Do you buy boxes that have been previously opened ( not including ones from Rob) ?

[AussieCanuck]

I ask this question as most BOTLs recommend requesting to open boxes to inspect cigars (especially when in Cuba). I've been to Cuba a few times and have only ever bought one box that was opened (not by me) and that was a box of PSD4s ( the last box that the store in the Hotel Nacional had at the time). Every other box I bought was sealed and I have never been disappointed with the exception of a few 5 packs of Siglo I 's.

So I guess my question is, are we being unfair on suppliers when we open a box and then don't buy it ? I've heard plenty of BOTLs say don't buy unless the box is sealed and you can open it yourself. Any opinions ?

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[AussieCanuck]

Title should read ' (not including ones from Rob).'

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[Dmatzkin]

I buy opened boxes, mostly from retailers I know. I actually prefer that sometimes if it has been done to verify the quality and shape of the cigars. Any reputable retailer will open the boxes for you as a piece of customer service. If I make them to open a box for me is only if I intend to buy it, if everything is good I take it!!

Daniel

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[earthson]

 

I buy opened boxes, mostly from retailers I know. I actually prefer that sometimes if it has been done to verify the quality and shape of the cigars. Any reputable retailer will open the boxes for you as a piece of customer service. If I make them to open a box for me is only if I intend to buy it, if everything is good I take it!!

+1

[PapaDisco]

I buy the opened box too, but I've seen place that mix and match within a marca (Duty Free in HKG for example will replace a bad cigar in a box with a good one from another without regard to keeping the box codes matched, then they put the busted cigars back in a box and on the shelf for sale).

[Carts]

Only with trusted retailers would I want the boxes open. As it happens I order mostly form those who open boxes, it's comforting to know that after waiting three weeks I wont be opening a box of crap.

[Bclass1]

Only with trusted retailers would I want the boxes open. As it happens I order mostly form those who open boxes, it's comforting to know that after waiting three weeks I wont be opening a box of crap.

Couldn't agree more... I used to only buy sealed boxes. There used to be nothing like sealed boxes of Cuban cigars, just for me to cut the seals. Different story now... Nothing like opening a box to no surprises.

[johnhenry]

I don't think I have ever got a box of cubans that was not opened for inspection.

[Ryan]

In the UK, every box is opened by the distributer before it gets to the retailer, it's part of that 'EMS' thingy.

[NJP]

Little Question. In many years to come will the value differ on a sealed box of say Gran Reserva over an unsealed box.

[El Presidente]

Little Question. In many years to come will the value differ on a sealed box of say Gran Reserva over an unsealed box.

interesting question Nick.

If I was trading stock (with an eye to sell down the line) I would purchase a sealed box. If I was wanting a box to smoke myself in time, I would purchase and opened and inspected box.

[Hash]

Part of the ritual of buying cuban cigars is to be able to walk into the cigar shop and inspect different boxes , by smelling the tobacco , looking at the color and choose what you like, any self respecting cigar shop will help you choose the box you are happy with.

[Hiroshiro]

I had a bad box of 520s once. 4 cigars were busted open and completely unsmokable. After that I have my cigars inspected just in case something like that happens.

[NJP]

interesting question Nick.

If I was trading stock (with an eye to sell down the line) I would purchase a sealed box. If I was wanting a box to smoke myself in time, I would purchase and opened and inspected box.

I cannot help taking a look and smell but I now have a mate getting me special boxes that I will probably never get at. I should get better at leaving them alone.

[bigbwalls]

I always want my boxes inspected. I received a box of Hoyo Epicure No. 2s from another vendor that was COVERED in mold. Rather than waste shipping costs, I'd rather my vendors find these problems before shipping them across the world.

[SaintLuis]

Couldn't agree more... I used to only buy sealed boxes. There used to be nothing like sealed boxes of Cuban cigars, just for me to cut the seals. Different story now... Nothing like opening a box to no surprises.

