Quality Downgrade

I have been smoking Stuyvesant Filter for the last 25 years.I purchase 2 Cartons a month.About a year or so ago I've been noticing that it doesn't burn well.Whenever I light it,the tip turns to a big ball of Charcoal which makes it very unsatisfying to smoke as I only end up smoking about half of it because the first half turns to Charcoal.It also makes a crackling sound while smoking it.Before it use to be like maybe 3 or 4 packs of the carton would do this.But now every pack has atleast 3 cigarettes that does it.Just last week I was smoking one and I realized that the 80% of the filer was totally Alot of my friends have moved to other brands and they advise that I do so too.Ive been a loyal customer for 25 years and refuse to smoke anything else.Even when it was banned...I was paying R1500 a carton just to have this brand.Now the quality is gone so terrible.Its a premium brand...its much more pricey than other brands...yet the quality is that of a cheap cigarette.Im wondering if I should support cheaper brands now.Because the main reason I purchase Stuyvesant is becuase I think I'm getting quality for the money I pay.