carlito sells out?

[smokepiper]

Frankly, I can't wait for the day someone wants me to sell out.

[RcktS4]

Originally Posted by mmblz

"Language, Truth, and Advertising"

This made me laugh. Those things are like three brothers that hate each other, harbor ill-feelings from their earliest memories, haven't spoken a civil word in years, and trash the house in drunken violence every holiday when they return home... ostensibly related, but suffering from an absolute inability to coexist with any good effect at the same space/time coordinates.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by DonJefe

So who here believes the Fuentes aren't in business to make money? I don't agree with everything they do, but they are marketing geniuses and have plenty of sycophants who gobble up everything they spew out.

Yeah, there are plenty of people who don't mind paying the exorbitant fees for the Fuente label.

[Mister Moo]

So, which is it? Does a good cigar make bad beer taste better; or
does bad beer simply ruin a good smoke? As if....

Yeah - I wish someone would let me sell out. No matter what anyone says, it has to be easier being a rich 'hoe than an indigent one.

[carbonbased_al]

Originally Posted by smokepiper

Frankly, I can't wait for the day someone wants me to sell out.

Dunno if that's gonna happen for a cigar smoking bagpiper

[Matt R]

One of my best buddies set up this deal. Great marketing in my opinion. How often do you guys see an ad for whatever "good" beer that you drink, played aside an NFL game, NBA, MLB, etc., etc.?? If anyone in the world of cigars doesn't think Fuente/Newman aren't in this business to make money, you've been hiding under a rug for way too long. Sure, they are passionate about the business, but so are the Busch families, concerning beer. It's funny to me to hear people degrade Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Lite, etc., especially when I do some looking around and compare what they are smoking to what I consider "good" cigars. We all have different tastes and different ideas of what is good.
BTW, did the Sam Adams guys sellout when they went big time?? Of course they did, but that didn't make the beer any less of a beer. Just made it more accessible.

[ky toker]

Originally Posted by TypeO-

Money shouldn't matter. Strangely enough, people from other countries, at least in Japan, love Bud. I don't know why.

Though I haven't had all of Japan's beers, they seem to like light lagers and Bud is kinda a tad heaver (believe that) than the ones I've had.

Edited: actually just had a Japanese beer last night at dinner.

[JDC20]

Originally Posted by mmblz

eh... I disagree. Primarily I see it as a sell-out because Fuente does make great products. As Carlito is always talking about, cigars are his life, and he is utterly devoted to making the best cigars possible. Budweiser simply doesn't have the same mentality. They're not making beer for the sake of great beer, they're making cheap beer for the sake of making money. They're like Swisher sweets.

Second, I have to wonder what they accomplish by appearing in this ad. Sure, some Budweiser drinkers may see it and decide to try AF - but how many of these people will end up being cigar smokers or appreciate that AFs actually have some flavor? Based on their beer choice, even if they go for a "premium" cigar, they'll probably want a Macanudo. Seems like for the most part they may only try one or two AFs. Cigar smokers may see the ad, but they are already likely to know about AF, and the Bud association is most likely negative.

Here are some counterpoints

1. This advertisement shows two FAMILY run business's that are at the top of their game. Regardless if you like Budweiser or Fuente cigars I don't think anyone can argue that there are any more dominant players in either industry that are still family-owned/operated. So what I see are two families who have a history and passion in the same ad.

2. 90%+ percent of the people who see this ad will not even know what an A. Fuente cigar is. But even if 10 guys go to their local cigar shop and pick up any cigar for the first time we are better off than before. We need to realize that we are a small group of people who hare having our hobby attacked left and right, taxes, anti-smoking, etc. I say the more the merrier and the bigger voice we have the better chance we have of protecting our fun. Any ad that puts cigars into plain view in national publications is okay with me.

But I am a little biased on this subject and project......

[Thurm15]

I see the Ad as a sign of the times. We are in the midst of another Cigar Boom.

[rumballs]

I guess I like the idea of the ad, and what it comes down to is wishing that it were a good beer in the ad (like Sam Adams, which someone already mentioned as a mass-marketed, higher quality beer).
I'll also give Budweiser that I like the way they're using the crown symbol composed of other things...

[Matt R]

Originally Posted by JDC20

But I am a little biased on this subject and project......

Yeah, no kidding....