^ that

[LordAnubis]

NO! Never bought a box of cigars that either I have not seen or El Pres has not approved of. If a duty free shop or B&M says i cant open a box, i walk out. I dont want to spend money on average. I want to spend my money on the best possible.

[earthson]

I always want my boxes inspected. I received a box of Hoyo Epicure No. 2s from another vendor that was COVERED in mold. Rather than waste shipping costs, I'd rather my vendors find these problems before shipping them across the world.

Sounds like PE

[shlomo]

interesting question Nick.

If I was trading stock (with an eye to sell down the line) I would purchase a sealed box. If I was wanting a box to smoke myself in time, I would purchase and opened and inspected box.

Really? What if the sealed box is crawling with beetles? You would have no clue and possibly jeopardize your entire humidor.

I open everything and ask that it is opened for me. I only buy from trusted vendors, or in person, so no worries about playing the switch a roo game.

[OkieJoe]

Almost always have them opened. I really prefer them opened and graded

[Lotusguy]

Since I am mostly stuck with online purchases for obvious reasons, I don't really have much choice in the matter. Even when you ask them to inspect, some vendors will still sell you moldy ("but it's the green kind of plume" ) or bad sticks. I no longer use those vendors but had to find out the hard way.

[PigFish]

interesting question Nick.

If I was trading stock (with an eye to sell down the line) I would purchase a sealed box. If I was wanting a box to smoke myself in time, I would purchase and opened and inspected box.

Not attempting to extract the right or wrong of anyones' practices, I just thought this post was very poignant. I see this as a core difference between the collector and the smoker.

Me, I have bought many sealed boxes, the vendors opinions of the box would have meant precious little. When you buy cigars with a commodity view, where the opening may just mean that the better (looking) box just might go to the "better" customer then the sealed box puts us on equal ground.

But when you trust a vendor's opinion, in that he/she cares enough not to sell you (visual) crap, the crap he will send back or sell wholesale, then it is in your best interest to have the boxes opened.

The practice of culling cigars is a double edged sword… I have smoked some pretty hard looking great tasting cigars and some pretty crappy great looking ones…

The Pig

[SCgarman]

Yup. Agree with the pig. Cigars are like women. Sometimes the not so good looking ones are absolutely stand-out fantastic. And some of the beautiful ones are terrible.

[Dmatzkin]

The way the cigars look is not my biggest concern. Even though I like good looking cigars, I am mostly worried about mould...

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[PapaDisco]

The way the cigars look is not my biggest concern. Even though I like good looking cigars, I am mostly worried about mould...

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Correct. Same here. I buy from reputable guys to begin with and so I'm not worried about fakes, I just worry about condition. For instance: tubos that are capped and boxed in Havana are going to have a greater moisture content than may condense in transit (depending on temps), and result in mold by the other end. IME, this mold grows briefly and then stops (cold Canadian warehouses are an example of this source), BUT, if that mold is not discovered shortly and removed, who's to say that it will still be no issue in 10 years of sealed box storage? I've had 5 year old R&J Churchill tubos from Canada with light but thorough white mold; cigars that had not been opened until I got them, and they smoked absolutely beautifully. Were they moldy at the start? At the finish? Somewhere in between? I do not know, but I'd rather it not be there at all.

So my current strategy is this: if I want a box of sealed sticks, then I ask for five boxes and request El Pres to open one, or ask for sealed boxes from a lot that he's been picking through. I assume that if they're all from the same code and master case that one box should be representative of the others. I may be wrong, but it's the theory I'm going on thus far. Ask me again in 20 years . . .

I don't worry about manufacturing variation from box to box. That's going to happen and is hard to control. I'm just trying to eliminate a bad, moldy box from going into long term storage. If Rob's opened a master case of BAM '13 Punch Punch and if finding them all good, then I'll take the next bunch of sealed boxes sight unseen and sleep well at night.