I've been Bamboozled!
- Thread starter Daviso27
- Start date
Cohiba's are sold in Cuba but they are sold in state run store's.
One of Cubas biggest income is tourism thats who buys CC's inside Cuba in state run store all brands.
Most people in the US cant even spot fakes and will trust anyone who says they have cubans.
But there are some of us in this hobbie who can spot them.
There was an article a while back stating fake Cubans were grossing in the hundereds of millions most in the US.
I have seen fake's from Monte #4 to San Cristobal churchill A/T and why because its sells.
I identified 200+ fake boxes of CC avg price was $225 to $350 add it up and thats a cigar lounge.
Most fakes are peddled through work place's and friends of a friend and more lame stories in the US.
The poor people in Cuba smoke as i remember are called Peso cigars.
One of Cubas biggest income is tourism thats who buys CC's inside Cuba in state run store all brands.
Most people in the US cant even spot fakes and will trust anyone who says they have cubans.
But there are some of us in this hobbie who can spot them.
There was an article a while back stating fake Cubans were grossing in the hundereds of millions most in the US.
I have seen fake's from Monte #4 to San Cristobal churchill A/T and why because its sells.
I identified 200+ fake boxes of CC avg price was $225 to $350 add it up and thats a cigar lounge.
Most fakes are peddled through work place's and friends of a friend and more lame stories in the US.
The poor people in Cuba smoke as i remember are called Peso cigars.
MichiganM
The One, The Only
Well I know they must sell a decent amount of handmade and quality cigars inside Cuba, based on the shops that James Suckling visited in Cuba in his video blog. I have to imagine that a very, very small amount of those cigars are sold to locals. I'm guessing that's all tourists.
But, MOST cigars are still sold outside Cuba. I have to imagine that it's less than 5 percent of all sales inside Cuba. I thought I seen these figures posted somewhere a while ago.
But, MOST cigars are still sold outside Cuba. I have to imagine that it's less than 5 percent of all sales inside Cuba. I thought I seen these figures posted somewhere a while ago.
If and when you go to Cuba you will see that Casa del Habanos stores are well stocked mainly for the tourists.
As far as Cubans being sold outside of the country yes more are sold because there is more of a demand for them and also i would think $$$$$.
As far as Cubans being sold outside of the country yes more are sold because there is more of a demand for them and also i would think $$$$$.
Nice link. Good reference when you need it.
Someone told me that Cohiba is the most counterfeited frontmark in the world. I have no reason to doubt this.
If I can dig up the article I have about the bust the ATF made in Ybor City in 2003 (700,000 cigars and 300,000 bands confiscated), I'll post it.
Let the buyer beware.
If I can dig up the article I have about the bust the ATF made in Ybor City in 2003 (700,000 cigars and 300,000 bands confiscated), I'll post it.
Let the buyer beware.
Altercall
I beat you all May '08 :)
I'll be the first to tell you it's not easy to spot all fakes. Part of the reason is what we call "Cuba being Cuba." The quality control in Cuba is not the best. The things that you look for in fakes can alot of times also be present in real CCs. I had a cigar sent to me by a trusted brother and had to send him a cigar making sure they were real because they looked so far off (wrapper, band, and even box press) from every other one I'd ever seen. There are certain things that are absolute, like the seal, black light label, rice paper, heat stamp, and of course the trip cap. But after that, you see all sorts of stuff that can be off at times. It's better to be safe than sorry, but you also have to remember that Cuba is Cuba!
Altercall
I beat you all May '08 :)
Funny thing is, Cohibas are probably the worst CC out now, at least to my palette. They're still not bad, but I think I'd rather have any of the other labels. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
Ratbert
BoM Oct '07
When I visited the Bahamas, I saw kids in the marketplace putting Cohiba bands on naked sticks and arranging them in boxes...I'm sure these were snapped up by tourists just as fast as the kids could get them out to the taxi drivers.
I bought some Monte #4 in a John Bull shop...beautiful, locked humidor with an attendant and the shop was full of high end jewelry, watches, purses, etc. that were not fake. Smokes looked fine, but smoked "just okay." I was disappointed, but realize now that it was probably a fake, even though it came from a reputable shop. The shop itself probably thought they were real, but unless it's a LCDH, I would be suspect of any shops buyers.
I bought some Monte #4 in a John Bull shop...beautiful, locked humidor with an attendant and the shop was full of high end jewelry, watches, purses, etc. that were not fake. Smokes looked fine, but smoked "just okay." I was disappointed, but realize now that it was probably a fake, even though it came from a reputable shop. The shop itself probably thought they were real, but unless it's a LCDH, I would be suspect of any shops buyers.
I inferred from dpricenator's comment that there was a two tiered system of Habanos, i.e. lower quality sold in Cuba and premium quality for export. Sorry if I read that wrong. As some have mentioned, there is a huge quantity of legitimate cigars sold at the LCDH's to tourists. Havana proper has about 10 LCDH stores. Popluar marcas and vitolas don't sit on shelves for very long, so they move quite frequently. For example, most Cohiba, most Monte can't be found with more than 6 months of age. In general, most boxes have less than 2 years of age.