fakes?

[n3uka]

Originally Posted by winnie

I appreciate you guys not making me feel like a total fool on this...

Even though I feel like one anyways.

welcome to the club. i've got a couple $$'s worth of fugazi from a trip too.
luckily most of my friends don't know it and think they are great

great to keep moochers from your good stuff

[winnie]

Originally Posted by Boston_Dude05

Where did you buy them on vacation? What location? Pretty bad fakes too.

We were in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

[winnie]

Originally Posted by Coffee Grounds

Bro
It happen to me too.
I ended up spending about $300 with a vender that was selling fake sh1t.
I thought they were real they were about 30% cheaper than the online market. They smoked well tasted good & great construction. I noticed that 2 different cigars tasted a lot alike. Thats when I sent them to a smoker with a lot of experience with Cuban cigars. He new right a way do to one being 1/4 in. too long. Another was suppose to be box pressed and was not.

So it happens to alot of people your not alone.
I know I will not make the same mistake twice.

Neither will I, my friend. I am already educating myself on the differences!

[inept]

Here's a warning for my fellow Canuck: you have to be careful at home too. Some years ago, my mother thought that it would be a wonderful birthday gift if she bought me some Montecristo #4's at a local mall retailer of substantial brand name. If you live in Canada, you know the one I'm talking about and you probably never go there: neither do I. She doesn't know much about cigars but she did her best.

Draw was impossibly tight, two caps instead of three, labels all wrong, etc. I took 'em back (all 4.75 of them), quietly pointed out all of the obvious markers and got her money back.

She just recently returned from Cuba and came with two boxes of the country's absolute finest in hand, purchased from a government store. Cuba's getting a little more serious about ensuring authenticity so keep an eye out for the more obvious markers of authenticity. Holograms, gold embossed Habanos stickers, new government seals with black light security features, burned-in stamps on the bottom, etc.

On the bright side, you probably won't get fooled twice with this experience under your belt.

[TMoneYNYY]

I wouldn't mind testing if those are the real deal!

Sorry to hear that, man. Good luck in the future, it never feels good when you are ripped-off.

[illuminatus]

How do they taste? They may not be authentic to the brand, but they could still contain some decent tobacco... any cigar that tastes good isn't a complete waste..

[Sturat]

Thats a shame, but if I were you I would still smoke them. At least that way it wouldn't be a total loss. Live and learn I guess.

[LiteHedded]

pretty bad fakes
live and learn

[Corona Gigante]

Originally Posted by Sturat

Thats a shame, but if I were you I would still smoke them. At least that way it wouldn't be a total loss. Live and learn I guess.

All sorts of stuff goes into fake cigars, not just tobacco, anything that'll pack 'em (have you ever heard the expression money for old rope?). I'd cut a few open and check exactly what you're dealing with before you try smoking one.

[shadowbandit]

Originally Posted by winnie

I'm scared to find out the truth...but after what dstaccone told me, and a quick check on my part, I think he's right about the Cohibas.

The other two boxes are Romeo Y Julieta , and Monte Cristo.

[SIZE="3"]Did I get totally ripped off?[/SIZE]

You got raped!

[wharfrathoss]

don't feel bad, i've gotten nailed buying singles @ $15 a pop-have decided to deal w/Habanos S.A. dealers or trade w/guys that know better

[Sturat]

Originally Posted by Corona Gigante

All sorts of stuff goes into fake cigars, not just tobacco, anything that'll pack 'em (have you ever heard the expression money for old rope?). I'd cut a few open and check exactly what you're dealing with before you try smoking one.

Good point, I hadn't thought of that.

[winnie]

Originally Posted by illuminatus

How do they taste? They may not be authentic to the brand, but they could still contain some decent tobacco... any cigar that tastes good isn't a complete waste..

I smoked some of the fakeba's there, they were smokeable, I haven't tried the others yet.

Originally Posted by Corona Gigante

All sorts of stuff goes into fake cigars, not just tobacco, anything that'll pack 'em (have you ever heard the expression money for old rope?). I'd cut a few open and check exactly what you're dealing with before you try smoking one.

I pulled one apart yesterday, alot of crumbled crap in there, but other than that, seemed safe. I'll check the other ones too.

I'm still going to smoke them, but will have no reservation about pitching a bad one.

Time to start building an inventory of good stuff, have to look around and find some good, inexpensive smokes.

You guys all seem pretty cool, I look forward to learning more from all of you!

[winnie]

Originally Posted by inept

Here's a warning for my fellow Canuck: you have to be careful at home too. Some years ago, my mother thought that it would be a wonderful birthday gift if she bought me some Montecristo #4's at a local mall retailer of substantial brand name. If you live in Canada, you know the one I'm talking about and you probably never go there: neither do I. She doesn't know much about cigars but she did her best.

Draw was impossibly tight, two caps instead of three, labels all wrong, etc. I took 'em back (all 4.75 of them), quietly pointed out all of the obvious markers and got her money back.

She just recently returned from Cuba and came with two boxes of the country's absolute finest in hand, purchased from a government store. Cuba's getting a little more serious about ensuring authenticity so keep an eye out for the more obvious markers of authenticity. Holograms, gold embossed Habanos stickers, new government seals with black light security features, burned-in stamps on the bottom, etc.

On the bright side, you probably won't get fooled twice with this experience under your belt.

Can you pm me some good online dealers in Canada? It would be greatly appreciated, I think all that we have here is Thomas Hinds.

[neoflex]

Don't want to kick you while you are down because I totally feel for you, but those are some of the ugliest smokes I have ever seen. (Puts on flame retardant suit)