La Escepcion - Interesting newsletter

[AlohaStyle]

I've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Italian RE La Escepcion cigar and was doing a little looking around online and came across an interesting newsletter released on Dec 22nd by Italy's official Habanos Distributor Diadema... I have heard it's really difficult to get cigars out of Italy and this newsletter really spells it out. It's also interesting how the last paragraph says they are stepping up searches in January to try and prevent incoming cigars.

Has anyone heard recent news for when this is hitting the shelves?

This is translated with Google:

We all know how the Internet is now an important tool and used, but can become - Sometimes even for simple-mindedness of users - a medium that offers the opportunity to commit illegal acts. One of these is just to buy tobacco online. The saving is usually the motivation that leads to making rash purchases of cigars by self-styled sites, scattered all over the world, offering products (often of dubious origin and quality) to very attractive prices on paper. But it is good to keep in mind that this is illegal in Italy!

We're talking about an action that in our Penal Code exactly is classified as contraband. The existing law is very clear about the penalties are heavy, and in both administrative and criminal matters involving a fine of 5.16 euro for each gram of the conventional product and imprisonment from two to five years. It 'best to make clear that the weight is not related to the actual weight of a cigar, but the conventional, so for a simple box of 25 cigars is subject to a penalty of € 645.00, not to mention that the goods will be confiscated of course .

Diadema Spa, as an importer and exclusive distributor for Italy of Habanos cigars, has always been sensitive to this problem and has intensified in recent weeks a work of research and systematic complaint to the Financial Police and the Autonomous Administration of Monopolies State, specifying all the websites on the net offering the purchase of Cuban cigars.

In these days have been reported 5 other portals (in addition to an Italian site) on which ads appear for the sale of Cuban cigars, many of them among the other patently false.

Our appreciation goes to the staff at this time of the Guardia di Finanza and the Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies, which is striving to stem the flow, trying to intercept from the month of January 2012, deliveries of cigars coming from 'Foreign and applying the more stringent the regulations, the protection of all tobacconists and enthusiasts of Habanos.

[Guest]

Well then Ill just take the car and drive to italy.

[riazp]

and i'll just have to have one of my buddy's mule me a box when they go to italy later this year

[Ryan]

Of course Diadema are concerned with cuban cigars bought online coming into Italy. As is every cuban cigar distributer regarding their respective market.

I'd say there is far less concern about outward sales, at least with the Diadema honchos.

Actually, I could be wrong but if Diadema heard tomorrow that 50% of their retailers' sales were going direct to the US there be shouts going around the office of whatever the italian for "whoo-hoo" is,

[khomeinist]

Well-said Ryan.

[aavkk]

Actually, I could be wrong but if Diadema heard tomorrow that 50% of their retailers' sales were going direct to the US there be shouts going around the office of whatever the italian for "whoo-hoo" is,

haha, exactly how I interpreted it.

[AlohaStyle]

Yeah after I posted the article I thought about how it didn't really relate to non-Italians trying to buy the La Escepcion from out of country, but I still thought the article was interesting.

I'm not asking for specific examples or vendors, but has anyone had luck buying direct and getting cigars shipped from Italy? I have heard it is difficult but I haven't really tried yet. The only country I have tried and was flat out denied because of "laws" is Andorra where I was told they cannot export. But again I didn't try too hard and it's possible just the one shop I was dealing with wouldn't do it.

[JSPEC]

Soon there will be yet another restriction imposed on fine cigars making it harder to procure them.

[Ryan]

Yeah after I posted the article I thought about how it didn't really relate to non-Italians trying to buy the La Escepcion from out of country, but I still thought the article was interesting.

Sorry, I didn't mean to seem like I was putting it down. It is an interesting article. I imagine every distributer in the world has written a similar letter at one point or another to whatever government body concerned, at least the ones in markets with higher tobacco taxes.

[Smallclub]

I'm not asking for specific examples or vendors, but has anyone had luck buying direct and getting cigars shipped from Italy? I have heard it is difficult but I haven't really tried yet. The only country I have tried and was flat out denied because of "laws" is Andorra where I was told they cannot export. But again I didn't try too hard and it's possible just the one shop I was dealing with wouldn't do it.

Try as hard as you can, shipping tobacco products from Andorra is illegal, there are only 4 or 5 cigar shops there, the mail is monitored, as are the borders, and the vendors would never take the risk.

Getting cigars from Italy is possible, but the shipping fees are among the highest in Europe.

[mazolaman]

I wouldn't be surprised if the respective governments did close these channels, as they must be loosing a fair bit of revenue...

[ChanceSchmerr]

Try as hard as you can, shipping tobacco products from Andorra is illegal, there are only 4 or 5 cigar shops there, the mail is monitored, as are the borders, and the vendors would never take the risk.

And this is exactly why it's such a gold mine for discontinueds there - they don't ship so only devoted BOTLs who are willing to brave hours of driving switchback mountain pass roads to get there can purchase the sweet cigars within!

[FrankBlack87]

And this is exactly why it's such a gold mine for discontinueds there - they don't ship so only devoted BOTLs who are willing to brave hours of driving switchback mountain pass roads to get there can purchase the sweet cigars within!

LMAO!!!!

[CanuckSARTech]

And this is exactly why it's such a gold mine for discontinueds there - they don't ship so only devoted BOTLs who are willing to brave hours of driving switchback mountain pass roads to get there can purchase the sweet cigars within!

I think we all need to put in our orders with Guy then!!!!