratings given according to one's own taste); the pricier stick may undoubtedly be a better cigar, but I would consider the lower priced stick better value, and would likely stock, and smoke more of them, saving the better stick for special occasions.

Having a fairly modest smoking budget means that I usually consider how much enjoyment I will get per dollar, which often, but not always, will lead me to buy more budget conscious sticks that I still enjoy smoking. In turn this is based on that value factor.

Hopefully that makes sense.

[Yarddog]

Good answers! I don't think that if one is gonna include the price point in their numerical ratings that there's any way to be objective about it. It's gonna be a subjective factor, but then again isn't that the way that cigar ratings roll anyway? I know that I've found some reviewers whose palates and opinions pretty much match my own, and when they like something a lot, I'll pull the trigger on a fiver anyway...there are some cigars that overall the ratings seem to be excellent, and those I'll try too...but the price point comes in NOT when I buy the first time...but the second!

[allusred]

I'm with Blake. I find that the price point will mainly form part of my own opinion on the cigar when I smoke it, rather than when I read a review. From there it will play its biggest part under my mental "would I buy this again?" Heading. I'd like to think that the overall quality of a cigar could be distinctly seperate from the value of a cigar - where value is a result of overall quality compared to price. For instance a $2 stick might be a 6/10 cigar, while next to it, the $8 stick might be an 8/10 cigar (personal ratings given according to one's own taste); the pricier stick may undoubtedly be a better cigar, but I would consider the lower priced stick better value, and would likely stock, and smoke more of them, saving the better stick for special occasions.



Having a fairly modest smoking budget means that I usually consider how much enjoyment I will get per dollar, which often, but not always, will lead me to buy more budget conscious sticks that I still enjoy smoking. In turn this is based on that value factor.

Hopefully that makes sense.

Sure does make sense to me. Good deal of clear thinking there.

[Zeede]

Price should affect a cigar's review, since as with all things, the relative value is important.

I mean, sure, the newest Italian sports car probably is a lot more fun to drive than my Volt, but considering a new second generation one can be had for $33k -$10k in rebates and tax credit in California, that is important too. (versus $100k+ for an exotic sports car)

[Tobias Lutz]

I don't think it needs to be mentioned in the reviewer's notes or commentary, but it should be included in the objective data section (vitola, origin, rg, price, etc.)

[FireRunner]

Should price increase or lower a rating on a cigar review? No. However, it should be taken into consideration because price is in fact a factor. A cigar should be reviewed based on it's characteristics. While price is not an actual smoking characteristic of a cigar it has to be taken into consideration. For example: An Olivia Melanio Robusto goes for $10. An Ashton Symmetry Robusto goes for $12. Personally, the Melanio is 3x better than the Symmetry. However, I like the Symmetry as a cigar..but not at that price point. To me the Symmetry is better priced around $8 or less (Robusto).

Therefore, price is a factor. Same can be said for the majority of the Davidoff line. To me they are just well made cigars, but have very little flavor. I'd rather smoke a $8 My Father El Centurion than a $15 Davidoff.