Mexico and Cuban Cigars

[Rdelebo]

Good Afternoon All,
Need a judgement call!!!!
I am going on a trip to a small town near Puerto Vallarta this fall. Unfortunately the town is 35 miles out side of PV and I can't get to the LCDH Franchise Shop there. I googled Cigar shops in Sayulita and La Vega Cigars & Rum came up. Their claim is Cuban Cigars and Cuban experiences. I was wondering based off these pictures the legitimacy of these Cigars they are selling. From only what you see do these seem like real Cubans?
http://www.wicked-fotos.com/Restaurants-Special-Locations-/La-Vega-Cigars-Rum-Sayulita/i-RhSv3DH/A

http://www.wicked-fotos.com/Restaurants-Special-Locations-/La-Vega-Cigars-Rum-Sayulita/i-29pK9bc/A

http://www.wicked-fotos.com/Restaurants-Special-Locations-/La-Vega-Cigars-Rum-Sayulita/i-G2dzmFW/A

https://www.sayulitalife.com/la-vega

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Sh...a_Pacific_Coast.html

https://www.sayulitalife.com/news/detail/580

https://www.instagram.com/lavegacigarsrum/

https://res.cloudinary.com/say...iness/1038/59538.jpg
https://res.cloudinary.com/say...iness/1038/59535.jpg
https://res.cloudinary.com/say...iness/1038/59236.jpg


Your Comments are much appreciated.

Regards,
Ross

 

[ChuckMejia]

Moldy on the first link but they look real ... but moldy

 

[Master Shake]

First, hi and welcome. Why don't you go introduce yourself? Secondly the stuff does look legit but like Chuck said, it does look like there is some mold. Carefully inspect anything you buy and double check for both authenticity and cigar quality. Its also worth noting that in many instances Mexican pricing is punishingly high.

 

[Cmgoat]

Couldn't tell you whether they're Cuban or not but there's definitely some mold. But in Mexico you can bargain on the price.

 

[Master Shake]

Couldn't tell you whether they're Cuban or not but there's definitely some mold. But in Mexico you can bargain on the price.

Lol maybe you can bargain on some nice glass top Cohibas, but a legit smoke shop won't bargain on prices on an in demand item like Cuban cigars. Unless hes buying baller amounts, and then possibly there will be some wiggle room. But thats about it.

 

[Nacho Daddy]

why do people keep on trying to beat the system?
Mexican prices are exorbitant, storage can be poor, chance of customs nabbing the whole thing is great.
sure, go ahead. what could possibly go wrong?

 

[ChuckMejia]

why do people keep on trying to beat the system?
Mexican prices are exorbitant, storage can be poor, chance of customs nabbing the whole thing is great.
sure, go ahead. what could possibly go wrong?

Some people like paying double Msrp

 

[PamunkeyHub]

Some people like paying double Msrp

Not everyone has the sugardaddy hookup, Chuck

 

[ChuckMejia]

Not everyone has the sugardaddy hookup, Chuck

Be humble

 

[PamunkeyHub]

Be humble

 

[ChuckMejia]

View attachment 95537

Looks like my LinkedIn picture

 

[PamunkeyHub]

Looks like my LinkedIn picture

 

[Rdelebo]

You are making all valid points. I understand that prices are outrageous in Mexico, I plan to make a decision on whether to spend the money when I get there. As to customs, last spring I stopped in at LCDH Cabo San Lucas and brought back a box of No 2's with customs acknowledging the box. BUT seizure is always a possible externality. My main concern and research goal is to get a consensus on the legitimacy of such shops, like La Vega Cigars and Rum, per all of your expertise/knowledge. As the SA Habanos site does not list the shop as an official retailer.

With the obvious answer being stick to listed official retailers. I am also looking at it from this food for thought angle. Is it fair to say that, A cigar shop can could have the ability to sell Cuban Cigars without Cuban Gov. listing it as an official retailer? and I feel like a shop like this faking cigars in such a highly reputable town/village with a high volume of tourism is very risky for them on many levels. With that being said the Cuban Fake Market is prevalent even in places like this. Let me know if these are valid points. Again I appreciate all the feedback!

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

Montes look fake. The Robainas look fake. Whenever I travel I automatically assume that anything outside an LCDH is fake (because it probably is), and I operate under the condition that the legitimacy of the product needs to be proven beyond a doubt.

 

[Rdelebo]

Montes look fake. The Robainas look fake. Whenever I travel I automatically assume that anything outside an LCDH is fake (because it probably is), and I operate under the condition that the legitimacy of the product needs to be proven beyond a doubt.

Got it! Thanks for the input!

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

Got it! Thanks for the input!

The easiest way to check what kind of shop it is; take the stamps from the box and plug them into the Habanos SA web verification tool. If you find any fakes, or not found, you know it isn't a reputable shop.

 

[ChuckMejia]

Montes look fake. The Robainas look fake. Whenever I travel I automatically assume that anything outside an LCDH is fake (because it probably is), and I operate under the condition that the legitimacy of the product needs to be proven beyond a doubt.

How do the montes and robainas look fake?

 

[Rdelebo]

The easiest way to check what kind of shop it is; take the stamps from the box and plug them into the Habanos SA web verification tool. If you find any fakes, or not found, you know it isn't a reputable shop.

It would be wise to ask for a sealed box to check as the box displaying the cigars in the humidor could be real, yet the actual cigars could be fake? I'd assume.

 

[Cigar Surgeon]

How do the montes and robainas look fake?

The pictures don't give great detail but if you look at the Robainas at least half the sticks have water spots or wrapper imperfections would be very uncharacteristic for Robainas. Also looking at the image again it looks like the Robaina on the right side has beetle holes.
If you look at the image of the Monte Petite No 2s, if those aren't fake it's an example of the worst box of Monte 2s I've ever seen in my life. Water spots, wrapper blemishes, lumps, crinkled wrappers.
Again, I approach a non-LCDH store from the perspective that everything is fake until proven otherwise (because most often it is). Checking the serial numbers would be only way to be sure.

It would be wise to ask for a sealed box to check as the box displaying the cigars in the humidor could be real, yet the actual cigars could be fake? I'd assume.

Possible, but they wouldn't do that for every box.

 

[ChuckMejia]

The pictures don't give great detail but if you look at the Robainas at least half the sticks have water spots or wrapper imperfections would be very uncharacteristic for Robainas. Also looking at the image again it looks like the Robaina on the right side has beetle holes.
If you look at the image of the Monte Petite No 2s, if those aren't fake it's an example of the worst box of Monte 2s I've ever seen in my life. Water spots, wrapper blemishes, lumps, crinkled wrappers.
Again, I approach a non-LCDH store from the perspective that everything is fake until proven otherwise (because most often it is). Checking the serial numbers would be only way to be sure.


Possible, but they wouldn't do that for every box.

Have you bought any 2015 boxes? Water spots galore.

And yes mold and beetles would be issues down there.

But I don't agree with the ones pictured being fake.