Guest rob Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 Prez, when can you get us the Cohibas shown at 3:37 in this video? Apparently they are made with the highest quality leaf aged for 12 days, alongside dog crap, in a plastic shopping bag.
sounddust Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 The tourist looks absolutely delighted. I wonder what he believed he was getting? Wonder if the rum's real...
maalouly Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 The tourist looks absolutely delighted. I wonder what he believed he was getting? Wonder if the rum's real... He was getting a Cohiba
El Presidente Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 The tourist looks absolutely delighted. I wonder what he believed he was getting? Wonder if the rum's real... Is it a wonder there are so many fakes. Unfortunately, you see it all the time.
Guest rob Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 Well, those display cases were full with Partagas, Bolivar, Cohiba and plenty more. And that probably represents only 0.01% of the trade in that city alone.
laficion Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 From what I can see on this video, It looks like it was filmed at the LCDH Store"Conde de Villanueva" in Havane. Look at it closely Rob, that's where Renaldo rolles custom made cigars. But It's sure as hell NOT THE Cohiba Factory.
laficion Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 From what I can see on this video, It looks like it was filmed at the LCDH Store"Conde de Villanueva" Have a look and you'll see what I mean. Soory but I can't make it clearer. http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Bl...695,211,00.html
Spartan Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 watched both vids...looks like it's the same place! whats up with counterfeits at a LCDH store?
sounddust Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 Good catch laficion. Anyways, the "Cohibas" looked more like LGD Chisels. It will be interesting what the guys who have been to that shop gotta say about this.
zuma Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 From what I can see on this video, It looks like it was filmed at the LCDH Store "Conde de Villanueva"in Havane. Look at it closely Rob, that's where Renaldo rolles custom made cigars. But It's sure as hell NOT THE Cohiba Factory. Awesome catch laficion... My eyes are not good but may be the band in those funny stick reads "Cogida" rather than Cohiba.
Guest rob Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 Perhaps suggests the buyer should always beware if you dont know the retailer personally.
El Presidente Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 wow, definitely the same place, for sure. I saw it too Laficion. There are wheels within wheels. No idea tourist = opportunity for quick on the side buck. For the first time this year I saw a fake box of a Limited Edicion (8 years old) at a well respected Caracol store. The cigars were immaculate but were 08 tobacco. Investigations are under way. This was the only box of fakes I spotted in the store. Everything else was legitimate and of course there was a wonderful story of how they came to be available. Proper Govt receipt for purchase (second book) and all staff were in on it. Nice payday at 650 CUC (900 USD roughly). It all comes back to this. The people can't survive on what they are paid. They are masters of a new art.
laficion Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I share you viewpoint, El Prez, and I agree with you on the fact that with what they get paid, a cuban can not go very far if he OR she don't come up with other options. When I go to Cuba, I don't stay at hotels, I stay at the locals and I know what they go through and some of the ways that they go about. I don't say that It's right, I just say I understand. As for the video, the LCDH at the hotel Conde de Villanueva, is, in my opinion, one of the best Casa del Habano in Havana. I have seen myself, people come in the shop knowing nothing about cigars, recieveing a warm welcome and very good advice. Some of the best custom rolled cigars that I have come from Renaldo's fantastic blends and expert rolling (no dog crap in his plastic bag). There is a lot of BS on the Internet concerning cigars and mostly Habanos. All I'm saying is, At least this video is no BS. Thank you all for reading me out.
Guest rob Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Laficion, Clearly the roller is very good at his craft. He certainly seems to know what he is doing. But as a consumer I would be worried when a product is sold to me representing to be something it's not.
Habanos2000 Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I'd also have to say by LCDH not stopping this from happening on their premises tells me they encourage it. It brings their level of credibility way down in my book.
El Presidente Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I'd also have to say by LCDH not stopping this from happening on their premises tells me they encourage it. It brings their level of credibility way down in my book. It is not condoned. When I brought their attention to the said box mentioned above at a Caracol store they were generally flabbergasted and angry. Let me explain a little bit further. Every hotel bar in Havana is operated by 3-5 people. They skim approx 40% in takings and stock very professionally and split it amongst themselves. The best food in hotels is never served. The goods are distributed by workers and taken home to be consumed or sold. It is a team effort. No matter what the industry is you have small teams working together in order to simply get by. I do not blame them. I blame the system which forces them to do it.
Habanos2000 Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 It is not condoned. When I brought their attention to the said box mentioned above at a Caracol store they were generally flabbergasted and angry. Let me explain a little bit further. Every hotel bar in Havana is operated by 3-5 people. They skim approx 40% in takings and stock very professionally and split it amongst themselves. The best food in hotels is never served. The goods are distributed by workers and taken home to be consumed or sold. It is a team effort. No matter what the industry is you have small teams working together in order to simply get by. I do not blame them. I blame the system which forces them to do it. I agree the system is not fair to the people and they need to work to change it. I'd rather give the people in the stores a generous tip if I felt they were providing me a service above any beyond the standard. But stealing is just wrong and I can't condone it.
El Presidente Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I agree the system is not fair to the people and they need to work to change it. I'd rather give the people in the stores a generous tip if I felt they were providing me a service above any beyond the standard. But stealing is just wrong and I can't condone it. I don't condone it but understand it. You can't change a system that is stacked against you. You can try but you will end up quickly incarcerated (there is nowhere in the world with a higher or more informed police presence). You have responsibilities to your family. I look at the video and my stomach churns. Will I forward it to HSA, no. This will change when people receive a fair days pay for a fair days work. Right now the system breeds "ingenuity" in its worst possible manisfestation.
Guest rob Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Being that HSA is government owned (that is my understanding anyway)... it must be a huge risk for them to do these things... to attempt to sell fakes in HSA stores. I'm figuring penalties for getting caught would be high. Undercutting any government in the world reaps trouble - let alone a communist one. This just further highlights their desperation I guess.
chuck1rar Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I agree the system is not fair to the people and they need to work to change it. I'd rather give the people in the stores a generous tip if I felt they were providing me a service above any beyond the standard. But stealing is just wrong and I can't condone it. I would not even think of it as stealing but a mere fact of life in a third world or developing country whichever u feel more comfortable with.. Dont begrudge the people for doing it cause most of us have no idea nor have many of us faced the same social and economic difficulties in daily life. The simple fact is as a traveller, it is merely a game not to be screwed as they try and get by but also I dont feel the deep pity some do. Its life and sometimes it sux more for some than others. But Rob thinking things will change after people get more money and better conditions..then I seriously doubt this will happen. Once this mentality is ingrained it is hard to just wake up one day and turn over a new leave. There are many examples of the same thing in many of the developing countries I have visited and it rarely ever changes.
El Presidente Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Maybe I am a born optimist I suppose the point I am trying to make is that you cannot use a "Carrot and Stick" approach when you haven't got a carrot.
sounddust Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 This is like walking into a Brioni boutique in Milan and paying $10,000 for a polyester suit.
Spartan Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I have to side with Habanos2000...stuff like this should not be tolerated. IMO, LCDH should drop this guy as a authorized dealer. let him continue is counterfeiting business without the LCDH marque. If you cant trust a authorized dealer then who can you trust?
GP012 Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 I thought I had seen photos of similar bands before, maybe on Moki's site, but I can't seem to find them anymore. I don't remember what the context of those photos were though.
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