Opening Boxes in Havana LCDH’s

[rabidraccoon]

I was looking at an older thread called Inspecting cigars when purchasing and I was wondering if the LCDH locations in Havana will allow you to open and inspect boxes before purchasing. Not sure if this is standard procedure that I should insist on if refused.

[jerrybrowne]

Very hit or miss.  In my experience most LCDH in Havana will not allow you to open the boxes.  Also Cuban Customs can give you problems with boxes that are opened.....

[SCgarman]

2 minutes ago, jerrybrowne said:

Very hit or miss.  In my experience most LCDH in Havana will not allow you to open the boxes.  Also Cuban Customs can give you problems with boxes that are opened.....

Interesting statement. I have read on the forum here that most folks will not buy a box from a LCdH in Cuba unless they can crack it open to inspect for mold and more importantly beetles!

[jerrybrowne]

Just now, NYgarman said:

Interesting statement. I have read on the forum here that most folks will not buy a box from a LCdH in Cuba unless they can crack it open to inspect for mold and more importantly beetles!

Ideally you would open every box to inspect for mold, beetles, cigar quality etc and of course I always ask.  Maybe I'm not as charming as everyone else, but most of my requests are answered with "no".......  Have you had a different experience?

[SCgarman]

1 minute ago, jerrybrowne said:

Ideally you would open every box to inspect for mold, beetles, cigar quality etc and of course I always ask.  Maybe I'm not as charming as everyone else, but most of my requests are answered with "no".......  Have you had a different experience?

Never been to Cuba, so no experience. 

[Corylax18]

30 minutes ago, rabidraccoon said:

I was looking at an older thread called Inspecting cigars when purchasing and I was wondering if the LCDH locations in Havana will allow you to open and inspect boxes before purchasing. Not sure if this is standard procedure that I should insist on if refused.

If they dont let you open the box, or open for you to inspect, go somewhere else. There are plenty of LCDHs in Havana. Customs most certainly doesnt care and looked at all the open boxes when I went through a secondary check last month. MAKE SURE to get a factura, if customs doesnt see this you may be going home without your cigars. 

[Puros Y Vino]

Never had an issue.  If they refuse, go elsewhere. But act like you're intent is to buy, not to just window shop.  That makes a difference.  I've heard horror stories about people getting some really crappy boxes with oodles of mold, severe water damage or completely dried out sticks.  Always ask.  However, if you're opening up boxes with the intent of getting a particular wrapper shade, they'll catch on quick and refuse to go further. The goal is to find a nice box without any damage to the cigars, not to look for PSP wrappers.  Unless they know you already and you're a "high roller", they won't entertain wrapper shopping. 

[rabidraccoon]

Thanks for the info. I'll be heading to Havana tomorrow and reporting back when I return.

[LLC]

Havana I’ve never had an issue inspecting boxes before purchase.


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[Nino]

6 hours ago, NYgarman said:

Interesting statement. I have read on the forum here that most folks will not buy a box from a LCdH in Cuba unless they can crack it open to inspect for mold and more importantly beetles!

Rightly so. Open any box you'd like to puchase and do not regret later not having done so ... beetles, mould can be a nasty surprise at home.

As for Customs there, they couldn't care less if a box is open or not as long you have the Factura.

Which many LCDH's and LCdT's are lately getting too lazy to write claiming BS excuses. Do not accept them.

[havanaclub]

The casas I have been to have definitely allowed you to open the boxes, but “of course, if you are buying”. One of the LCDH workers insisted that all the unopened boxes are fine and no need to open them. Lol. Like someone above mentioned, you aren’t opening 10 boxes to pick wrapper shade, mainly to inspect for green wrappers, mold, beetles or damaged sticks.
Also had a friend who recently got back and was told the same thing at multiple LCDH in Varadero and in Havana. Only if you are buying you can open. In other words, you open, it’s yours. At one LCDH the lady did allow him to open a maximum of 3 boxes of RASS that’s it, only because it was a “high mover” box. He said luckily the third one was good as the first 2 were some of the lightest wrappers with green spots all over them.



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[SCgarman]

5 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

The casas I have been to have definitely allowed you to open the boxes, but “of course, if you are buying”. One of the LCDH workers insisted that all the unopened boxes are fine and no need to open them. Lol. Like someone above mentioned, you aren’t opening 10 boxes to pick wrapper shade, mainly to inspect for green wrappers, mold, beetles or damaged sticks.
Also had a friend who recently got back and was told the same thing at multiple LCDH in Varadero and in Havana. Only if you are buying you can open. In other words, you open, it’s yours. At one LCDH the lady did allow him to open a maximum of 3 boxes of RASS that’s it, only because it was a “high mover” box. He said luckily the third one was good as the first 2 were some of the lightest wrappers with green spots all over them.



