What kind of damage...

[Jwrussell]

will you accept from a vendor? Saw a post on another board that brought this to mind. When you are dealing with shipped cigars, what will you accept as damage when you break open the packaging to check on your precious little babies?

Cracked feet? How many? Cracked heads? How many? What else can you think of?

Personally I'm fine if a few feet or heads are cracked. The feet get torched and it'll burn through, and the heads get cut off anyway. So long as I can smoke it, and it's not so bad that if I'm doing a split I have to send others shitty looking cigars, I'll let it pass.

Things I WON'T let pass: Beetles and Mold. Just about every vendor I deal with checks the cigars in some way, at some point, before I get them. No way am I accepting moldy cigars or beetle-ridden cigars without compensation. The acception to that might be a single, very slightly molded stick or two. If it's really minor I could probably sigh and move on, but it'd have to be pretty minor.

So what say you all?

 

[cvm4]

It really depends on the damage for me because I don't have a set number of sticks as a cut-off point to contact the vendor. I would never accept moldy/beetle cigars.

 

[Wasch_24]

When I do my splits, which until recently was the only time I bought boxes, I always take the damaged ones if there are any. I guess that the number of damaged sticks isn't where I draw the line. It's the extent of the damage and if it looks like it was from neglect. Mold an beetles are definitely unacceptable.

 

[Kurtdesign1]

Tough question. I would have to say that I'm fine with cracks or small splits but if it looks like the cigar may unroll once lit because of the damage, I will balk a bit at the fact that they've been received. The thing about cracked caps is that if the cap itself is only cracked, I'm fine with it. I've had a few cigars though that have had cracked heads that when cut, started to come unwrapped. That, to me, is unacceptable.

 

[smokem94]

I know that cigars are a fragile commodity, but so are many other things that many of us purchase all the time. My expectation is to receive intact, undamaged cigars. I know they may have a LITTLE cracking or chipping at the foot, but everything else should be in excellent condition.
We are doing business with business men and should expect ot get what we pay for. :ninja:

 

[Jwrussell]

I agree Smokem'. It's just sometimes you wonder what someone means when they say "cracked" or whatever. I mean if we are talking about a cigar that looks like it's been used as a lawn dart that's one thing, but there are probably folks out there who would get bent out of shape about 1/8th inch crack at the foot, and IMHO that's just no big deal unless they are ALL like that. (And I'm not talking about anyone specifically or anyone here, just in general)

Case in point. I had a cab come in recently and one of the sticks head's was cracked with a piece hanging off and the band had caused a deep "dent" about 2 inches from the head and a little flaking at the foot. While not pretty, it smoked fine. Granted if they had all looked like that one I might have been pissed, but one or two? Oh well.

 

[Texas Cop]

I guess I'm the picky SOB of the group....ANY damage in my not some humble opinion is too much. I will accept 1 or 2 small cracks or splits, to save me the hassle of dealing with reshipment, credit, etc. However, I will not be paying 10-15-20 bucks a stick to receive damaged goods. Granted I haven't ordered many cigars as of late due to finances, when I was ordering a good deal of them, I was just as picky.

Andrew

 

[Jwrussell]

Hey, everyone's got their own thresholds, that's why I thought the topic was interesting. I remember receiving a box of 2004 Torano Tribute Torpedos where over half the heads were busted. Granted I probably could have just dealt with it as they would have been cut off, but I didn't pay that kind of cash for a busted up box. Vendor took care of me, took back the busted smokes and sent me new ones that he opened up before hand and added protection to. That being said, had it been one or two, I would have just shrugged and moved on.

If it's a matter of the packaging, then that also changes things. If a reasonable amount of effort has been put into securing the smokes during travel I'm more willing to let the little stuff go. If it hasn't, then it's a good time to give some constructive feedback to the vendor so that things can change for the positive, IMHO.

 

[fitzonelove]

Generally over 5-7 seriously damaged cigars, and I would like replacements. And have never had a problem with the vendors I use, the Holy 3-R Trinity!

 

[Nely]

Interesting topic. Although I'm picky as hell I sometimes ignore little damage here and there just to save me the ordeal of shipping back and dealing with the vendor. While I have not had any major damage, there is always a little cracked foot or head in the bunch. No biggie unless it prevents me from smoking it!

 

[vewyphishy]

A little here and there is tolerable. These cigars have to travel a long way. The vendors are doing us a great service by guaranteeing a product that wouldn't otherwise be allowed in the states. With that said, quality is still to be expected. I've received a few boxes that had some minor damage like cracked heads and feet. No big deal. However, its when the damage is severe enough to alter the cigar, then I will make it a point to follow-up with the vendor.

Take for instance my last box. It arrived with about 7 or 8 cracked feet (rather minor) and 3 that were unraveling. Those latter 3 are unsmokeable. I could've dealt with the cracked feet but the wrapper coming apart was a little too much.

I haven't yet had a vendor offer to replace any of the damaged cigars. I have received credit for them though. Is that something you request as an "either/or"... or perhaps even as an "and"?

 

[The Master]

In all the years I have ordered cigars (over 20) I cannot remember ever sending any back because of damage. I have had some with cracked feet, but nothing that would not allow me to smoke it.

 

[Jwrussell]

Phishy, for what it's worth, my way of handling that is simply to let the vendor know what has happened and let them make an offer of how to handle it. If I'm not satisfied with the answer then I'll make a couter offer. Have yet to have to do that. :thumbsup:

 

[dmoby]

I only had to complain once, I had a box of Monte 2 come in and 10 of them had cracked from the top to below the label and were not smokable.

 

[Jwrussell]

Figured I'd bump this as it relates to Kirscovitch's issue...

 

[sli38]

I have never had a damaged box of cigars. Lucky I guess. Unless they were damaged to the point that I couldn't smoke them, I would never bug my vendor. They do me way to many favors.

 

[caudio51]

Ah nice bump, it's on a case by case basis but if they are smokable I'll usually keep them. If they are a hard to find stick that I want in good condition I'll contact the vendor.

 

[Headbanger]

Nice racall Jason, thanks.

 

[jmatkins]

Ah nice bump, it's on a case by case basis but if they are smokable I'll usually keep them. If they are a hard to find stick that I want in good condition I'll contact the vendor.

About the same here, if I didn't spend too much money and there are small defects I will let it go. But if there are big defects and/or I payed a lot of money I would send them back. And if it were a box split I would contact all that were in the split and make it a unamous decession.

 

[CWS]

I always let them know what happened. Never make demands but figure quality control or shipping should know if something is screwing up. Results are mixed. SOmetimes a discount on the next package, sometime a refund if I send them back. I have never been dissatisfied with the results.