Membership Rewards Program v2

by Bryan Glynn, April 6, 2013

I said I would be tweaking it and my #1 goal is to keep it fair and fun for everyone – otherwise there’s no point! The Top 10 List is gone, this was not supposed to be a race or competition. I’m NOT blaming anyone, it’s my fault for underestimating human nature to be competitive. So now you just have your own points and you own reward levels, no one else to worry about! I’m still going to be pulling in other aspects of the site to earn (and maybe spend) points too! Anyway, the Rewards page is updated with a new video and guidelines. I think this will fix the problems, I just want people to have fun and grow the site! Thanks Guys…

pato1001

Just wondering if you would do any kind of rewards or points or whatever for
CRA Members. To help promote CRA and all the good work they do for the cigar indusrty???
- Bryan Glynn
  
  Good question. Sports, religion and politics are things I really stay away from.
Dale

This works for me. Even on different forums I have always been more of a reader than a poster. I can’t seem to post nonsense just to get a post count up.

I think it would be great if you could get some Manufactures or Reps. to do an interview or have them contribute a video.
NMartin

Thanks for the update Bryan!
yosef5

I know that it is not a competion.But how do I earn points?
- Bryan Glynn
  
  Read the post, click the link…
  - JJO
    
    Maybe you need to make a video on how to read a post. :p
    
    Good move on the tweak.
    - playersrun1
      
      and then a video on getting to the site…and then a video on how to access the internet…
- Bryan Glynn
  
  I swear I could make a post that just says ‘Hi My name is Bryan Glynn’, and someone would ask what my name is! 😉
  - Jason Isbaner
    
    Now that’s funny, true and funny
  - MorganGeo
    
    Your name is Glenn right? 😉
    - MaxDuo
      
      No, his name is Cigar Obsession. I have no idea why his parents would name him that!
      
      🙂
      - Pjhosler
        
        Very true and very funny…thanks Bryan for the tweaks. It should lighten my inane reading load 🙂 boy the Gurkha review sure brought out a lot chatter that was fun. Half the fun of this hobby I think is the exploration of all the blends we have available to us.
  - Craig
    
    People just don’t pay attention. You have to laugh (to keep from pulling your hair out). Oh, um……. nevermind! lol JK Bryan !!!
MPeter7

Great. As I said earlier, nobody should fear of personal numeric points. Main point of being here: great reviews, lots of useful info about cigars and from cigar world.
I very appreciate the effort that Bryan gives us to hold these great sites up-to-date.
Mr Rojas

Really good idea, I was posting a bit more than before, but there was no way I would be able to keep up with all the top people because I only want to post things for purpose and not just points….that gets tiring really quik.
Good Idea!
- gumby_130
  
  I rather listen than talk. Should give points on videos watched.
garlar10

Works for me. Look forward to more reviews. Keep up the good work Bryan!
Andrew

I like the idea of spending points. Do you have any point-earning activities in mind besides comments and adding friends?
- Bryan Glynn
  
  Yep, as it says, more coming 🙂
  - USA2ndAmendment
    
    Hey Bryan. Are you going to do any more picture contests? I really enjoyed those. Thanks for all you do with this site!
    - Bryan Glynn
      
      Maybe is all I can say. User participation in such contests has been very lackluster, both for submissions and voting. They are not popular.
smokethis

This is a good update, thanks Bryan.
chief791

Thank you for the update. I come to this site everyday. I don’t feel the need to post dozens of times/day to see my name in lights. Great update to this. Keep up the good work.
gtclark

Change for the better – I’m excited to see how the site develops moving forward. You should call your local university to offer your site as a prime place to study interaction between reward and competition … You could be the Jane Goodall of the cigar smoking world…
- gtclark
  
  “Herfers In The Mist”
  - JJO
    
    Dian Fossey?
Romel

Geeat update Bryan, lets hope people understand the guide likes lol.
lostonmonday

Thanks Bryan, I did seem like there were a larger # of fluff posts. Love the ‘Herfers in the Mist’.
Kinda a side note, how do you change your profile pic?
- Dale
  
  If I wanted to change my profile pic I would go to gravatar.com, create a wordpress account, login and upload a pic. 🙂
  - lostonmonday
    
    Thanks!
RobinsonV

I’m glad u did away with the top ten list bc not everyone has the time to be posting crazy amounts in a day. Thanks for all your hard work.
bjjones

Good redo of the program because it would end up being one of those systems where it would be used the wrong way. GREAT REMAKE!!
Chris Tivnan

How do I get on the website, make an account, watch a video, enter the lottery or order a custom sampler? Lol
MorganGeo

That’s great. I got tired of reading all the ‘haha’ comments that showed up in one particular posters comments. haha. 😉
Dirk

Glad to see the update Byran. It was becoming a bit “wonky.” I was noticing alot of nonsense posts already.. would have cheesed up the site if continued.. thanks again for your efforts.. ok nuff said back to the latest cigar review..
- neocigaro
  
