Expert: James Yee - 8/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi James,

my friend recently came back from Cuba, and I had asked him to buy me a box of Siglo 2's along with some other cigars.   I told him to buy from a LCDH or a Habanos SA approved store.

However, he told me that a bunch of people went with a tour guide to Santa Clara... and that since everyone wanted to buy cigars, the tour guide took them to a store.   He said it wasnt an LCDH, but doesnt know if it was Habanos SA approved or not.   

Do you know if tour guides will take a bunch of people to fake stores or are they licensed by the government or something?   Also, he couldnt get me a box of Siglo 2s because there was only one box left and looked a little dinged up.   Is this also normal considering its a popular brand?   he claims it was a small store.

Just wanted your opinion because it seems so easy for a tour guide to take everyone to a store that his friend owns etc.

The pricing seems normal.   Box of Cohiba Siglo I's for $130.   Pack of 3 Siglo IIs for $30 and eight Montecristo #4s for $42

I wrote the prices above in CUCs.   I thought the Siglo II was a bit overpriced but nothing too out of the ordinary.

IF you could give me your opinion, it would be greatly appreciated

ANSWER: Hi Andy,

If your friend joined a legitimate, chartered tour group, the tour guide most likely took them to an authorized Habanos-approved store. If this was an independent tour guide that your friend hired from off the street, there's no way I can be sure whether or not the tour guide took the group to a reputable store or not.  With independent tour guides, the odds of going to a reputable cigar store is 50/50.  If it was indeed an independent tour guide, it's possible that the tour guide doesn't know much about cigars and simply brought the tour group to the nearest cigar store without knowing whether or not it was an reputable store.  As you also mentioned, some shifty tour guides have been known to take customers to fraudulant cigar shops because they can also make some money from it.  When in Cuba, if you buy from a cigar store that is not a LCDH, ask the staff if they are an authorized Habanos retailer.  The storefront window or humidor cabinets should also have a sticker that reads "OFFICIAL HABANOS RETAILER 2009" (example) or "AUTHORIZED/APPOINTED HABANOS RETAILER", etc.  

Government shops, famous cigar factory shops and large hotel cigar stores will also sell genuine Cuban cigars.

As for Cohiba Siglo IIs, it's a very popular cigar (because it's an affordable Cohiba for everybody) so it's not surprising that cigar stores will have little supply of them.  Your only way of knowing if the cigars are genuine or not is by smoking them.  

Hopes this helps.  As always, if you have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I saw another one of your responses where you linked this site to check for fake cubans http://www.habanos.com/Sellos/Info/VerificaSelloCajon

I tried inputting the code and it says I am a victim of fraud.   Are all boxes registered and if it does not pass this test, are they fakes for sure?   When I looked at the box and cigars, it looked authentic.   Had the habanos sticker on the top right diagonally, had the green stamp folded at the centre of the shield.   On the bottom it had the habanos burnt in and not stamped... as well as the production date and factory stamp on the bottom.   Inside it had everything it should including the sheet of cedar with the half crest cut out in the top right hand corner.

The cigars were all uniform and looked to be good as well.   The bands looked authentic and didnt have any of the usual fake signs.   The code on the box is 0-000015-589255.   I tried putting it in but maybe im not typing it correctly in regards to spaces or dashes.  Do you have any experience with the habanos serial # check?

Answer
Hi Andy,

I haven't used the verification check very much but from the boxes I've checked, it works.  The  program may not be working properly (it's acted buggy before) so contact Habanos SA and ask them if their authenticity verification is operating properly and how often do they add new serial codes to their database.  You can even include your serial code and they may be able to check it for you.  It's possible that your box's serial code has not been added to the database yet or the program may be experiencing system bugs right now.

Regards,
James