Always ask for an inspection

[medzikone]

One of the online retailers allow us to choose if you want to open/inspect a box or sealed. So I picked the second option.

I was very nice surprised that I have two boxes of Mille Fleurs with UEB DIC 18 code. But then I opened both boxes. My friend received two boxes in the perfect condition.

After quick email to support they replied that I can keep them, just throw out those of them which has foot affected and I will get refund for these. Or I can send these boxes back for replacement or refund. I appreciate their approach and I was expecting that since they are 10/10 in customer service.

What would you do?

First row in both boxes looks still ok

 

 

[99call]

19 minutes ago, medzikone said:

What would you do?

Send them back.   brushing off light mould is one thing, but once it gets on the foot of a cigar, it's likely a few spores have worked there way up into the filler. and that you can do nothing about. 

Although its a pain in the balls,   Send them back

[Tdm_86]

Is it just those 5 that have some on the foot? If so, I’d keep the boxes and wipe down the cigars carefully. The ones with the foot affected you can wipe down and chop off a little piece of the foot to see whether the mold is further in there (I bet it’s not).

A little mold has never bothered me, as long as it wipes off. What I usually do is wipe off, then ziploc bag with a Boveda for a few months to see whether the mold comes back. If it doesn’t, I am comfortable with putting them in my humidor without the ziploc. 
This is what works for me, I’ve never had a mold outbreak in the 10+ years I’ve kept cigars in my humidor (I also keep my RH between 62-64 and temp at 18°C).

Love the Mille Fleurs, good value

[medzikone]

If it would be a white mold - that's ok. But these cigars have a green one. In both boxes there is around 7-10 affected feet. If I can send them back and they will reship new boxes (hope they won't be wipe off ) I would do it. I won't smoke them anyway in next 3-5 years

[Tdm_86]

If it’s that much cigars per box, send them back. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Who would pay for return shipping and how much does that cost?

[garbandz]

this vendor seems to be sowing the seeds of his own destruction.

 

find another vendor.

second episode of this problem I have seen in a weeks time....

same answer

 

[medzikone]

This is my fault that I didn't ask for an inspection. But as a regular customer they will pay for it. That's very kind

[Tstew75]

Return them. That's too much mold.

[Chibearsv]

Easy, return them, get a replacement box and ask that they inspect them first.  I bought a box as a gift a few years ago and asked that it be sealed since the gift receiver wouldn't understand why a box would be opened.  How embarrassing that they opened a sealed box of moldy cigars.  I won't buy a box of sealed cigars again.

[Rupe]

Personally, I would sort out any cigars that I was not comfortable with and ask for a refund on those. For example, if 7 cigars have mold on the foot but the rest are OK by just wiping them off, I would request a refund for the 7. This saves the hassle of having to package them up and send them back and I think is the fairest solution for both parties.

Going forward I think that requesting the inspection will solve any future issues you may encounter.  

[TheGipper]

6 hours ago, 99call said:

it's likely a few spores have worked there way up into the filler.

Wait 'til you find out how many mold spores are in the air you breathe every day!

[99call]

Just now, TheGipper said:

Wait 'til you find out how many mold spores are in the air you breathe every day!

Yes but I'm not a stagnant wodge of matter that sits still and festers in a wooden box,...........not yet anyway. 

[rcarlson]

Send 'em all back.  No regrets.  

[El Presidente]

To be fair to your retailer, you asked for sealed boxes. 

Whatever he offers at this point is a bonus and you should thank him immensely  

[rcarlson]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

To be fair to your retailer, you asked for sealed boxes. 

Whatever he offers at this point is a bonus and you should thank him immensely  

Well, there is that.

Rob, what percentage of boxes do you see that are too moldy to pass along?  Does it typically run through a mastercase?  Do you have to toss them?     

[El Presidente]

4 minutes ago, rcarlson said:

Well, there is that.

Rob, what percentage of boxes do you see that are too moldy to pass along?  Does it typically run through a mastercase?  Do you have to toss them?     

In terms of mastercases, white mold that is visually problematic is not common. Maybe one mastercase every other shipment. 

I have put them up on the forum before. Connie 1/PLPC come to mind. I just note it and discount it away. 

To see real mold where the box has to be destroyed/returned to PCC is very rare.

 

[NSXCIGAR]

26 free cigars, all good to me.

[ElPuro]

I agree with previous comments. If a buyer doesn't afford the seller an opportunity to inspect, it's pretty difficult to ask the seller to warrant the quality. I think the suggestion about a credit for the moldy cigars is an excellent option and generous of the retailer. 

[medzikone]

8 hours ago, El Presidente said:

To be fair to your retailer, you asked for sealed boxes. 

Whatever he offers at this point is a bonus and you should thank him immensely  

Of course. As I said - their customer service is top end. 

But imagine a situation when you buy food which has mold - would you return it?

[Meklown]

Ask for the refund on the ones with affected feet.

Instead of tossing them, brush them off and smoke them now. ?

[La_Tigre]

I have several sealed boxes in my humidor. That is the price you pay to have them that way. I would accept the refund of the affected cigars and toss them if you are concerned. I would not fault the seller for the mold as I have bought sealed boxes in many different LCDH and found mold. They are Mille Fleurs not Talismans. Chalk it up to Cuba being Cuba.