dinnerplate Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 My very first online CC purchase was from a Canadian website, and it just arrived a few days ago. I purchased (get ready to be shocked) a box of Cohiba Robustos and a box of Montecristo No. 2. Hey, I'm new to this, and wanted some well-knowns. I hadn't had a chance to thoroughly inspect the boxes or the cigars, but box of Montes looked good from initial inspection, at least from the plethora of websites I've read about fakes vs. real. And the Cohibas looked good too, with the exception of two things: 1) the white Habanos S.A. chevron on the upper right was not intact - it looked sliced; 2) the green Republica de Cuba sticker appeared to have two layers - after I peeled a little of the sticker off, it looked like it was placed on another sticker that was previously torn off. Other than that, everything looks perfect. The box has a Havana House sticker on it, a perfectly intact and unsliced hologram sticker going across the seam between the lid and the box, and a sticker with a legitimate bar code on it. The bands look good, with perfect placement and gold embossing. The cigars themselves are nice looking, except they have the occasional green spot on them, which I understand to be just water spots from aging the tobacco. I should note that I spoke with Havana House in Canada first, and they told me they sell to this retailer, which they recommended. And the prices weren't too good to be true, by any means. And it's not a very well known site either. So it's really just a matter of the Republica de Cuba sticker and the white Habanos S.A. sticker being sliced. My question to you guys is this: have you ever heard of anything like this with the genuine article? I'm truly hoping this is the real deal. Thanks, guys. As a side note, I'm waiting on a box from Czar, and won't be going anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Is there a "revisado" stamp on the box of Cohiba? Also do you mean the underlying warranty seal had been totally removed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinnerplate Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 I'm not at home right now with my potential fakes, so I don't know about the "revisado," but the warranty seal looks like this: imagine if you placed a sticker on a clean surface. Then you peeled it off so only the white fuzzy stuff remains. Then you place a sticker of the exact same size over it, except maybe about 1mm or so off the mark. Does that make sense? I initially thought the sticker was a double-layer one, to protect against counterfeiting. But I'm telling you, the sticker looks perfect otherwise. What does "revisado" entail? Some kind of reuse of a box? Thanks for the quick reply, Colt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 What does "revisado" entail? Some kind of reuse of a box? From time to time boxes in warehouse get reinspected and have a second warranty seal placed over the first, and normally get a revisado stamp. I'm no expert in these matters, but the original seal being removed is a little worrisome. My initial thoughts are the possibility of gray market - which doesn't have to mean counterfeit. Don't fret, and give a little time for others with greater experience on the subject to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinnerplate Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 ok, here are some pics of the suspect items. the first nine are of the box of cohiba robustos, and the final two are of the box of monte no. 2. there is actually NO "revisado" on it, but the box code is XV 242841, which may apparently indicate that it is one of the checked boxes. just a note: it turns out that upon closer inspection, i can make out the outline of another warranty sticker underneath the top layer warranty sticker. i don't think you can see it from the photos, but you can definitely see it with the naked eye. so it's actually NOT like a sticker was torn off, then another placed on top of it. i think it was second note: the warranty sticker didn't come in that state - i peeled it loose to take a better look. it originally came intact, except for the part i stated above. i unfortunately didn't take any photos prior to opening and sorting them in my humidor. the montes, i think, are fine. the only reason i uploaded photos was because there appeared to be two warranty stickers on there. has anyone seen that before? thanks for looking! EDIT: i just entered the serial numbers on the habanos s.a. website for both boxes. the monte's are real. i don't think the cohibas came with the serial number on it on the warranty sticker, the way the monte has it. so i can't check that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Gargett Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 no expert on fakes but those photos look pretty good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krs Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 How do they smell when you open the box? any ammonia?? Ive had a few fakes that have had a very strong ammonia smell.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinnerplate Posted November 25, 2009 Author Share Posted November 25, 2009 no ammonia smell as far as i can tell. i actually cracked and smoked one, despite it being only about 5 days since i received them. and they were rather mild, but pretty smooth. TONS of thick, creamy smoke. and i tore apart the nub to see how long the filler leaves were. picture attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samb Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 They look real to me. But Im no expert. I think I may know the obscure Canadian site your talking about, and if its the one Im thinking of, theyre legit as far as I know. Never ordered from anywhere other than the Czar, but I did a lot of research into legit sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thechenman Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 They actually look authentic to me as well. Unfotunately there are a lot of inconsistencies when it comes to Cuban cigars that relate not only to cigar constrution, but packaging as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toner Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 They look good to me...I buy from that site all the time, if it is the one I am thinking about... and they are legit. Great guys, they have a B&M, too... I wouldn't worry about the Habanos sticker being sliced, normal stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theo30702 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I too have ordered from this site...all legit, enjoy but you can't beat CZAR for quality and trust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnakeHips Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 The serial number on the Cohibas begins with an 'X,' which means it's a revisado seal, so that explains the underlying previous warranty seal. If Havana House recommended the vendor, I wouldn't worry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
android Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Once again buy from the Czar and we never have to have these questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokem Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 When I first saw the date on the COROs I thought it was 2002 and would have thought you had a problem with the bands. But since it's 2007, my far from expert eyes don't detect anything suspicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CigarmanTim Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 You will always be nervous about your first order. Stick with this place and you won't have to worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinnerplate Posted December 7, 2009 Author Share Posted December 7, 2009 i think this was just a matter of first-time jitters. i'm pretty sure it's the real deal. that whole waiting a month before lighting up thing, though, is driving me insane. two more weeks, my babies... as a side note, i've since ordered about 75 or so more sticks from czar, just for peace of mind. a box of RASS, the 2008 sampler, and various other goodies. no fuss, no muss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samb Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 no fuss, no muss. You hit the nail on the head with that one!!! That is exactly what you get when you do business with the Czar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scsi Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Lord God..... You'd think that Czar's is the only place to get an authentic stick It's not 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Gargett Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Lord God..... You'd think that Czar's is the only place to get an authentic stick It's not you do realise that you are responding to a post that wound down 6 years ago? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scsi Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 yep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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