The last couple of months Famous has been emailing almost daily about their "Huge Super Discount Sale".  One time its "Almost Over!", then its "Only One Day Left!", then its "Starts Today!".  They've sent it so often that I think the "gimmick" is losing credibility, and I believe there is a 'Huge Sale' about as much as I believe the furniture stores and car lots are having a 'Huge Sale' . Its a joke.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a frequent customer of Famous, but I just find this to be a turn-off.

Also, when you follow the link, I find it hard to focus on the 'deals' the way they have the page set up, and  after scrolling for about 20 seconds I frankly lose interest.

http://www.famous-smoke.com/cigars/sale.cfm?emk=EMT1541&utm_source=WeekendSale&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EMT1541&utm_content=ClearanceSale

Is it just me, or do others feel the same way?

You are right!
I have been getting those emails and did click on the first few.
 
The link it takes you to was just a jumbled mess of too much shyt!
No great deals either.

When I see the emails, I  just delete 'em from now on.

QuoteBrlesq - 2/4/2011  9:58 AM



Also, when you follow the link, I find it hard to focus on the 'deals' the way they have the page set up, and  after scrolling for about 20 seconds I frankly lose interest.

QuoteI feel the same way. A while back I did pick up a "Vengeance" sampler For 19.99. Awesome deal. After that, I got a 10.00 coupon...spend 50 get 10 back.
Only trouble is, I'm having a hard time finding something to drop a 50 on.
Alot of there stuff just doesn't interest me.

I know exactly what you mean.  We've been bombarded by too much hype w/out enough actual substance.  And frankly it is difficult to go through their "sale" page because there is so much on there.  I really don't see why they need to list every single vitola and ever single wrapper of every single cigar that they have on "sale" when just one entry would do.  I'm sure that we'd all check into anything we were interested in buying.  It is getting a bit obnoxious.  Its a matter of someone, somewhere with a misguided idea as to what salesmanship is...  And here's a hint, it ain't badgering me to buy stuff that I don't want or need.  I've done a lot of selling over the years and I've not met a customer yet who wanted to be treated that way.  

QuoteHerfin' Chef - 2/4/2011  9:10 AM

QuoteBrlesq - 2/4/2011  9:58 AM



Also, when you follow the link, I find it hard to focus on the 'deals' the way they have the page set up, and  after scrolling for about 20 seconds I frankly lose interest.

QuoteI feel the same way. A while back I did pick up a "Vengeance" sampler For 19.99. Awesome deal. After that, I got a 10.00 coupon...spend 50 get 10 back.
Only trouble is, I'm having a hard time finding something to drop a 50 on.
Alot of there stuff just doesn't interest me.

Wayne, you can use the $10.00 off coupon on Cigar Monster as well. (or that is how I used mine!)

QuoteBrlesq - 2/4/2011  9:58 AM

The last couple of months Famous has been emailing almost daily about their "Huge Super Discount Sale".  One time its "Almost Over!", then its "Only One Day Left!", then its "Starts Today!".  They've sent it so often that I think the "gimmick" is losing credibility, and I believe there is a 'Huge Sale' about as much as I believe the furniture stores and car lots are having a 'Huge Sale' . Its a joke.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a frequent customer of Famous, but I just find this to be a turn-off.

Also, when you follow the link, I find it hard to focus on the 'deals' the way they have the page set up, and  after scrolling for about 20 seconds I frankly lose interest.

http://www.famous-smoke.com/cigars/sale.cfm?emk=EMT1541&utm_source=WeekendSale&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EMT1541&utm_content=ClearanceSale

Is it just me, or do others feel the same way?

 

It's part of the reason I stopped including this "sale" in the Daily Deals posting.

I was going to bytch about the very same thing last week but just passed on it because I thought I was getting too picky...but since the can has been opened up....I think they just use the same cigars and hit a random order button and then re-name the sale...lazy and uninspiring in my opinion, and worse, as mentioned above, they re-name the same damn sale like three times a week. You used to be able to pick up a decent priced 5 pack (equal to the monster price) not so long ago, but now I never see those deals anymore on that "stupendous, blockbuster, clearance, last day of school, closeout, end of month, last day sale page.

I didnt really read the thread but I'll be pissed off too with you!


 

They have been driving me nuts with this. They did send a small mailer out that had some amazing deals right before Christmas. I did jump on a couple of insane deals from that. Most of what they have to offer looks like house brand stuff which I am not really a fan of. These emails won't stop but hey, at least they aren't Thompson's!

