CC online

[calgarydetail]

for those rhat can and have order cuban cigars online I was wodnering if there were any sites you would recomend? I know that many website offer cigars for a great price, even with the import duty buying online will be cheaper than buying at the local shop.
So where do you like to order your cuban cigars from?

Thanks

[J.L.]

I've placed a few orders with Cigar Chief... cigars are always in good shape and the shipping is usually 2-3 days. Good prices too.
http://fujipub.com/cigarchief/index.html

[AZCigarNut]

Not sure this is something James wants discussed, in the open, on his site? Some forums allow source discussions and others don't.... if you try using the private message function, you'll probably get some good help from certain members on here...

[calgarydetail]

Not sure this is something James wants discussed, in the open, on his site? Some forums allow source discussions and others don't.... if you try using the private message function, you'll probably get some good help from certain members on here...

If James does not want it, thats fine, it's his site. I am,however, doing nothing illegal, CC are legal here in Canada and duty is easily paid on imported tobacco. I am simply asking for a great place to order Cuban Cigars legally, no different then asking which stores are best for finding those hidden wine gems.

Again, what stays and goes is up to James and his team, its his site and he can allow what he chooses. If he so chooses to close down this thread I would have no issue with it, but until then... any site suggestions?

[AZCigarNut]

LOL. Alright, brother... I was trying to be a little more sly in saying it, but, okay.....

Yes... I have a TON of sources...... yes... I'm one of those rare BOTLs that would be willing to share information on the industry's, past, present and my opinion of its future. I'd be happy to even recommend you to some recommendation-only sources and give you my opinion on what sources are currently best and why...

I'd just simply prefer to do that in a PRIVATE message rather than where ANYONE, with a computer, can see... especially on a brand new forum where few (if any) rules have been established. Yes, they're legal for YOU...... but not for the majority of people participating here.

So... I'll say it more directly: (1) I'm more than willing to greatly help you out... so... (2) send me a private message to chat!

Cheers!

[calgarydetail]

I get your point and I understand your concern, I wasn't going to post a response but felt that it should be cleared up that everything was on the up and up for others reading it. I guess I just wanted to offer the other side of the argument. no insult was inteadned so I do not hope it was received that way.

Maybe I should change the title to CC online for non-americains? ok sorry that was a little jab

I will defiantly be sending out a pm.

Michael

[harleydog]

Jim has been very helpful in sharing some of his stories and sources.

you can shop with confidence

[james suckling]

Guys. What is the issue with giving away sources for buying Cuban cigars? I always wondered why other sites don't allow it. Enlighten me hermanos!

[AZCigarNut]

Guys. What is the issue with giving away sources for buying Cuban cigars? I always wondered why other sites don't allow it. Enlighten me hermanos!

I'm totally with you, actually! I don't own a tinfoil hat and think the government is secretly watching forums to gain some sort of knowledge they could much easier gain with other technologies, if desired.

The thought, however, is twofold:

(1) You just never know who's watching... it's POSSIBLE some Customs or OFAC agent might try to make a name for him/herself by monitoring online forums and organizing big busts of illegal shipments when guys get mouthy about who they're using, what sales are currently ongoing, who's in on what splits, etc...

and then...

(2) If we just straight openly post our sources where any goofball with Google can see... every Tom, Dick and Harry casual smoker or cigar-gift-giver will start using them... raising major red flags in the shipment increases and thereby jeapordizing shipments for the rest of us regular smokers.

That's the theory, anyway...

I, for one, think it's a bit silly given that MANY sources out there already openly advertize online and at some forums... and most have had confiscations in the past...... if the US government REALLY wanted to spend the time and money on targeting Cuban cigar imports, they could make some big dents........ The REAL fact, though, is... there are bigger fish to fry for agencies like OFAC and CBP... and rashes of confiscations are almost always byproducts of secondary investigations and/or incidents.

I just didn't want to say something, in public, if YOU didn't want it going on at your forums! Good to know!

Cheers, James!

[tjbcpa]

Since posting sources is not frowned upon, could someone please let me know a few. I have been smoking cigars for 20 years and except for the crappy dried out 5 pack someone brought me from Europe a few summers ago, I have never had a Cuban cigar.

Thanks and Good Luck James

[james suckling]

My favorite shops for cigars are in London, Havana and Mexico City...and I like the Casa del Habanos in Montreal. But there are lots of great shops out there.

[Lotusguy]

I have bought from several sources and the only one I use now after the great Chicago CC disaster is Puroexpress. They are the only ones that kept their shipment guarantee and I have only received authentic CC in great condition from them Big thumbs up. In fact, I just got a shipment from them two days ago and ordered a box of Gran Endmundo today.

[AZCigarNut]

I have bought from several sources and the only one I use now after the great Chicago CC disaster is Puroexpress. They are the only ones that kept their shipment guarantee and I have only received authentic CC in great condition from them Big thumbs up. In fact, I just got a shipment from them two days ago and ordered a box of Gran Endmundo today.

They are definitely NOT the only ones to keep their shipment guarantee after the Chicago massacre........

Puro Express (and their sister sites Cigar Export and some others in foreign languages) are owned by the Rolf brothers (Sam and Bjorck), who are indeed HSA authorized duty-free retailers off the coast of Spain.

