I am going to play devils advocate on this one. Let's say I put together a box split or group buy. The facts are: I do the homework, I front the cash, I assume the liability (either cigars getting nabbed or someone welching), I spend my time and resources getting sent out withing 24 hours. If I advertise this Group Buy for 4 other people at $50 a head, and they agree to this price, am I ultimately in the wrong if I get my cigars for free? I am using the same internet as everyone else. These same people can go after their own cigars if wanted. These same people can question where the box is coming from and how much it costs the host. They sign up because the price point is right for them.
I am in Mokis school of thought, know your source.
As far as box passes go, I have never heard of a pass host putting in a host bag for himself. If people decide to throw in a freebie, it is because they choose to, not have to. SOmetimes I'll toss one in the host bag. But more often I wont. I'll put the extra cigar in the pass rotaion to allow others to partake of it. Granted the host gets an additional cigar, but it may be 3 times removed by the time it gets to him.
The pass host always makes out better when the pass gets back to him. But that is if the pass gets back to him. Or the pass gets back to him, and there are cigars that are damaged due to mishandling, over humidity, beatles, or some unscrupulous passer knowingly putting in damaged goods.
I am in passing for building bonds with people across the world. I find it exciting getting a pass. I find it exciting making my puts and takes. Hell, I find it exciting to put a freebie in a pass, knowing the host had neve smoked anything like that cigar.
When I do a split, or sell fivers, I am in it for combined buying power. I can get the best price available for the cigar I want to own. For a fiver, someone else is splitting the shipping cost. Sure, the possibility of getting prefferential treatment from the vendor exists. But I am the one spending my time passing on a great deal to the other BOTL's here on the site. Am I profiting for doing a split? Hell yeah I am, but am I a profiteer? Well that is your decision to make, in my eyes I am not. I am not over charging to make a buck.
Just my .02 cents.
-E
I am in Mokis school of thought, know your source.
As far as box passes go, I have never heard of a pass host putting in a host bag for himself. If people decide to throw in a freebie, it is because they choose to, not have to. SOmetimes I'll toss one in the host bag. But more often I wont. I'll put the extra cigar in the pass rotaion to allow others to partake of it. Granted the host gets an additional cigar, but it may be 3 times removed by the time it gets to him.
The pass host always makes out better when the pass gets back to him. But that is if the pass gets back to him. Or the pass gets back to him, and there are cigars that are damaged due to mishandling, over humidity, beatles, or some unscrupulous passer knowingly putting in damaged goods.
I am in passing for building bonds with people across the world. I find it exciting getting a pass. I find it exciting making my puts and takes. Hell, I find it exciting to put a freebie in a pass, knowing the host had neve smoked anything like that cigar.
When I do a split, or sell fivers, I am in it for combined buying power. I can get the best price available for the cigar I want to own. For a fiver, someone else is splitting the shipping cost. Sure, the possibility of getting prefferential treatment from the vendor exists. But I am the one spending my time passing on a great deal to the other BOTL's here on the site. Am I profiting for doing a split? Hell yeah I am, but am I a profiteer? Well that is your decision to make, in my eyes I am not. I am not over charging to make a buck.
Just my .02 cents.
-E
