El Presidente Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Sitting on the deck 3pm last Friday with a group of 9 FOH locals enjoying a cigar, Champagne and plenty of laughs. My mobile/cell went off with the ubiquitous "unknown caller" signal. This normally means an Indian call centre but against my better judgement I answered it. "Hello Mr Ayala....this is Kenny from the Cayman Islands....I have a cigar proposal for you. "We are authorised Habanos agents in the Caribbean and currently supply to HK, Malaysia, and are seeking partners in Australia". Always looking for information I let him proceed. "I would like to send you our price list and the offer of two free boxes for you to evaluate authenticity." I told Kenny to put it all down in writing and to forward me an e-mail which I duly received. I penned an e-mail back requesting full details of the company and their contacts in HK and Malaysia in order to access referrals. Let me pont out that it was not my intention to purchase, only to investigate the operation further and if necessary to report it to Habanos s.a. I recieved another e-mail from "Caribbean Kenny" guaranteeing his stock and his credentials.....but no details. Only this time he offered a few more free boxes for assessment. I reitterated my requirements for firm details of source, agency and customer references and have had no news since. His price list below would be attactive for tobacconists around the world to purchase from as they significantly undercut the average tobacconists wholesale cost. The average tobacconist could not tell the difference between a Cohiba and a Camry. Unfortunately, this cold call for Habanos supply is becoming more and more frequent. Buyer beware. PRICE LIST Montecristo No. 1 $ 124.95 Montecristo No. 2 $ 143.67 Montecristo No.3 $ 106.66 Montecristo N0.3 Pack of 5 $ 21.00 Montecristo No.4 $ 79.00 Montecristo No.4 Pack of 5 $ 15.77 Montecristo No.5 $ 66.67 Montecristo No.5 Pack of 5 $ 13.35 Montecristo Tubos $ 142.25 Montecristo Edmundo $ 122.29 Cohiba siglo I $ 95.59 Cohiba siglo II $ 126.69 Cohiba siglo III $ 157.99 Cohiba siglo IV $ 178.99 Cohiba Esplendido $ 222.25 Cohiba Panetelas $ 92.25 Cohiba Robustos $ 190.00 Cohiba Mini $ 8.25 Cohiba Club $ 9.95 Cohiba Selection Robustos $ 44.99 Cohiba Selection Piramides $ 50.00 R & J Churchill $ 158.99 R & J Churchill Tubos $ 195.55 R & J Coroneta en Cedros $ 42.25 R & J Cedro Deleuxe No.3 $ 74.45 R & J Belicosos $ 120.00 R & J Exhibition No.4 $ 96.99 R & J Mille Fleurs $ 46.99 R & J Mini Pack of 20 $ 6.25 R & J Tubos No.1 $ 66.75 R & J Tubos No.2 $ 54.50 R & J Tubos No.3 $ 51.25 Bolivar Belicosos Finos $ 117.80 Bolivar Petit Corona $ 68.99 Bolivar Corona Gigantes $ 147.77 Bolivar Royal Corona $ 95.55 Bolivar Tubos No.2 $ 85.55 Partagas Deluxe of 10 $ 26.75 Partagas Serie D No.4 $ 105.55 Partagas Super Partagas $ 42.25 Punch Punch $ 113.35 Punch Coronation $ 54.50 Trinidad Fundadores $ 155.55 Trinidad Robusto Extra $ 113.35 Cuaba Salomones of 10 $ 72.25 Cuaba Diademas $ 53.50
Colt45 Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Dear Lisa, re: Rob's most recent special sheet, please put me down for one box Cohiba Robustos @ $190, and one box Bolivar Coronas Gigantes @ $147.77. Thank you--Colt45 P.S. Please ask Smithy to wash hands prior to packing.
justinphilly Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 » » P.S. Please ask Smithy to wash hands prior to packing. he may want to wash his hands AFTER packing too!
genevapics Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 So these are his wholesale prices to you? Interesting.
smokum Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 » So these are his wholesale prices to you? Interesting. Pres...after finding this great place...I won't be looking elsewhere...it's still kind of scary out there...
