Suspect Vendor

[gmoney]

Good Day Gents,

Does this sound like a legit online dealer? This was there response after a friend of mine inquired about where they source their product from.

-G

"Hello,

Yes, we do get our cigars from a Habanos SA distributor.

We are sorry, we cannot provide you with the information of our most trusted sources. It is a very competitive business and we do not like to divulge our contacts.

Kind Regards

Jaime"

Sounds completly bogus to me. If you were on the up side why hide the HSA distributor? Unless you deal in grey market or outright fakes. All the more reason to buy from CZAR.

[reg]

The authorized distributors aren't secretive, so theres no points in hiding them. I'm sure czar doesn't have a problem giving out that info

[dochowl]

I'm sure they are one of the limitless grey market dealers out there. Like everything else in life, buyer beware. Not necessarily fakes, but not necessarily authentic either. Stick with our benevolent Czar and this is not an issue.

[cigcars]

There's too many things that can be added/or read into "Jaimie's" statement. Too possibly indicative of "my cousin who works in the factory" type of thing. I'd stay away.

[cigarros]

There's too many things that can be added/or read into "Jaimie's" statement. Too possibly indicative of "my cousin who works in the factory" type of thing. I'd stay away.

+1))

[CIGARHead]

As said above, typical response from a grey market vendor.

It's the same sort of vague response I use when EL Presidente asks for my fishing spots.

[thechenman]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...you can't beat Czar...IMHO our hosts are bar-none the best Habanos retailers out there. Nothing is more important than purchasing froma source you can trust and provides great service and offers peace of mind. Many surf the net looking for the deepest discounts/cheapest prices, and in the end are often disappointed. Buy from Czar...you won't regret it.

[SandmanTR]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...you can't beat Czar...IMHO our hosts are bar-none the best Habanos retailers out there. Nothing is more important than purchasing froma source you can trust and provides great service and offers peace of mind. Many surf the net looking for the deepest discounts/cheapest prices, and in the end are often disappointed. Buy from Czar...you won't regret it.

+100 ( )

My first purchase was from a grey market vendor. Never again. I found a new home. The czar crew are knowledgeable, friendly and are very passionate about what they do. A trifecta if you will...

[CigarmanTim]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...you can't beat Czar...IMHO our hosts are bar-none the best Habanos retailers out there. Nothing is more important than purchasing froma source you can trust and provides great service and offers peace of mind. Many surf the net looking for the deepest discounts/cheapest prices, and in the end are often disappointed. Buy from Czar...you won't regret it.

Don't forget that the "grading of cigars" is up there in importance also....but of course if you don't trust them....what does the grading system matter? Czars the best

[messa]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...you can't beat Czar...IMHO our hosts are bar-none the best Habanos retailers out there. Nothing is more important than purchasing froma source you can trust and provides great service and offers peace of mind. Many surf the net looking for the deepest discounts/cheapest prices, and in the end are often disappointed. Buy from Czar...you won't regret it.

+1,000 I don't use any other cuban cigar vendor unless Czar doesn't carry what I'm looking for which is rare.

[Guest rob]

Parallel importers of cigars would be jeopordising their legitimate distributors contractual agreement with Habanos SA (and not to mention their future ability to aquire more stock), if they disclosed information such as their sources.

Parallel importation is not illegal, and does not mean the stock is fake. It would be in contravention of Habanos SA policy of the worldwide distributors only allowed to supply their local areas.

[mazolaman]

Good Day Gents,

Does this sound like a legit online dealer? This was there response after a friend of mine inquired about where they source their product from.

-G

"Hello,

Yes, we do get our cigars from a Habanos SA distributor.

We are sorry, we cannot provide you with the information of our most trusted sources. It is a very competitive business and we do not like to divulge our contacts.

Kind Regards

Jaime"

Sounds completly bogus to me. If you were on the up side why hide the HSA distributor? Unless you deal in grey market or outright

fakes. All the more reason to buy from CZAR.

I have used this company on three occaisions,and only recieved quality habanos.In fact,I have never recieved duds from the country they are based in.

The only rip offs recieved are from the canary islands.

I have had great service from them,with follow up emails from Jaime.

I install kitchens,and photovoltaics,I wouldn't tell my customer where I get alot of my gear from,or they'll cut me out.Simple economics.....

[dicko]

I agree with Rob and mazolman, there are good reasons why any business wants to maintain confidentiality of sources and other areas of their operations.

IMHO, a bigger risk than fakes from many grey market vendors is real cigars, but bad quality! having said that, there are good ones. Of course, the czar crew are official, and at the top of the class for quality!

[sw15825]

I have used also, many times, with great product and service and prices. They are great to deal with. Yes you won't get the service you do at Czar, because the are high volume.

I have also used the one with office based in canary islands. Their product was authentic, but some boxes were of lesser quality. At least for me, and I will not use because the quality was just not there for me and buying daily smokes...

Lastly, Czar can't be beat. They take care of their customers and rate boxes, that I can look at, and get premium stock for my "Smoke Someday Cooler" !!! GO CZAR!!!

[android]

I've said it once, and I'll say it again...you can't beat Czar...IMHO our hosts are bar-none the best Habanos retailers out there. Nothing is more important than purchasing froma source you can trust and provides great service and offers peace of mind. Many surf the net looking for the deepest discounts/cheapest prices, and in the end are often disappointed. Buy from Czar...you won't regret it.

