Should I have said anything?

[TJCoro]

Do The Right Thing!

Only to TJ .... 'cos he's the one that has to get rid of 'em when they turn up here (as they invariably do) trying to flog 'em to us!

As maybe. But I promise you, TJ's taken a lot of scalps! Taken one or two myself when the Mods haven't been around.

Of course, I won't dignify those so-called "remarks" with a response.

But I'm reminded of a time when I was visiting one of my favorite spots in the word - Rosarito, MX - a few years back and I was joined by a lad that was proudly puffing on a clearly counterfeit stick and bragging about how little he paid. I saw no need to tell him about the fake puro he was puffing on, but quickly took off the ring after he left the remains in the ashtray.

On another occasion, I was gifted a "Cohiba Esplendidos" that also was a counterfeit. A few years later, I broke down and told him the stick was a fake, but I appreciated the gift, which is proudly displayed along with other counterfeits in don TJ's massive unit.

In the end, I think you were wise not to say anything, though I suspect you were tempted to do so.


Perro, el Perro

Hey el P! Remember the Youtube video of the lass that had unknowingly received a box of counterfeits and was gushing about how great they were?



*starts about 23 minutes into the video.

[DavidD]

TJ - An interesting video. I am reminded of the old adage - It's not the gift but the thought that counts. The lady was delighted - does it really matter that the Cohiba Sublimes were fake ? Sometimes, in the depths of our interest in our subject, we forget that there is a world outside where not everyone is an 'expert'. Would you really want to be the person who tells her that she's smoking fakes ? I wouldn't !

[TJCoro]

Word to that, se?or Dave...word to that! 👍

El P


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Harleyfrank]

Quite a debate.. Interesting though.

My view is that whatever anyone buys from "honest Ron, the others are a con" is always going to be suspect, whatever Ron may say about it. Personally, I've never bought anything where Honest Ron came up to me in the street and said, "Psst, I've got a bargain for you my friend". And that includes cold callers at the door. But had I done so, I wouldn't go around boasting about it aloud to anyone in hearing distance and stating that it's all lies about scams, etc,etc.. But that's just me. What do I know?

It's an interesting dilemma about when do you tell someone something they might not want to hear. Are we really concerned about hurting their feelings or are we really afraid of their reaction? Probably a debate for a philosophy forum rather than a cigar one.

Probably done this thread to death now....

[Puff Scotty]

A little story..
I have always watched cigar related items on Ebay..
About 2003 a chap put 7 boxes of high end cigars up for sale..I contacted him immediately & gave him my own email...
Within hours his items were taken down..he emailed me to ask how & where to sell them... a phone call followed..
A week later I met him in Swaffam, nice chap, he only bought them to re-sell, we had a coffee & I walked away with 7 genuine boxes of cigars...well under the Cuban retail price..because he was fed up.
The fake market buggered this genuine guy up a treat..
I was happy (very)..

[DavidD]

You're right, of course, Scotty. There is always a presumption that if something is cheap it must be wrong based on the 'too good to be true' philosophy. Had an ex neighbour of mine adopted that stance, he wouldn't have bought a 4 month old Daimler Sovereign for ?5.00. He saw the ad. in the newsagent's window and responded. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned - the lady was selling the family car to spite her husband who had admitted to having an affair. Like you, Scotty, he walked (drove) away with a very happy grin on his face.

[tippexx]

I do agree with you about 'scalps' Dave, schadenfreude is rarely an endearing character trait.

Hardly schadenfreude Monk. We generally allow the benefit of the doubt over a couple of posts, and I'm not the type to be unsympathetic to an innocent that's swapped their holiday cash for a bag full of Behike beans. But when the deliberate pushiness, elaboration, protestation and occasionally aggression creeps into the postings then I'm totally for 'scalping' the trolls (It's merely a euphemism by the way TJ, I'm sure you'll find a nice smiley for it).

Now, someone mentioned that we're not all experts at buying cigars, which is true. I'm no expert in foundation make-up, but think I know enough not to abandon the Chanel counter in Debenham's for a suitcase round the back of the cinema. In Florida there are resort complexes with signs 'Don't feed the Alligators', and strangely enough few UK tourists return to our shores with missing limbs. In Cuba tourists
are advised by Government and tour companies not to buy anything which can be ignited from people that didn't ought to be selling them. Waiters are supposed to wait, taxi drivers are supposed to taxi. And, as backward as Cuba is, for the inexpert at buying cigars or those requiring guidance they provide these things called shops, now I could be wrong, but I don't there's any shortage of genuine cigar outlets or LCdH in Havana, or anywhere else on the island for that matter.

And braggarts on planes, McCoy Esplendidos bought for less than the going are stolen goods which make him a criminal. Hooky Esplendidos bought for anything over a tenner make him a dope. I doubt anyone could really care, but on an eight hour flight having to listen to someone 'banging on' might be a bit piss offing for some!

[TJCoro]

A Slow Read!

Hardly schadenfreude Monk. We generally allow the benefit of the doubt over a couple of posts, and I'm not the type to be unsympathetic to an innocent that's swapped their holiday cash for a bag full of Behike beans. But when the deliberate pushiness, elaboration, protestation and occasionally aggression creeps into the postings then I'm totally for 'scalping' the trolls (It's merely a euphemism by the way TJ, I'm sure you'll find a nice smiley for it).

Spot on, senor TripleXXX. I found nothing offensive in your use of the term SCALP.



My God Man! You included the classic smiley at the end of your statement. A SMILEY!!! Hardly schadenfreude!

Bitte klicken sie den smiley

I must admit, however, that I do get a wee bit of a guilty pleasure when I watch as senor Monkey tries to explain hos posts with words most of us don't understand. And senor CIV ....FORGET ABOUT IT!


Is that wrong?



Boy, Bag Boy



Haha! Ol' don TJ (god rest his rubber sole) DID used to be pretty rough on the knewbees from time to time.



(Hurumph!) There are days when we sure could use some of don TJ's tough love around here.

[monkey66]

I must admit, however, that I do get a wee bit of a guilty pleasure when I watch as senor Monkey tries to explain hos posts with words most of us don't understand.

Sounds like classic schadenfreude there from old man BJ Hooker.

Nurse come quick, BJ's soiled himself again...


Now be a good BJ and take your medicine...

[DavidD]

Haven't we missed the point here ? Does it really matter if someone buys questionable Cohibas in Cuba when the person in question (I guess) wouldn't know a fake from the genuine article. The 'boasting' is irrelevant as our Forum colleague was clearly talking to an idiot. Let the idiot enjoy what he believes to be a snip. Nobody died, the world didn't cease to exist and the rest of us are free to conduct ourselves as we see fit. Getting knickers in a twist over fake Cuban cigars goes nowhere - except, perhaps, to the local psychiatric clinic !

[tippexx]

Getting knickers in a twist over fake Cuban cigars goes nowhere - except, perhaps, to the local psychiatric clinic !

As maybe. But there are enough fake cubans out there as it is. They're only generally discussed here as we're not openly allowed to name and shame. However, and the during Summer mostly, we get the 'chancers' turn up, those who have knowingly bought some backstreet wares and think a Cigars Forum is a good place to flog them to fund their 'fun in the sun'. One or two questions is usually enough for us to know what we need to know .... then goodnight Vienna, I doubt any are still in the Members list.

[TJCoro]

Get The Point!

Haven't we missed the point here ?

Not me, muchacho....it's under your hat!


Jay, Ray Jay


(Hurumph!) It's time to retire that played-out joke, RJ.....retire it, indeed!