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

QuoteBob Cordell - 2/4/2011  11:20 AM

I didnt really read the thread but I'll be pissed off too with you!


 

Be pissed off with me. Don't you just hate that lots of people disagree with my world view?

It doesn't bother me at all, if you must know the truth.  I think you can edit your account preferences to avoid emails...


 

Quotejsnake - 2/4/2011  11:22 AM

They have been driving me nuts with this. They did send a small mailer out that had some amazing deals right before Christmas. I did jump on a couple of insane deals from that. Most of what they have to offer looks like house brand stuff which I am not really a fan of. These emails won't stop but hey, at least they aren't Thompson's!

Amen. Aside from house blends that are made and advertised as by known favorites, why would I sink my money into their expensive and disappointing unknowns? Their made by Pepins caught my eye, but not my budget. I've thought of mentioning Famous' annoying pseudo-sales for weeks.

Why can companies afford to sell cigars dirt cheap in part of their website but not the rest?

QuoteCigahs - 2/4/2011  5:20 PM

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

you can click on "the really cheap stuff we've been hiding hoping to trick you"?

QuoteCigahs - 2/4/2011  5:20 PM

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

Why "hide" the deals in the first place...just put the cigars on the page that are "actually" a deal that can match the title of the sale. There is so much on the page that is soooooo not a deal at all. Seriously, $5 for a NUB cigar...how can anyone justify that as a sale price when they can still be had for under $3 with careful shopping. Pinar Del Rio Classico 10 cigar sampler for $40, come come now, let's keep it real. Those cigars can be had for $2 a pop and sometimes less at an aution site...to ask for $4 a pop on a sale page is just outrageous...IMO

I also like Famous.  So far they have given me some of the best overall customer service.  But, when I get emails on their sales now, I just delete them.

I usually ignore Famous sales.  However, you can sometimes find some real gems, like I found a box of 50 La Aurora Preferidos Lancers for $200.  It just takes a lot of sifting through the crap.

By the way, I will say, some of the Famous house blends are pretty good smokes.  I wouldn't pay full asking price for any of them, but Monster or sales prices put them in a good cost position.

QuoteCigahs - 2/4/2011  5:20 PM

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

Thanks for the tip Humberto.  As you can tell from the previous responses, we can be a pretty tough crowd here ... but then most of us aren't your average mouth breathing knuckle dragging customer either (us Geeks are SPECIAL mouth breathing knuckle dragging customers).  Maybe Famous sells a lot from those pages, I wouldn't know.  But you don't sell anything to me from them ... it's too much to scroll through even when it's sorted.

QuoteJackal - 2/4/2011  7:09 PM

*snip* some of the Famous house blends are pretty good smokes.  I wouldn't pay full asking price for any of them, but Monster or sales prices put them in a good cost position.

Jason, any in particular you would recommend?  

I tried the Signature Rocky Patel the other day and must say I was pleasantly surprised. I would buy more ... on sale.

QuoteCigahs - 2/4/2011  5:20 PM

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

Thanks for the tip, Humberto.  Most of us probably didn't know about the sort feature. But as others have stated, there's still way too much on the page, and when everything apears to be on sale, its not really a sale at all, is it?

If this strategy gets Famous a lot of business, then by all means stick with it.  You should be able to know that from the click-throughs from the email and that page.  However, if its only 'so-so', then please accept my observation (along with my fellow Geeks) as a positive criticism that might help Famous develop a better campaign strategy that is more enticing and less of a turn-off, and creates more sales for Famous.      

A word to the wise:  Look for Famous' "Sonny (Whatever) Wise Buys" on the Monster.  That's all I'm sayin'... other than they make for good bomb ingredients...

QuoteCigahs - 2/4/2011  5:20 PM

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

Didn't know that.  Thanks for the tip!

QuoteBlackIrish - 2/4/2011  8:45 PM

QuoteCigahs - 2/4/2011  5:20 PM

FWIW, you can re-sort the page alphabetically or by price to find the 'hidden' deals.

There's a sort option at the top left - right above the first row of specials.

Good luck!

Humberto

Didn't know that.  Thanks for the tip!

 That was news to me.  I haven't seen anything on Famous that I got Super excited about since Dave sent me over there to hunt up some SLR Maduro Rothschilds last fall or the Kriven Samplers right before Christmas.     Not that I haven't bought a couple things since.  

Thanks for the tip, Humberto!  LIke the sentiments above, I really like Famous and shop there often.  However, there are too many emails...

Wow! I just got this email from Famous!: Super Discount Sale going on now! Now! Wow! Run! (direction is discretionary).