I know that publishing sources is wrong and shouldn't be practiced on this forum. Let's not dig into that. My question is "why are people so protective of their sources?" I have a couple sources that have been provided by people on this forum and I appreciate it. I'm just curious why people are so secretive. Does it protect the source or is it a "I have something you don't" thing?
I think it has to do with sharing something that you went to some personal trouble to obtain...it has value to you...you want the person you give it to to have an appreciation for it, to appreciate the effort involved...you get to know peoples' "handles" after a while, see that they are serious and care about cigars, you then are willing to share...number of posts is less important than quality of posts and types of questions asked and research done beforehand...an earnest noob is a worthy noob and perhaps a serious smoker in training...that guy, you help.
camdog, many of the posters here have what could almost be thought of as a personal relationship with their vendor. Once you find a vendor that sells a quality product for a reasonable price, you're protective of it. Protective doesn't mean you don't share, it means just what it says, protect it from anyone that might abuse or bring trouble to the vendor. Some of the vendors operate on a referal system for that very reason. They want trustworthy customers.
No sources means no free advertising for those sources. I think this may have something to do with the rule. If sources were allowed those sources would flood the board with there advertisements.
Posts: 492 | Location: south of Boston | Registered: November 04, 2003
What Jerry said, plus Cuban Cigars are illegal at the USA. So I think CA could run in a lot of problems if they would allow discussions about the best way to break the law at their public fora. ;-)
On the buyer point of vue, I am not sure that I completely agree with that. Posting the name of a website on this forum is not going to bring a lot of new clients to a website because people here are satisfied with their existing sources and are not going to change.
Maybe for new members it could be interesting but in that case we would have also messages concerning “source reputation” or “source verification”.
I can very easily guess that reputable sources would not be the one posting what you call « free advertisement » on the forum, but you would have for sure hundred posts from « new sources » or « website selling fakes » a kind of perpetual online spam and that is on my opinion not the idea of this forum.
The only good advertisement a shop could do on a forum like this is indirect, that means happy and satisfied clients referring other people, that is real value added the rest is really peanuts …
>> it means just what it says, protect it from >>anyone that might abuse >>or bring trouble to the vendor. Some of the >>vendors operate on a referral system for that >>very reason. They wanttrustworthy customers.
That is true you can not imagine how many tentative of frauds a vendor is facing every week (and I am not only mentioning credit card frauds) … even sometimes from existing clients …
You could also imagine that “customs people” or competitors are ordering cigars online to see how a source has developed a good way to ship the boxes.
There are hundred reason not to post website names here but on my opinion the most valuable one is that we want to stay quiet here, I do not want to read every 2 post a message from a guy who want to sell me online those famous Cohiba Eslpendidos vitrificados ….
Posts: 220 | Location: Geneva | Registered: May 16, 2003
I have to be honest here. If you post here that you got a good deal on a box of EL DC's or whatever then you're going to get slammed that you're an idiot who buys fakes. We've all seen it, over and over and over again. I consider my source a friend who consistently gives me good deals. So good in fact that I have no doubt that many of you would call them fakes. Well, I'm no expert but I have read the posts of many of the experts who post here so I know what to look for. I've seen all the pics of fake vs genuine bands. If the smokes I'm purchasing are fake then someone is going to a lot of trouble. The proof though is in the pudding and if my gars are fakes then so be it! They look, feel and most importantly taste like the real thing and I have no reason to doubt them. I just don't feel like getting slammed on this board and that's why I'm reluctant to give up my source. That and not getting them in trouble.
AM
"There are no ugly cigars, only ugly smokers" HL Mencken
Posts: 140 | Location: NC, USA | Registered: June 29, 2003
one of my friends had someone over, and when the kid found out i smoked cigars he went nuts. he then was amazed that i had cubans, and demanded to know how to get them. i had absolutely no interest in telling him, since i spent months figuring out the best way, the cheapest way, and through some of you, the most reliable way. he couldnt understand why i wouldnt just divulge everything i knew about how to get cubans. he had no interest in cigars really, just cubans. it was more for the so called "status" of having cubans, since i could have probably given this kid a phlly blunt and he would have thought it was fantastic. before that, i didnt quite understand why people are protective of their sources. now i know. i don't want to be the guy who sent a shmuck to my source.
Noob, and a FNG to boot!
Posts: 491 | Location: Ithaca, NY | Registered: April 19, 2004
I don't think I've seen so many reasonable posts in one thread on this forum before this thread.
I think it's the same for any "source" you have. I have reliable places for different things, like body shop for cars, travel place, etc. I'd be very careful about who I refer to them because I don't want to sent them crappy customers who then use my name as a referral. However, if you have someone you know and like and suddenly they need something, you'll give up your source with no problem and without them even asking.
--------------------------------------------------------- "There are five things, above all else, that make life worth living: a good relationship with God, a good woman, good health, good friends, and a good cigar." -- Prince Sined Yar Maharg
There are LOTS of reasons to protect sources. For one thing, these sources are engaging in a practice that could land them and their customers in a load of trouble. People in the US are looking for Cuban cigars through such sources, and if it's advertised all over these pages who the sources are and what they do and where and how they send things, and what their story is, we must remember that these pages are not immune from prying eyes. Indeed, investigators of crimes look on BBS for clues and information as to how the crimes are committed, what modalities are used, and so on. And this board, believe it or not, is one of those places. So, there is a risk to the vendor AND we recipients...and if it's a good source, where lots of people get their cigars, and something bad happens, the source might dry up and that would affect a whole lot of people.
Similarly, if you're lips are too loose and you just can't keep a secret about something like a source, all of a sudden, everybody is running to the source for their cigars...next thing you know, you want that box of whatever, and they're out!! Someone else who learned about the source was able to nab them before you.
Finally, sources are easy to come by and people freely give them out if you simply ask privately. Not only do people freely give them out, but some vendors, no doubt, offer incentives for referrals. So, all you need to do is become part of the web of customers, which is the easy part.
For those and other reasons, it's not a good idea to post your sources...if you have a question about a source, just use reason...ask...and someone will answer. But do it privately. That's what I'm talkin' about.
___________________ Santa Cabilla...patron saint of Quericæstan. VIVE COULTER! VIVE CPD!
Posts: 10308 | Location: Avenida de las Nalgas, Quericæstan | Registered: May 02, 2002
Well, I can comment that years ago I phoned a source that 3/4 of the people on this board probably have used by now. They didn't want to send to the US. I spent time on the phone with them and finally set up a relationship. I continued to use them even after cheaper places popped up because they sent intact. Now I got the message that they can no longer ship this way. I'm all about sharing, and have with people I know, but can you see how it would be a little annoying?
Posts: 1 | Location: King of Prussia PA USA | Registered: June 24, 2004