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How do you open them? Do they give you a sharp box cutter or such to cut all the seals cleanly? Can't just pry open a sealed box with your fingertips?

[Corylax18]

4 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

How do you open them? Do they give you a sharp box cutter or such to cut all the seals cleanly? Can't just pry open a sealed box with your fingertips?

Every time I have asked they pull a little knife or letter opener out from behind the counter. Even a chaveta once.

They cut the seals for you, open the box, pull out the tissue paper, cedar liner, etc. then hand it to you for inspection. I agree that they aren't fond of wrapper shopping, but I understand that. The occasional reject box typically ends up being sold as singles, so there's no reason to feel bad about putting one or two back, they don't throw em away. 

[rckymtn22]

7 minutes ago, Corylax18 said:

 The occasional reject box typically ends up being sold as singles, so there's no reason to feel bad about putting one or two back, they don't throw em away. 

Or put back on the shelf to be sold to someone that doesn't check boxes.

[Fugu]

59 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

How do you open them? Do they give you a sharp box cutter or such to cut all the seals cleanly? Can't just pry open a sealed box with your fingertips?

Funny times we are livin' in... interwebs bringing out folks who have never been to a real B&M...

[SCgarman]

45 minutes ago, Fugu said:

Funny times we are livin' in... interwebs bringing out folks who have never been to a real B&M...

Been to tons of real B&M's. Of course all here in the USA. Never a LCdH, all my Habanos are delivered via the friendly postal carrier. 

[havanaclub]

Been to tons of real B&M's. Of course all here in the USA. Never a LCdH, all my Habanos are delivered via the friendly postal carrier. 

Yep they just use a knife and break the seals for you to open and inspect.


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[teeznutz]

Never any issues of opening up any boxes during my 3 visits to Cuba.  Good Luck.

[sikfrayme]

After multiple trips to Havana, I inspect all the boxes I buy.  I have even pulled 5-6 boxes of Sir Winnies at Hotel Nacional, and was allowed to open them all. Only to find one box worthy of purchasing.  I did have the intent to buy more than one, but both myself and the lady helping me could see the poor roll/packaging of the boxes.  

I highly suggest you go with the mentality that you know you can open boxes to inspect.  'I'm going to need to open these to check' vs. 'Are we allowed to open these?'  you will see that most places will let you open them.  

And of course you can bring back opened boxes, how the heck else are you supposed to take a couple out to try while you are out there?!

[JohnInCleveland]

If you are actually buying a box, you shouldn't have issues.  I bought some HdM DC's and I set them on the counter and they volunteered to open before I bought.  They were to my satisfaction.

 

If you're expecting to look at a half dozen boxes, you might be pushing your luck.  If you want to make sure you aren't buying a lemon, you should be fine.

 

If you're smart, you'll buy here for the best quality.  Not to be a Homer.  

[GotaCohiba]

13 hours ago, jerrybrowne said:

Very hit or miss.  In my experience most LCDH in Havana will not allow you to open the boxes.  Also Cuban Customs can give you problems with boxes that are opened.....

Guess I was lucky then

Everyone I went in allowed me to open boxes for inspection

None offered, but they all allowed it

[Habana Mike]

I've not had issues inspecting boxes.

I did have a great experience at Commodoro last year where after I'd selected a couple of boxes they checked them and apparently didn't feel all the cigars in one box were up to snuff.

They went and opened a couple more until they found one they liked and then went about replacing a few sticks from the box I selected from the other box.

That's service!

[havanaclub]

Wow, it’s amazing how there have been so many different experiences. I have always been allowed to open the box but they have always said “if you buy it”. In March I was there and opened a box of Fundi, terrible blotchy dusty looking underfilled, green spotted wrappers. I asked if I could open another. She said why? I said politely, not a fan of the construction and wrappers as I pointed to the green spots. I was lucky that I got them to hold the cigars for me with a few other boxes so when I left at then end of the week I could pick them up. When I returned there was a different lady in the LCDH. I got another box from the humidor to open and bam! I’ll take it. The other one was switched out. I was lucky I guess.


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[BrightonCorgi]

Being able to inspect the cigars should be the norm no matter the locale.  You are the buyer/customer and don't forget that.

[Cigar Surgeon]

I've never been refused. I do get the typical LCDH Cuban attitude, but I really don't care.

If I'm going to buy a box I have the right to inspect the cigars for quality, mold, damage, or beetles. If they wouldn't open it for me then I would walk.