I can see this from both sides.
Our site here is not for shameless self promotion, our sponsors pay to advertise here, and take care of our members.
In this case, we are being offered a free cigar and are being asked to do a review of that cigar. This is something we do on this site everyday and may even help some of us in making furture purchases. I certainly hope he knows that none of us wil give a good review if we don't like the smoke. If it's a dog rocket I'm gonna tell the world.
In return we give him the contact info for a local B&M. Most any retailer,in any industry, is completely used to getting sales calls from wholesalers looking to place thier products in stores. If this is truly a good cigar your B&M may even profit from the situation. Or they will tell him to fly a kite. Either way I get to try a new smoke for free.
And Joe is right, the guys at my B&M and the guys that smoke in the lounge are all snobs anyway. oooooo look at my God Of Fire, Look at my Opus. What do you have? Oliva? You gotta get one of these man.
I was going to say "my .02" but it's more of a .05. any how there it is.