Dilemma

[davidruddell]

A friend of the wife's popped over yesterday to gift some cigars, I recommended he buy some Monte 2's and D4's (He's smoked both at my place over the summer and enjoyed both)

They went to spain on Holiday and bought each box from two different places.

To cut a long story, badly told, short, we smoked a couple of the D4's and something was def amiss, taste was 'off', label was misaligned, wrapper was also too veiny for a D4.

When he left, I unwrapped one of the gifted D4's, full of short filler!

The Monte's look fine, compared them to one of mine, smoke fine too!

Should I tell him the D4's are fake, or let him live in ignorant bliss (He seemed to enjoy it, and feel a bit guilty being the bearer of bad news)

[Jimmeh]

D4 or P2?

[davidruddell]

Sorry D4, and fixed in post, god bless my iPod's autocorrect feature.

D4 or P2?

[El Catador]

Should I tell him the D4's are fake, or let him live in ignorant bliss (He seemed to enjoy it, and feel a bit guilty being the bearer of bad news)

Damn, that's a dilly of a pickle.

Sounds a bit like having to tell a small child that Santa is nothing more than:
a fictional construct adopted by toy manufacturers as a way of shifting old stocks of Monopoly and connect 4.
He/she is never gonna thank you for it.

But the world can be a cold and unfriendly place at times (there are some scoundrels even selling fake cigars FFS), best he learn the truth before he starts digging up holes under rainbows or trying to catch falling stars.

D4 or P2?

Curious, does this have a bearing on if you'd tell him the truth or not?

[Seriesteve]

If you know they are fakes then tell him IMHO
Might put him off D4's or even worse, Cigars for good
"Aye just sharing my 2p worth" Ss

[r0lan6]

Of course the polite thing would be not to tell him. But then again two possible problems emerge. Firstly what happens if he goes back to the same dealer and buys more, or to a similar dealer of fakes? Secondly if he later finds out that they were fake what happens then? Of course only you know the right decision to make.

[tippexx]

Not an easy one. But if he's becoming a serious cigar fan, then I think you should tell him and illustrate the point by giving him one of your D4s to compare against. OK, he's bought some (smokable) fakes on holiday, not so unusual that and nothing for him to be ashamed of.

And as for his buying in the future .... forwarned is forarmed. He wont easily make the same mistake and most likely be thankful for the advice.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Nice idea tippexx. If you've still got the short filler example which you disected you could even show him the problem. It's not his fault he met an unscrupulous retailer (unless he bought them from someone on a street corner of course...)

On the other hand... Ask him if he is enjoying other cigars from the box. If he is, then he's not being put off stogies, so let it slide. If he is having issues, let him have the facts - educate him.

[macker89]

Horrible dilemma but gotta agree with the brethren, if he's a friend you should tell him

[daverave999]

I had this dilemma when I first started. I think you should mention it really. He may feel a bit silly at the time but in the long run I think he'll appreciate the honesty. No advice on how to go about it as you know him better than we do.

[monkey66]

Only you can judge the best thing to do with your friend but fwiw I think I would tell him.

[Soulmanure]

Not an easy one. But if he's becoming a serious cigar fan, then I think you should tell him and illustrate the point by giving him one of your D4s to compare against. OK, he's bought some (smokable) fakes on holiday, not so unusual that and nothing for him to be ashamed of.

And as for his buying in the future .... forwarned is forarmed. He wont easily make the same mistake and most likely be thankful for the advice.

Tippexx nails it, I think. Cigar smoking is about learning as much as smoking, and perchance he'll be able to pass the knowledge on to others who might make the same mistake.

[davidruddell]

I've bitten the bullet and told him!
Said he had his doubts, now he's convinced the Monte's are fake too! (they're not)

[Simon-JG-hr]

Well, if he's now convinced that they are both fakes, get a sharp knife out and show him the difference. Whilst he may 'lose' a real Monte, he'll appreciate the rest. Otherwise, get him to replace them with the cheaper (and imo, better) Dippy No2 - not sure that anyone's seen a big enough market for them to start counterfeiting them.

[Soft Top]

Well done. You did the right thing. Not sure I'd have the balls to do the same!