Ditto

[Miami101]

Miami says when he pick up Cubans only from the czar team.

These other companies pick up stock from Florida. The fakes here in Miami will blow your mind.........this is why I pick up my Cigars from czar.

If you like I can sale you a bridge............

[DraytonHill]

I had the same reply from Jamie.. they are dodgy... i did get some ok ones though..

Has anyone done business with authorised habano dealers in Geneva ########? it seems like they may be the same company and i did receive some suspect ones from these guys

Monte 5`s, Box date Sept 09 - missing hologram label, ends tapered

Monte 2`s --Nov 09 missing hologram label

D4`s very spongy

Fundadores - tasteless

Ive gone a bit cold on Geneva

Moderated.

[JY0]

The problem with this vendor in my opinion is quality control. They never actually take delivery of their stock. Inventory is sent directly to a bonded warehouse in a different country, and is shipped out from there. If they never have, nor see the inventory, how can they insure the quality?

[frenchkiwi]

The problem with this vendor in my opinion is quality control. They never actually take delivery of their stock. Inventory is sent directly to a bonded warehouse in a different country, and is shipped out from there. If they never have, nor see the inventory, how can they insure the quality?

They can't and don't generally see it as their problem

they are just selling boxes from habanos NOT cigars per se. If there is a problem with quality it is Habanos fault.

That's one of the reasons why these online vendors are cheaper.

Ideally Habanos quality control would be so good that we'd never worry where we got them from (except for fakes!). Until that happy day we either have to take risks on quality to save money or go to our local vendors or places like Czars to see before we buy.

[jedipastor]

I know the vendor that is being asked about here, and have corresponded with Jaime myself.

Yes, grey market.

The limited experience I've had is that the sticks are legitimate, but not quality-controlled. They don't inspect boxes (who are they going to send them back to if they're bad? Nobody). Also, the storage conditions are very poor ... their stuff is sent very over-humidified, leading to mold. Yes, my cigars were moldy. Some of the sticks look excellent in terms of quality, others average. This week I smoked 2 sticks that I got from them a few months ago, both were good.

My advice: I'd stay away. I don't plan to purchase from them in the future. The prices may seem low ... well, they ARE low ... but that leads you to ask "why?" And answer is simple--you get what you pay for. Personally, I'm not interested in paying a lot of money to take a risk like that ... why not pay a little more and get something you know is good?

At this point in life, I have a large collection of cigars. I'm more concerned with having better than more, so I'd rather buy from vendors I can trust. I have one I like, and one I just tried for the first time this week (ahem ... here, lol). If the prices are too high, I buy less. I'll just wait for sales from the places I trust rather than buy from the cigar consignment shops.

[Lotusguy]

I know the vendor that is being asked about here, and have corresponded with Jaime myself.

Yes, grey market.

The limited experience I've had is that the sticks are legitimate, but not quality-controlled. They don't inspect boxes (who are they going to send them back to if they're bad? Nobody). Also, the storage conditions are very poor ... their stuff is sent very over-humidified, leading to mold. Yes, my cigars were moldy. Some of the sticks look excellent in terms of quality, others average. This week I smoked 2 sticks that I got from them a few months ago, both were good.

My advice: I'd stay away. I don't plan to purchase from them in the future. The prices may seem low ... well, they ARE low ... but that leads you to ask "why?" And answer is simple--you get what you pay for. Personally, I'm not interested in paying a lot of money to take a risk like that ... why not pay a little more and get something you know is good?

At this point in life, I have a large collection of cigars. I'm more concerned with having better than more, so I'd rather buy from vendors I can trust. I have one I like, and one I just tried for the first time this week (ahem ... here, lol). If the prices are too high, I buy less. I'll just wait for sales from the places I trust rather than buy from the cigar consignment shops.

Edit: I may be talking about another vendor below. The one I mean gave me over a thousand reasons not to buy from them anymore.

I have received a fake box of Monte Grand Edmundo LE from them. Pretty well made, but fake nonetheless - the insert in the box says "Gran Edmundo". There are other things wrong about that box but this is what tipped me off. They refuse to exchange or refund it because I bought it more than 45 days ago. My bad for wanting to age the box... I learned my lesson!!!

[rp99pts]

I have received a fake box of Monte Grand Edmundo LE from them. Pretty well made, but fake nonetheless - the insert in the box says "Gran Edmundo". There are other things wrong about that box but this is what tipped me off. They refuse to exchange or refund it because I bought it more than 45 days ago. My bad for wanting to age the box... I learned my lesson!!!

Post some pics of the Fake box,I would like to see whats wrong with it...

[jedipastor]

I have received a fake box of Monte Grand Edmundo LE from them. Pretty well made, but fake nonetheless - the insert in the box says "Gran Edmundo". There are other things wrong about that box but this is what tipped me off. They refuse to exchange or refund it because I bought it more than 45 days ago. My bad for wanting to age the box... I learned my lesson!!!

Wow, I've NEVER heard of anyone getting fakes from them. That would be a big deal. I'd love to see pics of those as well. I didn't get any LEs or expensive sticks from them, just your average faire.

[JY0]

EDIT: Lotusguy, I am an idiot. I had the vendors confused, not you. Sorry about that!

[mazolaman]

Wow, I've NEVER heard of anyone getting fakes from them. That would be a big deal. I'd love to see pics of those as well. I didn't get any LEs or expensive sticks from them, just your average faire.

Agreed,while I don't get many cigars from this company,I have never had fakes from them.