Whats wrong with gray market cigars?

[smelvis]

Thanks for all the conversation I appreciate it all. I have bought a lot of what is called grey market and my palette is getting better and in taste comparisons I can't tell a difference. The provenance part is not a problem to me as I sell few except some as bombs and would simply replace or refund any that were unhappy. I am also finally marking all codes down now I didn't for the first few months. Provenance again I should clarify as It would be important when buying expensive, LE's RE's and seriously aged product so I guess I have to backtrack a little on my earlier statement as I am dipping my feet into these types.

One of the funny things to me was like on a box of Cohina Genios the code is on the cardboard box and not on the beautiful black box the cigars are in. I always thought that was silly.


I am in the process of turning my inventory over from mostly nons to mostly Cubans and my collections is well over 5,000 it's a big job and am doing it by selling blind samplers and using that money to buy Cubans with. As was posted elsewhere I have never profited on any cigars on my sales I use that as an opportunity to bomb people so I always send way more than they paid for.

That is one reason I appreciate all of you wiser ones as I want and like to learn more and so far I still am a babe in the Cuban woods.

Thanks

Dave

[gibbleguts]

Ok my thoughts on grey market cigars.  Grey market are also known as parrallel market cigars in the industry. This also means that there is very little doubt that most will be authentic. What does become an issue is that these usually have are not handled in exactly the same way. First the cigars are shipped to country of intended sale, the bar codes are then cut off as they show the distributor they were orignally sent to. Officially habanos does not support the online discounted sale of cigars. They do very little to stop it but is the best interest for the distributors to remove the barcodes and with it the incriminating evidence. Now comes the bigger issues. These distributors are usually in south or central american countries and most of the grey market sales are done through switzerland. Now not saying shipping is devestaing for cigars but I think a lot overhumidify for the trip causing much of the mold issues mentioned. It just comes down to that I believe you are more likely to run into cigars from the grey market then with primary channel cigars.

[randomhero1090]

Good stuff gibble and company...very good read here.

[smelvis]

Hi
I have seen mold twice in my two+ years once minor once I asked for a refund out of maybe 110-125 boxes. I am not arguing but I can live with those odds. Very good points I just haven't seen much mold at all.

Thanks for continuing this discussion.

[canadianbeaver]

Matthew and I discussed this while enjoying the lovely Puro D'oros he just brought home. mmmmmm. He is the CEO of a Pharma Co and says drugs have the exact same issues with meds that are manufactured and sent around the world. Britain and France will put labels on their drugs and while they are completely legal and kosher, once they have left the company's control, date stamping and storage of the drugs may be compromised.

CB

[goalie204]

It's always buyer beware.  I recently purchased from a Canadian vendor who's been established for a while, but new to me (no not the one you're thinking of :P )  When a box of MC #4s arrived and had the newer chevron, i went crazy thinking they were fakes, but confirmed authenticity after checking on cubancigarwebsite about the new chevron, and more importantly smoking one and it was pure bliss.  I could care less if they came from an "authentic official distributor" because they're legit cuban cigars at a great price.

Anyway, this 99 punch ss2 is money :) :bigup:

[gibbleguts]

[quote author=smelvis link=topic=11272.msg60686#msg60686 date=1318795952]
Hi
I have seen mold twice in my two+ years once minor once I asked for a refund out of maybe 110-125 boxes. I am not arguing but I can live with those odds. Very good points I just haven't seen much mold at all.

Thanks for continuing this discussion.
[/quote]

Not always just mold there has been some concerns as well about drying out then re hydrating later.  Bottom line is if you are happy with your cigars that is great some people just have concerns and possibly unfounded ones about the extra times in ttransport.

[smelvis]

[quote author=gibbleguts link=topic=11272.msg61303#msg61303 date=1319859190]
Not always just mold there has been some concerns as well about drying out then re hydrating later.  Bottom line is if you are happy with your cigars that is great some people just have concerns and possibly unfounded ones about the extra times in ttransport.
[/quote]

Thanks that's why I started this thread I am interested in what all those concerns are. To put it simply I would like to learn more. I know almost nothing compared to some.

[smelvis]

provenance

Boy do I get it now if I didn't before. The thread about the cigars the seller sold fakes he has boxes of and didn't know it. Knowing the Vendor is worth a little more and I am thinking hard on this now. That thread both seller and buyer are good guy's and someone still gets hurt. Man even when you do the right thing nothing is ever for sure.

provenance Yep I understand now Thank You!

[canadianbeaver]

I have recently become part of a smoking group in person from another discussion board. These guys are experts in Cubans. They can look at the cigars and also talk about vendors, bands, boxes and laugh it up pretty great too.

I sit with a bunch at my local cigar shop but they are not as knowledgeable as these guys (or as much fun), and biased by their vendors.

I am sure many of you have this pleasure as well. We have this in the coffee biz.
CB

P.S. all of them have been stuck with a fake or rotten box and chalk it up to the world of stogies