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[quote author=canadianbeaver link=topic=9210.msg53201#msg53201 date=1306507588]
OK question for you... and it is not a genius one either. Folks love fake stuff. LV, Lacoste, Lauren etc. The pitch here is "these taste just like the real deal at a half or 2/3 of the price (or whatever)", is it not? You guys just know better because you are knowledgeable experts.[/quote]

That's likely a combination of:

a) Wishful thinking
b) Not knowing what the real deal tastes like

It's dangerous because who knows what is in these cigars; Phil has mentioned he's seen beetle droppings all over the place in the cigars, so the tobacco likely was not fumigated properly.

Also, charging extraordinarily high prices for fake product is just not acceptable.  That picture from Phil (I'm hoping he takes another one at a higher resolution, with better lighting) gives you an idea of how widespread the problem is.

I'm guessing TL sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of these fake cigars... and I'm betting he is still selling them, as are others.  It's very likely an organized racket.

And LOL @ the TL Edmundo Dante 109 picture... no need for arrows on that one! :)

There were an awful lot of people on board lending their support to this guy, which exposes everyone else to the danger by lending him credibility.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  If you don't know what a cigar you're buying should taste/look like, don't buy it.

[quote author=canadianbeaver link=topic=9210.msg53201#msg53201 date=1306507588]
OK question for you... and it is not a genius one either. Folks love fake stuff. LV, Lacoste, Lauren etc. The pitch here is "these taste just like the real deal at a half or 2/3 of the price (or whatever)", is it not? You guys just know better because you are knowledgeable experts.

Only here were they going for the whole pop.

What do you think?

CB


[/quote]

Folks only love fake stuff when they know that the items are knockoffs being offered at a substantial discount compared to the original version. Not the case here. People thought they were buying the real thing, and were paying a premium for them as well. Many people buy counterfeit luxury items because they cannot afford the real thing. In this case, however, people with the means to do so were paying full (or more) price for items which were NOT genuine.

I know that counterfeiting is wrong on many levels, yet we all know it exists and is supported worldwide. There are many luxuries which people want for, luxuries which are often out of reach at the prices at which they are offered. The desire for coveted items coupled with the desire to make money ensures that this practice will not soon disappear. In this case, however, it is important to consider that the value of the item lies in its intended purpose. For example, a knockoff Vuitton suitcase will still hold clothing. Fake Fendi sunglasses still block the sun. But fake cigars very rarely taste like the cigar they are purporting to be.

Of course, but fake cigars are a huge business and this has been going on for a long time, on only because of your skill and breadth of knowledge did TL get caught. Are you kidding with how close those fakes are? And sense of taste? Please. Most folks think a Ghurka aka brown pickles are wonderful. Macanudo is "Americas best selling and most popular cigar brand".

I do not need to tell you guys anything except I have recently come around from smoking doggie doo to the good stuff.

And I am now being called a Cigar snob :-)

Yeah, sure, but I'm sure the best selling wine is "wine in a box"... and the best selling coffee is mass market shit.

If anything is extremely popular, it's probably bad.  :)

When they come out with "single malt scotch in a box", then I know the world is truly coming to an end.

TL is still handing out refunds, just fyi.  He just refunded me for the 5er I got off him.  If you feel you want to get a refund but haven't asked yet, I'd do so soon!!

This made a little news today...

[url=http://www.thesmokingstogie.com/]http://www.thesmokingstogie.com/[/url]

[quote author=randomhero1090 link=topic=9210.msg61204#msg61204 date=1319651990]
This made a little news today...

[url=http://www.thesmokingstogie.com/]http://www.thesmokingstogie.com/[/url]
[/quote]

I wouldn't call a blogger blogging about it making the news.  But to each his own.

[quote author=jayro75 link=topic=9210.msg61206#msg61206 date=1319655392]
I wouldn't call a blogger blogging about it making the news.  But to each his own.
[/quote]

Touché  :rotf:

An 82??? OUCH....I have a box enroute and will let it rest until a HERF in Jan before firing one up but an 82??? cmon....