Expert: James Yee - 5/20/2009

Question
Is it possible to order genuine Cuban cigars from another country, to be delivered to the US by mail?

I like in the US, and I know nothing about spotting fakes. I just wanted to be able to give my Methodist minister father-in-law a nice retirement present.

If there is any way for someone in the US to get Cuban cigars delivered, please let me know. Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Mike,

Cuban cigars are still illegal in the United States so if you tried ordering them via mailorder, there is always a chance of having your cigars seized by US Customs.  

Your best option for acquiring Cuban cigars is to buy them while visiting another country (while on vacation, for example).  Americans will usually either travel to Canada, Mexico or the Carribbean to purchase Cuban cigars and if they purchase from an authorized Habanos retailer (such as a La Casa del Habanos store), their cigars are guaranteed to be genuine.  If you're not planning a vacation anytime soon, perhaps you know someone that is and can buy cigars for you?

There are indeed Cuban cigar retailers that ship cigars to the United States but many of these retailers will remove the Cuban cigar rings and original Cuban box before they ship the cigars.  This will improve your chances of receiving your cigars safely through the mail.  Some of these retailers will gladly ship the bands and box separately to you at your request if you prefer to receive them.

I personally recommend that you buy your Cuban cigars in person, if possible.  By buying them in person, you have the opportunity to thoroughly inspect the cigars before you decide to buy them.  By ordering cigars through mailorder, you have no control over the quality of the cigars that are sent to you.  The cigars can be of poor quality, counterfeit, incorrect cigars or even damaged during shipping.  Most mailorder companies do offer refund or replacement but this usually costs you more time and grief.  By buying locally and in person, you'll have your hands on the cigars immediately and don't have to wait for long shipping times or be swindled with counterfeit cigars.

If you do decide to buy cigars via mailorder, the most important thing you need to do is to thoroughly research the company/online retailer(s) before you buy.  There are many fraudulent retailers that ship counterfeit cigars and once they take your money, you'll have a hard time getting it back.  Use google and visit online internet message boards and forums for feedback on online retailers that you're interested in ordering from.  Avoid impulse buys from websites that offer "too-good-to-be-true" deals such as super low prices because they're most likely counterfeit cigars.  There are indeed reputable retailers on the internet and you should be able to find them with a little research.  (Please note that I do not discuss mailorder websites at all and will not recommend any.)

Good luck on your search!  If you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James