CAO Sopranos have been called back

[drevim]

Ok all, since I started this thread, I thought I would take the lead on trying to get an answer. Today, I did, officially from CAO themselves. Why this didn't occur to me before now I have no idea, but......
This is what I sent to CAO Marketing...
....
Hello,

I was recently informed by a local smoke shop that the "Sopranos" line had been recalled. This is unfortuante, I enjoyed them quite often. If I may ask, is there a reason for this recall? Also, which of your other lines of cigars would you recommend to offset the withdrawing of this line.

Thank you for the help and information,

Ian Lynn
i.lynn@insightbb.com
.....

Yes, I fibbed a bit about the enjoying them often, but I thought I'd oil the gears a bit. Here is their response....
.....
Ian - Thank you for your email and for bringing this to our attention.

I would be curious to know the retail tobacconist who told you this as nothing could be further from the truth. No, the 'CAO The Sopranos Edition' line has NOT been "recalled" nor are there any plans of doing so. We just received and shipped out the very first CAO TSE cigars last month and we have only received very positive feedback to date.

Thank you for your support and please let me know where you heard this 'rumor' from - thank you!

Jon A. Huber
Chief Marketing Officer
.....

Guess that answers the big question, but the one that still remains is, where have they gone at my 2 local B&Ms. Is there a middle man in cigar sales? Or could this just be bad info given to 2 shops.

Anyways, hope this helps. Or at least squashs the stir I started.

Ian

[Ms. Floydp]

now don't go ratting out your friends..LOL

We just got off of the phone with the vendor that we get our CAO's from and he said that he's not heard anything about it and they're selling good this holiday season. whew.. haven't tried one yet and certainly don't want them to go away before I get the chance. Ordering a couple the next time I place an order.

[cosner63]

I heard that the CAO Sopranos were just going on a boat ride........and never coming back

[drevim]

Originally Posted by cosner63

I heard that the CAO Sopranos were just going on a boat ride........and never coming back

Didn't know there was a "Big P*ssy" cigar in the line. .....

And don't worry Anita, I haven't replied, although it would be stretching to call this particular establishment anything, but cheaper (prices that is) than others in the area. That is why I rarely go there. But my regular place has pulled them too.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by cosner63

I heard that the CAO Sopranos were just going on a boat ride........and never coming back

no no no they are just taking a ride upstate is all

[ggiese]

My shop sold out of the original shipment (2 boxes of each). I was told they have them on backorder. According to my shop - there is no plans to scrap the Soprano cigars...

I did manage to get one of the boxes... Very nice!!!

[cameroncouch02]

Originally Posted by ggiese

My shop sold out of the original shipment (2 boxes of each). I was told they have them on backorder. According to my shop - there is no plans to scrap the Soprano cigars...

I did manage to get one of the boxes... Very nice!!!

Are these sticks worth trying?? My B&M has three boxes of them. The packaging of the sitcks is nice with the red and black velvet(if I can remember correctly).

[RumblePen]

I thought something was funny since I found out our CAO salesman just sold us 6 boxes of these.

[GhostDawg]

Originally Posted by backwoods

I believe the Diablos had been cancelled once before? But this really bums me out if its permanent this time. One of my favorites.

The guy at my local store said he didn't think they were being canceled, but that they had not been selling well for him so the store was discontinuing them. I liked them so not news I wanted to hear.

[mdman]

It could be something more than that.. We had horrible experiances with CAO a number of times and finally dropped them when they crossed the line.

CAO is all rockstar marketing and less cigar making in my opinion.
Yes, Torano rolls some good cigars for them, but since they tried to price fix with us, we will never carry them again.

[Mr. Pink]

I bet they come back to the shelves with a different band around 'em.

[CrazyFool]

Originally Posted by mdman

CAO is all rockstar marketing and less cigar making in my opinion.

are you sure your opinion on their cigars isnt biased, based on your business relations with them? I respect your opinion no doubt, but with the Cameroon and Maduro Anniversarys, the Brazilia, Mx2, Black.... theres just so many good ones!

Well anyway market the hell out of a cigar they can, but they are still looking for an 'OpusX' of there own, with a few trys and no luck so far.

[Jaxstraww]

I think what Mike is saying before you go CAO crazy Torano does most of the cigar making for them. To my knowledge they outsource all their smokes. There's no CAO factory in Honduras or something. All the back end is different manufacturers while CAO handles the front end like marketing and distribution.