Questioning my vendor

[dememihel]

Hey guys. Here is the back story; I wrote this on a different website, stating that the store I bought my cigars from are fake.

"I have been ordering Cuban cigars online for about 4 years now. I’m ready for another order however after doing some research on grey market cigars and how some online stores scratch off the codes off the boxes and warranty seal, I got a little skeptical. Thankfully I keep all the boxes I've ever ordered and started to investigate them. May 2013 I ordered 10 boxes online from the same place. Thankfully they did not scratch off the tiny codes off the warranty seal so I was able to search them online.
1st box Partagas Serie D No. 4, the codes checked out
2nd box, Diplomaticos No. 2, the codes do not match. In fact the codes come up with a different cigar
I am in the process of looking up the other 8 boxes to see if they match. Since May 2013 I have ordered 16 more boxes (however all the serials on those boxes were scratched off) so I cannot verify them to see if they are real.
I am to believe if 1 box is not authentic then they are all not authentic. "

I have now received an email from that store, read below.

[shlomo]

They look fine.

[Bulldog4]

I also agree with shlomo they look good I will say I have seen it as well where codes do not match or that they even show up as do not match at all I would trust your vendor if its who I think it is they have been very respectable for some time.

[LGC]

How do they smoke??? That is the only true test you should rely on....

[tjohn7]

If the smokes smell and taste great, then you've got legit Cubans. Like the vendor said, a lot of problems come down to quality control. If you haven't had any issues in the past, I would trust the vendor. But like he said, best to go to him first, before you question his integrity in front of the internet.

[dememihel]

I have only smoked a few, all were good except the Diplomaticos #2.

I uploaded some pics of the cigars, let me know your thoughts

http://s58.photobucket.com/user/blue_goat/library/Cigars

[PuffDaddie]

Look's good to me.

[IPORTER]

yep look sound to me.

[monkey66]

Look fine as does his reply.

[CUBANO]

I think you are OK. I had this happen to me with cigars bought in a Habano store

[jvel79]

I've the same thing happen to me. I also know they are a trusted vendor. So if you trust them keep doing so and enjoy your CC.

[dememihel]

I don't take offense to it. The reason I am questioning the vendor is because the serial # of the box came up with a different cigar all together. I have already removed my negative post off of that review site, and replied to the email from the vendor.

If you tell me that when you buy Cuban cigars and sometimes the serials don't match with the Habanos SA website, then I guess I was wrong.

[Habana Mike]

Hi DM

I'd agree with much of the above.

You ought to introduce yourself to the gang

[Maplepie]

They look fine.

are you sure? The images on his link don't look fine to me, at all!!

http://s58.photobucket.com/user/blue_goat/media/devils-rejects-08.jpg.html?sort=3&o=16#/user/blue_goat/media/CaptainSpaulding001.jpg.html?sort=3&o=18&_suid=1413503535266036158176774182426

http://s58.photobucket.com/user/blue_goat/media/devils-rejects-08.jpg.html?sort=3&o=16#/user/blue_goat/media/Head001.jpg.html?sort=3&o=17&_suid=1413503535266036158176774182426

[dememihel]

No I don't think you're being a prick. I definitely understand where you are coming from and I appreciate the comments, I really do.

I just want to know, if its possible that a serial # on the box would be wrong with what the Habanos website states it is.

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, I just want to know if what the vendor is saying could be true.

Trust me, I appreciate all the comments and suggestions.

Thank you all

[asmartbull]

The vendor is speaking the truth

[dememihel]

OK thank you guys for all your input

[Carpenter69]

Accidents happen. Sometimes we get a little emotional and blurt things out without giving any thought as to the consequence. I'm speaking from personal experience not to the OP. Like most have said I'd check with trusted friends or members for reassurance before making any accusations against the vendor. If these guys say he's a good vendor, I'd trust them. They wouldn't steer you wrong.

[mk05]

Welcome to Friends of Habanos

[Rich93]

Hey guys. Here is the back story; I wrote this on a different website, stating that the store I bought my cigars from are fake.

"I have been ordering Cuban cigars online for about 4 years now. I’m ready for another order however after doing some research on grey market cigars and how some online stores scratch off the codes off the boxes and warranty seal, I got a little skeptical. Thankfully I keep all the boxes I've ever ordered and started to investigate them. May 2013 I ordered 10 boxes online from the same place. Thankfully they did not scratch off the tiny codes off the warranty seal so I was able to search them online.

1st box Partagas Serie D No. 4, the codes checked out

2nd box, Diplomaticos No. 2, the codes do not match. In fact the codes come up with a different cigar

I am in the process of looking up the other 8 boxes to see if they match. Since May 2013 I have ordered 16 more boxes (however all the serials on those boxes were scratched off) so I cannot verify them to see if they are real.

I am to believe if 1 box is not authentic then they are all not authentic. "

I have now received an email from that store, read below.

Where is the email from the vendor? Was it removed?

[forgop]

I was at a shop in Ocho Rios in June and of course they had "Cubans". Every freaking box in the cabinet all had the exact same serial number.

[dememihel]

forgop, hope you didn't buy any

[Habana Mike]

I was at a shop in Ocho Rios in June and of course they had "Cubans". Every freaking box in the cabinet all had the exact same serial number.

Probably the same serial number I saw on all the boxes in Freeport a while back.....they even had a Cuaba Churchill!

[forgop]

forgop, hope you didn't buy any

Uhh, no. T-shirts, towels, and a new bikini for the Mrs., yes. Cigars no way. They had some Jamaican brand he was trying for push on me for like $300 IIRC.

Couldn't for the life of us find the only legit shop we found in '99 on our honeymoon. that shop had an actual walk in humidor, not the cheap cabinets with the glass top fauxibas.

[tippexx]

The accuracy of Habanos codes isn't 100% reliable unfortunately. At first glance your cigars 'look' OK, but aren't all cream of the crop. I would also say, and given the time you may have had them it may have nothing to do with the vendor, some of your smokes appear to have spots of mould on them .... they need a bit of a wipe off. No offence intended.