Your experience with counterfeits(from that island- south of Miami)?

[ivo]

  So here's a touchy subject-  What's been your experience with counterfeit CC's?  For obvious reasons, sources need to not be named, I think...  But I'm looking to hear from our more experienced members here- how they've bumped their heads pursuing this hobby of ours. 

  My experience:  I bought my first box from a source in late 2006.  Boli CE's.  I forget what reasons I had for choosing this source over the rest, but out of the 5 or 6 sources I had dug up, I figured this was the safest bet.  They were not the cheapest- but their pricing did figure into why I chose them first.  I received my sticks in about a week.  Everything went off without a hitch.  And, as it turns out, they have been solid ever since.  However, at this point in '06, I was still experimenting, so...

  I figured I would try another source.  December of '06.  I bought two boxes, I believe at different times.  Monte #2's, and VR Clasicos.  The Monte's were a mixed bag, some smoking quite well, but quite a few plugged.  Towards the end of this box, I encountered 2 or 3 cigars that were bitter and flat.  Which got me wondering.  As far as the Clasicos were concerned, I never did get a good stick out of that box.  Still have more than half a box in the humi today.  All plugged, save for one or two, but none with rich flavor I remembered VR to have.  So that got me really wondering...

  After a couple of months pondering this, I did some homework and inspected my boxes. I began with looking for the Habanos emblem to be branded into the box.  Both boxes were stamped, not branded.  And while I could not find anything conclusive regarding the Monte #2's, I did notice other peculiar things about the Clasicos box.  The color of the wrappers of the cigars were neither consistent, nor were they laid in order from dark to light(or light to dark) wrapper.  Just laid at random, a few darker, then a couple lighter, and a couple lighter colored sticks alone amongst darker colored sticks.

  But the kicker for me was that the VR bands were not embossed.  I had smoked others that I thought had embossed bands.  So began more research, and I discovered that while there are other brands of CC's that use bands which are not embossed, the VR line happens to use bands that [u]are[/u] embossed. 

  So, while the Monte #2's were certainly suspect, I found the VR Clasicos to most likely be counterfeit(In my inexperienced opinion).  I have since only used my one first source, with the exception of one other source, whom I've also found to be reliable, if not a little more expensive.

  So, I don't know.  That's my admittedly inexperienced experience  ::) with CC counterfeits.

Anyone else?

[atomross13]

I have only received counterfeit cigars in trades with some dishonest and/or unknowing people. The sources I have used to purchase boxes have all been on the up and up. 

[Knuck42]

My experience has been similar to Adam's.  Fortunately I was always able to get feedback on sourse prior to ordering from them.  For me anyway, no available feedback or negative feedback = no order.  I have gotten some fakes in trades but the sender was unknowing not a crook.  Overall I feel quite lucky.

[Bartolomeo]

Counterfeits got me into this crazy obsession now....  :)

Bought a box of Cohiba EL 2007 DoubleCorona and posted pics on a golf forum I frequently attended.....problem is Cohiba didnt make an EL in 2007 and a kind member pointed this out to me.....I did the research on Trevors site and he was right.......I then made it my goal to buy legit Cubans to see what all of the fuss was about and have not turned back ever since......This was June/July of this year and I am hooked

I have since found legit sources to buy from online and sites like this are great for purchasing as well, I have had no problems with any of the members here so far(knocking on wood)  :rotf:

Thanks,

Bart

[crusto]

I did alot of reading before I bought.  Was able to stick to a couple of sources recommended from BOTLs that I knew personally.  Thankfully, I've never bought fakes unknowing.  I bought a couple of the $2 Esplindidos just to show people.

[sepp]

Only Faux CC experience I have is on the beaches in Nassau and Mexico. I have seen enough to recognize the infamous glass top presentations...  :rotf:

Research and the generous knowledge of BOTL at local herfs have provided me with a confidence in the sources I use.

[DocLogic77]

There are alot of ways to determine fakes.  I won't go into all the details...alot of online sources for education.  What I will say is I stick to established vendors and established members I trust.  This has served me well.

Posting pics of questionable boxes...and sticks can help.  There are alot of members that are a terrific resource and have an educated eye.

Moral of the story...don't chase a great price with an unknown vendor unless you can take the hit and know how to differentiate between fake and real.

[TrickNick]

I'm with the Doc on this one. 

[havanajohn]

I haver not had a problem with my CC  vendor. The fakes always came from friends and customers that are not knowledgeable in their purchases.