Scandal! Outrage! Corruption!

[Lumberg]

Fair warning: this is a long ass thread from Herfer's paradise. It took me a while to read but it was waaay worth it.

Highlights:

Steve Saka Posts

Lew Rothman posts

Some honcho from CAO posts

A letter from Aylin, the CAO goth-chick daughter

Lots of speculation and mud-throwing

And of course, our very own mdman in the thick of it!

What do you guys think?

http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...start=1&stop=20

 

[CoventryCat86]

Sorry, I couldn't find the time to read 14 pages of posts.

Just buy Havanas.

 

[NEXT]

I see you found my link....you never did answer back on the other one.

 

[Lumberg]

I see you found my link....you never did answer back on the other one.

I replied like 3 times to your other thread!

I figured people had to read the whole thread at HP.

Wanted to get peoples' opinions that have been in the industry for longer than I have.

 

[Horse]

Interesting. I don't feel qualified to give an opinion, but I'll take MD's side on this one.

 

[NEXT]

Yeah I posted in haste....this is really disturbing to me.

 

[Shuji]

Rather than read all 14 pages (which is just people going on and on):

Lew and Steve Saka posted on this page:

http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...art=81&stop=100

JHuber (CAO Rep) responds on this page, as does Saka:

http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...rt=121&stop=140


mdman's important posts are on the first page and here: http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...rt=221&stop=240

This page has some good info:

http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...rt=241&stop=260

The letter from Aylin is here:

http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...rt=261&stop=280

And Lew's 'final' say on JR's thoughts on competitor pricing is here:

http://pub159.ezboard.com/fherfersparadise...rt=301&stop=319

Anything else is just people arguing about whether CAO is good or bad.

 

[sir-smokes-a-lot]

HHHMMMMM,

like CAO,
have no prob. spending $6 for one of their sticks if I want one.
guess that is just me.


the marketer/rep. does sound like a %&* though.
MD has the right to do what he did,

think this has gotten blown up out of proportion if no other retailers are complaining.

 

[Lumberg]

check out the messages by CottyGee on page 13.

I always thought CAO was pretty high priced for the quality, and never really respected the fact that they don't make their own cigars. (now they co-own a factory but the level fo involvement is still less than most companies).

I don't like their criollo line and I think they probably make the best flavored cigars in the biz. I have a couple Brazilias in the humi.

 

[benjiev]

Wow interesting thread way to long but great discussion. Saka Rothman and Huber all getting into it with little ole Mike, beautiful :0 I have no reason to question anything Lew and Steve have written they are simply protecting JRs pricing position.

I totally support Mike why would he make something like this up. And anyone who thinks this rep is acting on his own has never been in corporate sales LMAO.

Just my .02

You go brother Mike :thumbs:

BenjieV

 

[BACCHUS]

Wow interesting thread way to long but great discussion. Saka Rothman and Huber all getting into it with little ole Mike, beautiful :0 I have no reason to question anything Lew and Steve have written they are simply protecting JRs pricing position.

I totally support Mike why would he make something like this up. And anyone who thinks this rep is acting on his own has never been in corporate sales LMAO.

Just my .02

You go brother Mike :thumbs:

BenjieV

Interesting thread. The most interesting thing to me is that Lew Rothman and Steve Saka appear to allege that CAO engages in resale price maintenance agreements intended to establish minimum prices for CAO products.

I also agree that Huber's response was written by a lawyer.

I am curious to see how this one plays out.

 

[hbooker]

It's my opinion that it is played out already.

No one in CAO wants to step up and admidt publically that a sales rep who was worried about a HUGE commision to Jr's would actually price fix like was done.

I know from my own business that If one rep ever pulled that crap, he would be fired before the sunset on the same day.

Our policy is clear.
Once a retiailer purchase our product they can do with it as they wish.
We do not even make a standard "Keystone agreement"

But that really doesn't effect 99.5% of the people on the boards becasue you all know.. Nobody smokes Lars.......

Mike Leahy
Vice president M Cubed Inc.

 

[BACCHUS]

Booker:

I agree that CAO has said all that they are going to say, publicly. From a legal standpoint, however, the statements made by Lew Rothman and Steve Saka are potentially far more significant than what the rep. said to Mdman. If what Lew and Steve said is true, and I have no reason to doubt them, CAO may rue the day if the anti-trust division of the US DOJ turns its jaundiced eye in CAO's direction. The DOJ has the next play to make, but they will probably never make it unless some of the retailers force the issue.

I love CAO cigars, but they are over-priced and the Fuentes are too (so says a man who bought 23 Opus X's last week). LOL!

Bacchus

 

[Lumberg]

CAO may rue the day if the anti-trust division of the US DOJ turns its jaundiced eye in CAO's direction.

Bacchus

You've got a way with words!

 

[Matt R]

FWIW......though I've never bought anything from mdcigars, they are the only non-overseas site that I haven't added their e-mails to the spam police. I enjoy reading them when they come. And, CAO stiffed us for donations to the LOL Herf II and III.

 

[hbooker]

Man Matt,
Im having a bit of a tussle getting things worked out with them now for the CW herf. Ohh well..
Things happen when a company forgets the little things like details..
Hb