Did you ever buy fakes

[gigabyte056]

This is just a quick pool on how many of us actually bought fake Habanos.

What was the trigger to the realization of them being fake and our response to that realization.

Edited poll to just say Not applicable when the first question is answered no

[Ghabanos]

Never bought

Gifted some. They were real cigars nonetheless so we smoked them

[Ginseng]

Way back when I was starting out, I came upon some counterfeits. Once I found out, I resolved to smoke every single one as an object lesson of why a good vendor and some modicum of good sense + knowledge are such valuable resources.

Wilkey

[BobKincaid]

I was gifted with a box of Cohiba Lanceros many years ago. I accepted them graciously and smoked them, giving a few away. That they were fakes was obvious: they were wrapped in cellophane. I said nothing to my benefactor.

[CBL]

Bought a box of Lusitanias in Cuba with a friend, we knew it would be too good to be true but for some simple reason we were blinded by the whole experience surrounding it. It's a funny anecdote that was well worth the purchase, but after smoking one in a paladar, we knew we were smoking ****. My friend threw his half away immediately and I tried another one while reading The Old Man and the Sea. Kept a couple as a reminder until beetles sprung out of one..... Still have the empty box with the DIY label and seals

I think fake Cubans are a rite of passage for every Cuban Cigar Afficionado

[android]

Nope

[TankerT]

Well. I have purchased fake Dominican Cohibas. In the states, we have the "Red Dot" Cohiba brand from General Cigar... which of course have the different label...

However, there are some Dominican "fake" Cohibas that have the Habanos looking band on them...

Some of the "fake" Dominicans have actually been pretty good. Others, pure poo-poo. (Yes... I do have a toddler in the house... why do you ask?)

[smokinpeace]

The only fakes I purchased where a long time ago in the Caribbean. They were RyJ's, Punch and Cohiba. At the time I did not know any better. Now I am very careful who I send my money to.

[nick17]

I have a few fake cohiba siglo 4s my friend gave them to me as a gift when he came back from cuba i haven't told him they where fake but they smell of cat pee and taste even worse

[fred170]

I purchased a box of H.Upmanns and Romeo and Julieta Tubos and discovered that inside the box of Upmanns there were Julietta bands which were cut. This would have caught the eye of someone in quality control in Habanos, and was a dead giveaway that these were FAKES since both fatory codes indicated that they were made in two distinct locations...Never again....

Cheers,

[Colt45]

I was gifted with a box of Cohiba Lanceros many years ago. I accepted them graciously and smoked them, giving a few away. That they were fakes was obvious: they were wrapped in cellophane. I said nothing to my benefactor.

Early Lanceros were actually wrapped in cello.....

[cigcars]

Ending up with fake habanos is almost unavoidable sometimes especially for those of us in the States. By the way (at risk of looking like I'm out of it) - what is "www"?

[gigabyte056]

Ending up with fake habanos is almost unavoidable sometimes especially for those of us in the States. By the way (at risk of looking like I'm out of it) - what is "www"?

World Wide Web.

That's basically the header for most web sites and used as an acronym to the internet.

[riazp]

Yup, Monte edicion limitada Pyramids...glass top to boot, didnt know better, till I saw a few things that were not right. But hey it was a learning experience, and they were not half bad, I cut one of them open, it was tobbacco and nothing else, smoked like a JlP.

[cigcars]

World Wide Web.

That's basically the header for most web sites and used as an acronym to the internet.

Thanks, SmokeinP! I appreciate it a million. Have learned something today

[dB69]

I have had a strange feeling about some singles I have bought, but I'm not sure. 90% of my brains want to think they were/are not fakes. These cigars include Monte #5, Cohiba Siglo IV and some that I've not yet smoked - we'll see..

I have also gifted real fakes, Cohiba Esplendidos - two different sizes of them!

Just because I'm curious I smoked one correctly sized for about one centimeter and then tossed it. If there will be a day that I'm so drunk I don't know my own name, then I will smoke another.

There are LOTS of people visiting Cuba and buying fakes there. Selling fakes must be a good business to Cubans.

[SCgarman]

oh yeah, back before I "knew" anything about real cuban cigars I was on a western carribean cruise with the wife. I believe one of the stops was Casa Maya,Mexico and there I purchased a 5 pack glass top box of what I thought were real Montecristo pyramides. I think I paid 36 dollars for the 5 pack. They tasted like dirt and the dimensions of the cigar were nowhere near the same as a real Monte #2. That was the only time, all cigars purchased from online vendors so far have been the real deal. Since I only now do business with the Czar due to the great people here and unmatched service, I am confident that I will only get the genuine product in future purchases.

[BobKincaid]

Early Lanceros were actually wrapped in cello.....

How early? I got these in the mid-90s.

Thanks for the info!

[Lotusguy]

Missing an option in the poll for "returned to vendor"

[Trevor2118]

How early? I got these in the mid-90s.

Thanks for the info!

1992 is the accepted year cellophane was phased out. The Cohiba Corona was discontinued in 1992 and was only ever produced in celophane.

The Lanceros were available cellophane sleeved in B25c, B50c, BN25c, BN50c.

[mdzotti78]

Got a fake PSD4 in a trade with someone in another forum. I tried to smoke it but it burned and tasted like crap. It got tossed.

[jedipastor]

I've received a couple fakes in trades or gifts, but never purchased any.

BTW, there is not an option to just say "no" in this poll. It gives you an error.

[Wil]

I answered 'no', as I've only ever bought from the Czar and my local LCDH.

[MrGlass]

Another No here. If I have bought fakes, I remain blissfully ignorant of the fact.

[Fuzz]

I don't see the options for Rob...

1. Did you ever buy fake Habanos?

A. Yes

2. When did you become aware they were fake?

A. Knowingly bought fakes

3. What did you do with the remainder?

A. Sell them to Ken every week!