That said...

For their online businesses, they use a bonded warehouse, in Switzerland, where they deal heavily in the gray-market. It's all perfectly legit product....... just know that they never actually lay hands on your stuff..... they buy it at auction, it gets shipped to their warehouse, and shipped straight to you from there.

This is my problem with them....... you almost always get very FRESH product (very little or no age at all) and nobody has inspected anything, so you CAN get damaged and/or moldy cigars and nobody will know it until the end customer (and they just had a major mold problem in their warehouse last year, by the way). When they DO run into these problems...... they've recently become notorious for slow responses... though they DO fix them in the end.

I know they're a TINY bit cheaper than some of the other big players in the online market......... but you definitely get what you pay for....... I'd rather spend 5 percent more and get open, inspected, padded and shrink-wrapped cigars where I choose the exact box code from an inventory list................. that's just me.

Example: I just bought a box of VR Familiar...... I paid 187.00 (versus 181.39 on Puro Express).......... but I got a 2001 box that was opened and inspected to find me the darkest 2001 wrappers available from a couple choices, padding added inside the box to prevent damage in shipment, a boveda pack added, the whole thing shrink-wrapped... and NOT shipped from Switzerland so I don't have to mess with Chicago Customs (I'm one of the bad-boys that got the BAD letter in the past... and the we-took-your-stuff letter this time).

So... I ask..... is that worth the extra 5 bucks and change? ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY it is!

Again...... PE and CE are very legit and you can get cheap, young Cuban cigars from the Bjorcks...... but they're just not the best option available IMHO.

But PLEASE don't spread the VERY INCORRECT statement that these guys were the ONLY vendor to maintain their guarantee after the recent confiscations.... that is just plain FALSE and based largely on one other Swiss-bonded vendor that royally screwed some folks (another I don't personally use for the same reasons stated above). FACT is... the VAST VAST VAST majority of vendors HONORED their guarantees... some even bending over backwards, for customers, in a lot of ways......

Cheers!

[youngcollectorsf]

The only place I've ordered from online is PuroExpress and the Cohiba Siglo I I ordered and Montecristo No.2s were not the real thing. I compared the Siglo 1 with ones I've gotten from duty free abroad and bands are slightly off, cigars were 1/2 longer than a mareva as well as the packing on the foot on each cigar was off. This is just my experience with them. I'm sure their edicion limitadas are legit as they are not as discounted as regular production cigars they sell.

[Lotusguy]

I should have stated that of the guys that I have dealt with during the Chicago thing, PE were the only one that did not change their guarantee.

I am always happy to be educated - and I would LOVE to know who those guys are where I can pick my box from inventory for a reasonable price <hint>. Cigarczar is way higher than 5% over PE. The other guys I was referring to were 1001cubans (changed their policy) and Cubanlous. Cubanlous honored the quarantee (i.e. refunded me my lost shipment) but would not have honored it on the replacement shipment. I have also used Cigar-chief but they have a very limited selection in their dutyfree section and the regular section is just way too rich for my budget. The stuff I got from them was perfect.

Granted, I have ordered mostly LE and duty-free selection stuff from PE but that was definitely legit. I made direct comparisons with cigars I got personally in Germany from Casa del Habano.

I guess the above discussion is why most forums don't allow sharing of sources

Now, where can I get a box of BHK52 for a reasonable price? I have only 4 sticks left...

[Cigar Beulah]

Perhaps another reason for the prohibition over public online source discussion in forums such as these is a matter of moderation of comments. From comments I have read in other forums, this topic has the potential to become quite contentious. Moderators would probably not want to have to deal with that and for the sake of expediency just ban the topic outright. Perhaps in this forum this discussion could be entertained with better results. As a newcomer to the world of Cuban leaf, I am in need of some experienced and objective guidance concerning the acquisition thereof.

[calgarydetail]

I was wondering if anyone has ordered from my-cuban-cigars.com? They don't appear to be the cheapest but there is more to ordering cigars than price.

I was wondering what experiences people have had with them

[Lotusguy]

I have not bought from them but they do seem quite pricey and if you look at their FAQ, they do not guarantee the shipment - if it gets seized, they only give you 50% of the order value back

[Lotusguy]

Quick update: I have confirmed that I received a fake box of Montecristo Grand Edmundo LE from 1001cubancigars.com

I have contacted their customer service to see if they make it right and will update here, if they do.

[cohibacal]

Just received cohiba esplendidos 5x3 from puroexpress , LBT OCT09 box code , and they are the best cohibas ive had in a long time. Really had excellent luck with PE. Back around the first week of January I received some monte PE tubos 5x3 and they were from MAR08 and really really oily dark and smoked like a dream ! I have had some so so boxes from PE but definitely had more great boxes than bad. I love the cohiba maduro 5 cigars but have yet to buy a box of those from PE that I would consider were great. Smoking a VR famosos from AML OCT-06 5x5 that I received last fall from PE and it is full and rich with a long lasting sweet finish. Wish they ( PE ) would go back to listing box codes/dates like they did way back because id love to buy more VR Famosos 5x5 if I knew I could get the same box code and year.

Great web site Mr. Suckling !