  Yup like ones that asked something that was explained on the video, bunch of nonsence.
  - Walshy
    
    Or people stating “I hate the aftertaste”. Just pointless comments.
    - MaxDuo
      
      Haha, a good place for this comment ;P
      
      Anxious to find out what we can spend points on now!
MR_EXPRESS

Fantastic! Hope the tweaking continues. Can’t wait for new things to do with accumulated points.
playersrun1

thanks for the update and good idea on removing the top ten list….gets a bit competitive and i know it was driving me for a while. thanks for running a great site.
Boucher207

Phew!! i was feeling like it was exactly that, a race to the top.
neocigaro

This is actually a better idea than before, It would be great if you could spend your points, the monthly thing had people commenting on 2009 videos like crazy haha.
sdh3237

This is a great tweak to a nice perk.
sdh3237

Cool my gravatar worked! Easy as pie. Mr. Samuel Clemens. “If there are no cigars in heaven, I shall not go.”
USA2ndAmendment

Sweet, I am glad everyone can focus on using the site and not worry about competing anymore. Good call Bryan.
BBEJ4321

I think this is a good idea. Good call buddy
david121

I think that removing the list is a good move Bryan. Keep all the good stuff comin!
Walshy

Bryan I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with Ver 2. It doesn’t need to be a competition. I’ll be honest with you, with ver1 i pretty much came to the realization that I wasn’t going to win anything because I wasn’t going to put up pointless posts. So thank you for the revision. I look forward to the NEW CigarObsession.
vscarpine

Having the list removed is probably for the best. That way it doesnt feel like a race or competition and we can still get free stuff when we reach 1000 and 5000 points!!
JJO

To all of you who have been viewing and commenting, especially the newbies here:

Having been a constant (almost nagging) presence here for the past 2+ years – and even winning a few things in that span – I can assure you that the free stuff is the least of what you will get out of this site. If everyone will be a good citizen and not treat this as a weasel den, this site will grow into what it was always destined to be – a top-notch place to learn, interact, and enjoy one of the great pleasures in life. Well, actually it already is, but it’s up to all of us to keep it that way.

My thanks to Bryan for his hard work, integrity, and friendship.
- samgiroux42
  
  Very true…yet hopefully someday I will win something too. 🙂
Kace

Wow, I feel like a complete dope! I would like to apologize to everyone here because I was one of those guys that felt like I had to be at the top of the list. I appreciate all the information that CO provides and the info that its members provide through posting.
rynie27

Love the original idea once again Bryan. Though I haven’t been registered the whole time I have continued to turn to your site for the last 2 years before I buy sticks. I have have really appreciated the no b.s reviews. Keep staying original, that’s why your site is so good.
mrl4889

Can’t complain about the top ten list being gone, although I’m sure the prospect of a 1 in 10 chance to win a sampler each week was motivation enough for random postings. Participation does seem higher on the site though, which was ultimately the point of tbr rewards program. The prospect of spending points is awesome as well. Be it cigars, accessories or cigar “swag” I love the idea. Great job as always Bryan!
samgiroux42

Hey. Where did the Top Ten List go? I was going to spend all afternoon posting on every video from 2 years ago to get to the top. I sure wish Brian would tell us how to earn points, it is SO confusing. 🙂 LOL.
sh40218

I hope this works! I’d hate to see this site become something that it wasn’t intended to be.

Keep up all the hard work BG! Love the videos.
rgmenke

I come to the site to learn from the Jedi Master, Obi Glynn (these are not the cigars you are looking for), not the contests. However, thanks for the changes.
LunchBox87km

Love the new tweaks especially since i read more than i post. Will there be any special deals or discounts like 15% off an order if we put a code or if we’re refered by cigar obsession?
- MorganGeo
  
  I think he stated above there will be more to come. I’m looking forward to whats in store for this site in the future. It keeps getting better.
Lalla

I love this idea. It will encourage me to visit more regularly and comment more often…(I already point my friends to you when they are looking for basic information or reliable reviews.)
dbfr181

Good call on removing the top 10 list. ! Keep it simple
iseedro

there goes my chance to be number one lol jk
gumby_130

I already told all my forum friends about the site After I signed up, wish I would have waited.
Eddie

thanks for the change, glad to see the “top ten” is gone, its true this isnt a competition.
puffrey

Good change Bryan, I mus admit I was one of those culprits that was posting on older stuff. I actually got stressed because I hadnt gotten on here all weekend and was worried that I fell too far behind on points. Pretty sad that I got that wrapped up in the top 10 I know.
Goldo87

either way its still a good program …. you get to socialize and theres an opportunity for free stuff ….. im in lol
- derek_straus
  
  I agree, this is a great program that will help get more people involved in the site.
Chaz

Sounds good. The leader board was making me feel inadequate and demoralized.
gumby_130

You should give more points for visiting the site daily, let for replying.