Bernard Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Ok, you have the info and something is clearly wrong. Now, what is Habanos going to do about it? They have an email add, which they can track to someone and can track the call to you if they want to. You know what you are doing and have credibility. Clearly you wont take up the "offer" but someone else will. We had the same thing in South Africa between 2003 & 05. Detailed reports with photos went out to Habanos and they did nothing to stop the guy who was selling the dodgy Cigars. Habanos can and must take steps to close down "Kenny's" operation, but will they?
habanablue Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Looks like a czar email special for February to me!:-D
wp2 Posted February 8, 2007 Posted February 8, 2007 Hey Prez, where are the rare & exotic glass top Esplendidos? :-P
El Presidente Posted February 9, 2007 Author Posted February 9, 2007 » Ok, you have the info and something is clearly wrong. Now, what is Habanos » going to do about it? They have an email add, which they can track to » someone and can track the call to you if they want to. You know what you » are doing and have credibility. Clearly you wont take up the "offer" but » someone else will. We had the same thing in South Africa between 2003 & » 05. Detailed reports with photos went out to Habanos and they did nothing » to stop the guy who was selling the dodgy Cigars. Habanos can and must » take steps to close down "Kenny's" operation, but will they? I wish it was so simple Bernard. Let me bring two cases to point. Singapore retailer caught selling (and distributing) fake cigars. No doubt...Cohiba LE Robusto and R&J Double Coronas + many others. The sting was set and executed flawlessly. Cigars confiscated by Singapore police. It took a year to bring to court. Habanos s.a testified as to the fake nature of the cigars. The action revolved around trade mark protection which was the most straightforward legal action at the time. Open and shut case.....we had fake cigars, we had people who purchased them and testified, we had distribution price lists. $400,000 in legal fees later and the action is still ongoing. In effect the defence was that the cigars were purchased in good faith that they were Cuban. It is up to Habanos s.a and PCC to prove that the vendor NEW that he was in breach of Trademark laws by purchasing cigars he KNEW were fake. Madness. Lets go to Canada and another action in the late 90's by the Habanos licensee against a retailer who was selling fake Habanos. Three year court action, 1m in legal costs. The defendent was fined less than $10k and costs were never recouped. The court process has not proven yet to be effective. Later this year each box will include a code which details the licensee the cigars have been shipped to from Habanos s.a. It is a step in the right direction but hardly the be all and end all. Also, Habanos s.a expects the regional Licensee to take action to enforce trademark issues. Given the costs involved and the chance of a successful prosecution, most are gun shy.
Bernard Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 » » Also, Habanos s.a expects the regional Licensee to take action to enforce » trademark issues. Given the costs involved and the chance of a successful » prosecution, most are gun shy. Thanks for this. I did not know about the other cases. I have been following the Hunters / Mastercigar case in the UK. There were trademark and counterfeit issues and the judgement makes interesting reading about the counterfeit and authenticity factors. If you want the judgment let me know. The scenario you scetched is pretty scary, for the average consumer. And if Habanos are not going to come to the party with regard to costs it does not help. Even more reason to be very cautious and for consumers and suppliers to spread the word about anything dodgy going on.
Professor Twain Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 Remember the recent case in the US, the guy only got 5 months of house arrest and a small fine: [link]http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/16295064.htm[/link] Seems like Habanos S.A. ought to just hire some leg breakers for these situations.
Ginseng Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 » Later this year each box will include a code which details the licensee » the cigars have been shipped to from Habanos s.a. Thank you Rob for sharing this craziness. I, for one, would have loved to have gotten my hands on some of those cigars for examination. So do I read your statement right in that in addition to the date and factory code, there will now be a distributor code on the box? Will this code be a clandestine code like the factory code, with regular rotation and all that? Or will it be clear to the end purchaser that a box came from say, PCC versus Fifth Avenue? Wilkey
tigger Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 Rob, thanks as usual for sharing your insights with us. This place is an amazing asset!
El Presidente Posted February 9, 2007 Author Posted February 9, 2007 » » Later this year each box will include a code which details the licensee » » the cigars have been shipped to from Habanos s.a. » » Thank you Rob for sharing this craziness. I, for one, would have loved to » have gotten my hands on some of those cigars for examination. » » So do I read your statement right in that in addition to the date and » factory code, there will now be a distributor code on the box? Will this » code be a clandestine code like the factory code, with regular rotation » and all that? Or will it be clear to the end purchaser that a box came » from say, PCC versus Fifth Avenue? » » Wilkey Wilkey I will know more upon my return but as I understand it it will be a clandestine code forming part of the Diagonal Habanos sticker on the box. Let me confirm that statement while in Havana.
Trevor2118 Posted February 9, 2007 Posted February 9, 2007 » The court process has not proven yet to be effective. This is the problem with all court cases......they dispense law, not justice......and common sense is bared from the court room....
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now