These have to be fake...

[owensaz]

I read this thread and you can't possibly REALLY think a stateside B&M doesn't have access to Google and is somehow being duped, themselves? C'mon... this B&M is KNOWINGLY selling fake CCs (particularly if the shop is already so known for it, random guys on the internet figured out who it was without the OP saying... which means he's no doubt been confronted about it in the past)! If they had the real thing, they would be charging real prices for them. I know a stateside B&M who sells the real thing...... but it's gonna cost you 64 bucks for a Sig VI. The guy taking you off to a back room and selling a 2004 limited edition Cohiba for 4 bucks does NOT think he's selling the real deal... he's just trying to make an extra buck on the side knowing you can't really complain to anyone about it because it'd be like calling the cops when your drug dealer sells you fake weed.

I wouldn't buy a book of matches from someone busted selling fake ANYTHING. I've made the mistake, too... we probably all have at some point! We just learn from it and don't use that source ever again... for anything. If you think that's "judging," so be it. It goes to any industry. If you're a known peddler of fake shoes... I won't give you any of my money, even if your shirts are great...... and I don't feel shame about that.

^This

 

[AlohaStyle]

+1 to the voices of reason above... if a US B&M is selling cuban cigars in the back room, they know what the hell they are doing. It's a big risk no matter what, and bigger to have no clue what you are doing. Either you are selling legit cigars for higher prices, or shlepping fakes on the cheap. You really think someone would sell an 04 Cohiba Sublime for much less than the going rate out of the kindness of his heart??? Right...

I would stay far away from this shop, and owner.

 

[owensaz]

+1 to the voices of reason above... if a US B&M is selling cuban cigars in the back room, they know what the hell they are doing. It's a big risk no matter what, and bigger to have no clue what you are doing. Either you are selling legit cigars for higher prices, or shlepping fakes on the cheap. You really think someone would sell an 04 Cohiba Sublime for much less than the going rate out of the kindness of his heart??? Right...

I would stay far away from this shop, and owner.

^This as well

Honestly what I'm about to say may be hypocritical but fuck it.. It's one thing for us consumers to do crooked shit(because we're american consumers who like to piss off the KING a.k.a Uncle Sam) its another for a business to be willing to do so. We swipe our credit cards at these places.. Who's to say because a establishment commits one crime they are above another?

Case in point.. we have a small business owner locally who brags about ducking certain "mandated" obligations and how crooked he's been in other industries... Did I like the guy much before his confession honestly? No..But I can't be a patron of a establishment that shits on a community that supports him.

I say that to say this if this business owner gave two shits about you guys as customers or even gave a damn about enhancing cigar culture he wouldnt try to push fakes on u under the guise of them being legit.. he would simple say I have cigars of unknown origins that I think are good you should try some. So I'm not saying go torch the place but think about it.. do you want this guy taking advantage of other brothers?

 

[bdc30]

I wouldn't buy a book of matches from someone busted selling fake ANYTHING.

Bang on. Can't believe anyone would stick up for this place.

 

[jayro75]

What if the shop I know sells fakes out of the back room was one that you all have bought special release Tats from? Who's principled enough to return their purchase?

 

[owensaz]

What if the shop I know sells fakes out of the back room was one that you all have bought special release Tats from? Who's principled enough to return their purchase?

Wouldn't make another purchase, but what's done is done.. I can't go get my car unfixed by the shitty mechanics I've had touch my car or throw up every food item from places Ive found out received health violations..

 

[CO Smokes]

What if the shop I know sells fakes out of the back room was one that you all have bought special release Tats from? Who's principled enough to return their purchase?

Is this hypothetical or a real question?

 

[jayro75]

Is this hypothetical or a real question?

Absolutely real!

 

[ckay]

I've always wanted to check out Tobacco Plaza on the way to or from the beach. Guess I now have a reason not to! My girlfriend will appreciate the heads up.

 

[Gravity]

If I found out my favorite B&M was selling fakes out of the back room, there is no way on earth I would go back there.

 

[Cigary43]

I would never support a shop that sold fake cigars. I do not support dishonesty in general or the fake cigar industry. If you buy NCs from him, you are giving him more money to buy more fake cigars and sell them to your friends...I don't find that acceptable. That's just my opinion, I fully respect anyone else's opinion but it's not going to change my mind.

Yep...gotta go with this logic. Just about every proprietor or manager or owner I ever came across knows a real from a fake and they would never pass on to their consumer a fake CC. For them to sell a fake leads me to believe they don't keep up with the times and if they can't spot a fake then how can I take their word on anything they are selling...just doesn't make much sense that you are in the business to sell cigars but aren't knowledgeable about how to spot a fake...it's like a car salesman selling BMW's and doesn't know a thing about em.

 

[smelvis]

Ditto
I said that to someone on another board and he thought I was nuts.

 

[smelvis]

What if the shop I know sells fakes out of the back room was one that you all have bought special release Tats from? Who's principled enough to return their purchase?

Me! I would in a second!

 

[Knickerbocker]

I just want to be clear, it is NOT, I reiterate NOT Tobacco Plaza. This vendor in question is in Suffolk County on the Huntington/Melville border located on Route 110. I am not even sure the exact name of the vendor because all it really says on his sign is "Smoke Shop."

 

[strife]

Just want to chime in, firstly I know the shop and I've been there twice. The last time I was served by a middle aged guy that really didn't sound like he knew corojo from criollo, in fact I could swear some of what he was telling me was straight from CA magazine. Suffolk County, Long Island is pretty much a waste land where cigars are concerned due to the high taxes, progressive attitude of the community and the harsh regulations. For the most part the shops here are run by the clientele, if enough guys want something the owners might look into it otherwise they just keep buying what's selling. This is the land of General, Altadis, Gurkha, Rocky, Perdomo and Oliva with a handful of shops that carry boutique cigars. I'd gamble and say that I know of at least 5 shops where the owner wouldn't be able to spot a fake never mind take the time to research it. My guess is that it's one of his members that he trusts that is getting them for him, whether the member is the duper or the dupee your guess is as good as mine. I'd let the owner know that the cigars in question are in fact questionable so at least he knows and more importantly you know that he knows that you know. If the practice continues then I'd avoid his shop.

 

[CO Smokes]

I just want to be clear, it is NOT, I reiterate NOT Tobacco Plaza. This vendor in question is in Suffolk County on the Huntington/Melville border located on Route 110. I am not even sure the exact name of the vendor because all it really says on his sign is "Smoke Shop."

I think jayro is referring to another shop

 

[jayro75]

I think jayro is referring to another shop

Yes I was. I know the shop he is speaking of but I was referring to another.

 

[Knickerbocker]

My response was to ckay reply #31

 

[Alwayslit]

Sad that this shop would resort to these kind of practices. People should steer clear of this place.