What to do...

[bdc30]

So I have a friend who basically ended up with a "box" of fake cohibas.

They're so ridiculously phony that nobody with even half a clue about cigars would ever have bought them (like to the point that the friggin Cohiba band on one of them was placed on upside-down)...

The sticks are supposedly a 2007 limited edition (of which I can find no record of cohiba releasing ANY '07 le). Hearing about his plight, I figured I'd try and help him out a bit and gifted him a fiver that included a real CoRo and a few other sticks.

In exchange for this, he sent me back two of his "special limited edition cohibas" and asked for my opinion on them. Now first of all, I have no interest in smoking them - I'll post pics of them tomorrow, but what the hell do I do with these things?? I'm surely not even putting them in my humidor cuz who knows what the hell they are made from....

Anyone want them for a gag-gift or should I just throw them out or what?

 

[AlohaStyle]

Hey bro, I understand your dilemma and you're trying not to hurt his feelings. But I never really understood this approach of not saying anything if that person is in fact a real friend... obviously people have different opinions, but if it were me, I would want my friend to tell me the truth and educate me. If you both really are friends, I personally think you owe it to the guy to tell him the truth in a tactful manner and educate him.

If you aren't the best of friends I could maybe see not wanting to ruffle any feathers, but if you are true friends I personally would tell him.

 

[bdc30]

Oh yeah for sure I plan to tell him at some point, just not sure how as yet...Also this friend may or may not be one of my bosses....so that makes it a bit tougher...lol

 

[ciggy]

You could say something to him in a tactful manner. If he's your friend or even semi friend, boss or not. If I were him I would want to know because it could save me from further embarasment down the road. That is if your 100% possitive there fake.

 

[terrantheman]

It's a slippery slope when it's a friend but it's definitely better than a stranger. Honestly I could give a shit if it's a person I don't know, period. Why would I want to get into some know it all contest with someone I don't know and who is going to defend there source until the death. Cuban cigars are and always will be a taboo thing until we lift the embargo and therefore causes people to act different ways. Now with friends I just ask a lot of questions and give some very knowledgeable facts with pics if needed, lol! I always ask about box codes... Most of the time your friends won't know what the hell your talking about, seriously. I had a friend actually tell me "oh they're real because they came and that really nice glass top box!" No shit, words right from his mouth. So my point is everyone has there ideas and it's up to people that know more(I'm no expert) to have some tact when teaching.

 

[bdc30]

Here's a couple photos of them. Even my cigar caddy stinks like ass from having them in there.

 

[Hardcore]

Oh wow!

 

[Danilo]

not for nothing, but those fake bands are pretty decent compared to what I've seen...

 

[gibbleguts]

Could very well be real bands. What I always tend to do with these when I see them is to take a razor and cut them in half to show them what is really inside of these cigars. Generally I have found un-aged short filler, sometimes moldy, sometimes non tobacco products in side of them including a piece of plastic bag. This is generally enough to convince people that it is not worth the risk of even trying to smoke a fake. If it passes all that and smells ok I may give one a try, but still not likely.

 

[ciggy]

Is there a website that shows examples of fakes. I really don't know that much about CC's or others that have been passed off. So I would probibly be one to get screwed if I ever went to the DM or Nic.

 

[bdc30]

CA has a list of fake bands and such on their site. There's no way you'd get screwed over because anyone that knows anything about cigars could tell just by the smell that these are shit. I seriously am airing out my cigar caddy right now just from him putting these in there. Also, they sell the fakes for SO much lower than retail ($280 box of CoRo's that the guy will let you have for $50) that with even minimal research in to the topic before you left, you'd be fine.

 

[Baldanders]

I would cut one open and if it looks ok I would try one. Not all fakes are bad cigars