Review Credibility

[T2P]

Looking at several different review formats everyone has their own way of doing things. One aspect included in this is whether or not their review is based on one smoke or multiple sticks.

I am wondering if the number of samples a review is based on affects the review's worth in your eyes?

 

[grateful1]

Looking at several different review formats everyone has their own way of doing things. One aspect included in this is whether or not their review is based on one smoke or multiple sticks.

I am wondering if the number of samples a review is based on affects the review's worth in your eyes?

Taste is subjective.
A cigar may change characteristics (with age/palate/timing/etc).
A cigar may be plugged or loose or dry or wet.

No review/rating has had me saying "oh, I've gotta try that one!", due to those facts.

...now, a few have had me say I 'should' try that...but most of those were Ray's CigarGirl threads!!! :whistling:

 

[Kid Montana]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a lopsided poll but I'll admit, I have looked at cigars more closely when purchasing based on a single review. I have never purchased a whole box based on a lone review but I have purchased singles and fivers based on a single recommendation.

 

[massphatness]

I like to see multiple reviews of the same stick by different people. Someone smoking and reviewing multiple sticks from the same box isn't significantly better, IMHO, than someone who smokes a single and reviews it as it's not uncommon to find similar characteristics within a single box. (I'm aware that's not always the case - I have a box of 01 Sig V's that drive me nutty with their inconsistency.) That said, however, what I am always looking for is do those characteristics translate box - to - box. I'm in the market research field, and I can tell you from experience, having x-number of data points across the breadth of a given spectrum (single ciagrs from a number of different boxes, for example) usually provides better actionable results than the same x-number of data points from a more concentrated sampling (multiple sticks from the same box).

 

[2K6TBSS]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a lopsided poll but I'll admit, I have looked at cigars more closely when purchasing based on a single review. I have never purchased a whole box based on a lone review but I have purchased singles and fivers based on a single recommendation.

This. I use the reviews as a starting point when looking into trying a new stick. If there are a lot of people that really like the stick, then I will buy a couple and give them a try.

 

[tsmckenney]

I agree with Gary. I've never read a review that made me want to go out and try a cigar.

 

[thechenman]

My personal opinion is that hand made cigars have inconsistencies from one to the next, even in the same box. That is especially true of CCs. To me it does not matter if the reviewer smoked more than one cigar...his impression of said cigar after smoking 5 or 10 vs. 1 isn't a big factor. Each cigar is its own indvidual experience. I would rather see multiple invidual reviews than have someone combine their multiple smoking experiences into one review. I think that skews the review as all the characteristics being described may not apply to each indvidual cigar in their sampling.

 

[souldog]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a lopsided poll but I'll admit, I have looked at cigars more closely when purchasing based on a single review. I have never purchased a whole box based on a lone review but I have purchased singles and fivers based on a single recommendation.

I've gotta agree with you 100%, because I figure if the review sounds good enough, I might as well go and try a single or 5'er and if I don't like them I won't be assed out on $100+ dollars.

On the other hand, after I've come to know certain members on here who review cigars, I have figured out who has similar tastes to mine. When they give a particular cigar a favorable review, I go and buy it to see for myself. Thus far, I have not been proven wrong.

 

[BlindedByScience]

I have a feeling that this is going to be a lopsided poll but I'll admit, I have looked at cigars more closely when purchasing based on a single review. I have never purchased a whole box based on a lone review but I have purchased singles and fivers based on a single recommendation.

Exactly. I have read reviews that made me want to try a smoke. "Try" to me means buying 3-5 singles and giving each one some consideration. If the allure is still there, it usually means a box purchase.

Regards - B.B.S.

 

[4cbln3]

Although I like trying something after someones has done multiple reviews on a cigar, sometimes I buy smokes just because they are new and no one has really done a review yet. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.

hint: Viaje Holiday Blend and their jar release went so fast you can't buy them now. I have nothing to remember them by other than someones elses review so that piece of info is nice to put in the "if they come back, remind me to buy some" category.

Since I'm so new to smoking cigars, everything still has some appeal. Well, except for that infused Gurkha and drug store cigars.

 

[T2P]

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the poll so far. We have some varied opinions here with many valid reasons. The fact that we have an entire section devoted to reviews, it is interesting to see what people are getting out of them and using them for.

 

[jnknzz]

The reviews are more for me to find out what's out there. I try everything I can. Sometimes I buy a full box to try them, but only when it's a huge price difference. If I don't like it after 2-3 smokes, I move on (usually sell/gift what's leftover).

 

[{tpc}]

If someone raves or recommends a certain cigar, I "may" try one. For me, what that means is if I am in the B&M and I see said cigar...I may pick one or two up based on price point. At that point I may go looking for a review to see what I may be in store for. Other than that, if I like it I may want to buy a box, but its going to be different for everyone.

That said, I've only bought one box, it was on something that was reviewed and that I had yet to try. Totally against my statement above. The whole box cost me like $35 shipped, and for that price it was worth a shot. I honestly like them, and I doubt I'll find any ever again, but thats just me. Are they "superb"? No. Are they better than the average "yard gar"...I think so, but you might hate em.

I don't try to be a "reviewer" though because I don't think I am qualified yet to do so. But I don't look at a review and say "wow...I need to buy a box based on that.."....or therefore even one. I suppose it goes the opposite way with the negative...if someone says "omg this was horrible" than I am less likely to to consider it for a purchase...but isn't it that way with everything in life?

 

[Mr Peat]

Having wrote my fair share of Opus X reviews I can honestly so no review has ever made me want to buy a cigar. Its subjective to
only the cigar smoker. If you do a Google search of Opus X Pussy Cat, you will see exactly how subjective a review is. I don't care
if you smoked 1 to 100 cigars of the same line. Each experience will still be unique to the smoker. I've seen this smoking the same
line of cigar like the Opus X BBMF Maduro. I've seen them flat from the same year while another from the same year rocks my world.

If someone I know who has seen what I've smoked and which cigars I've enjoyed says to me that I should try said cigar. Sure
I will try one and see if I like it. Usually they have been good about naming cigars I have enjoyed. But no written review has ever made
me purchase 1 cigar let alone boxes of the same one. Even with my Opus X addiction, I've smoked every thing I can get my hands on
and there is some Opus X I prefer not to buy in boxes while others I will buy many boxes. That is if I can get my hands on them. :laugh: