What percentage of the ISOMs in your humidor are unbanded?

[C-Dub]

I just completed my first purchase and chose to get them this way. While I knew what to expect, it was still a little disappointing to open the package and see cigars in a ziplock bag as opposed to a nice wooden box with rings.

Anybody else feel like this? Is this just the price I have to pay? Is this the way most people get their cigars?

 

[Terrasco]

I generally purchase with a delivery guarantee so I have them leave the bands on. So far so good.

 

[cvm4]

If you want them with bands, then make sure your vendor guarantees intact deliveries to the US. That being said, most of my cigars are banded. I would say below 5% are unbanded.

 

[Rank_Tyro]

I wish I had some "ISOM'S" in my meager collection.

I tend to smoke more than I can collect.

 

[DocLogic77]

All mine are banded.

 

[DocLogic77]

Welp correction...my JL#1 01 are unbanded because they were made unbanded.

 

[sli38]

I've got at least 15 boxes unbanded. No big deal to me, I'm just going to light them on fire anyway.....

 

[rpb67]

All mine are banded.

I buy mostly from collectors or from LCDH when my parents or I are traveling.

 

[UFGators]

Only 4 boxes I have are unbanded, 3 of those boxes are cigars that did not have bands anyways though.

 

[ehdg]

Pretty much all my cigars these days come intact. The only one's I have unbanded are one's from before '04 that came either in Cabs of 50 which back then wheren't banded or some of the SLB types that also wheren't banded those would be JL 1 & 2 and HdM Epi 1 & 2.

 

[Fox]

Probably about 10% unbanded for me right now, but that is increasing. Certain vendors will only deliver without bands, but shipping is guaranteed so it does not matter, at least to me. There are some mighty fine aged sticks to be had that are unbanded.

 

[tedski]

About 50% of mine are unbanded. This is due to previously mentioned vitolas that come without bands or because the cigars were purchased from a vendor who repacks.

 

[TimL]

Prefer intact but I in the end I could care less as long as the quality is there. But to answer the question, most cabs are intact with no bands. They did not start putting bands on cabs selects until 2004.

 

[AZsteelman]

mine run about 50% -

 

[NYLaw]

Sorry to interrupt... What are ISOMs, and why would they arrive unbanded?

 

[cvm4]

ISOM (Island South Of Miami) is a slang term used for cuban cigars. It's popular with some and not with others.

They would arrive unbanded so the recipient doesn't have to worry about Customs taking their cigars. It's a worry free way of delivery, so to speak. Whereas if you order banded, then you worry about confiscation, etc. But most people should already know to pick a vendor that guarantees delivery to the USA. I only order from non-guaranteed vendors if I can't get the cigars I want elsewhere.

 

[NYLaw]

VERY interesting. I'm going to have to get into e-mailing some new buds online to find out which online vendors GUARANTEE such deliveries to the US.

 

[kirscovitch]

the habanos ive purchased have all come intact. the empty boxes look good on a shelf and i like to get artsy with the bands.

 

[NYLaw]

So if anyone wants to PM me, I'm completely open to that. For reliable vendors.

 

[caudio51]

Most are banded. I like intact cigars.