Rating CC vendors

[RJoe]

It has taken me years to find a good source of Cuban cigars. After much wasted money and an initial feeling that CCs were not "all that", I now can, finally, appreciate the fine qualities of a good Cuban cigar. To many, I'm sure my story is a familiar one, and that's a shame. The rules governing CC sources make it difficult for newbies to get started, but it shouldn't have to be so difficult. What if there was an independent website/blog, that listed all the online CC vendors, and readers could anonymously rate them? Like a Yelp for CC sellers. That would quickly weed-out the fakes and spur healthy competition among the best retailers. Any thoughts on this?

[jibjob79]

That sounds like a great idea, would you know of any CC vendor that you could recommend for all us to buy from???????????

[tippexx]

Yes. The fakers (if they already haven't) would set up their own Blogs. And confusion would still reign. And, fakers if they're smart mix in a lot of gen with dud, so would most likely find their way onto a ligit Blog anyway!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Take a look at Cigar Inspector. It's a cigar review website, though it also has a page listing shops (selling various things, not all of which sell CCs) - they are all rated by visitors to the site, and there are even some written reviews.

[RJoe]

Boom, there it is!

[Mo_Robusto]

Id rather go by word of mouth..... or sound that be word of cigar?

[Smallclub]

if there was an independent website/blog, that listed all the online CC vendors, and readers could anonymously rate them? Like a Yelp for CC sellers. That would quickly weed-out the fakes and spur healthy competition among the best retailers. Any thoughts on this?

There is one, and it's quite famous? last time I checked, there was one or two vendors with very dubious reputation in the top ten

[larrysputnik]

I'd go with Cigar Inspector to clear up anything that can't be gathered from this forum.

[cohibaIV]

I'd go with Cigar Inspector to clear up anything that can't be gathered from this forum.

Really...

[RJoe]

Smallclub, any reason for not telling us where the "quite famous" list is? I don't think that would be revealing any sources directly, so it should be okay. Like the Cigar Inspector link.

[Aussiewaz]

Take a look at Cigar Inspector. It's a cigar review website, though it also has a page listing shops (selling various things, not all of which sell CCs) - they are all rated by visitors to the site, and there are even some written reviews.

This. You may even find a big blowup from me on one of the vendors comments list. LOL

[CigarInspector]

Thanks guys for your kind words about the site.
I am regularly getting requests from shop owners to remove some negative comments, but that's not going to happen unless I see that something shady is going on (a lot of negative comments from the same IP address, etc.).
I am also inviting you to leave your own comments for retailers you personally dealt with (if you haven't already done so). In case a retailer is not present in the list, just PM me here with your comment and I'll create a page for them.

Edit: not sure if I can receive PMs. I've got 15 posts though... oh well, you can use the contact form on the site

[daverave999]

There is one, and it's quite famous? last time I checked, there was one or two vendors with very dubious reputation in the top ten

Assuming we're thinking of the same place, I'm pretty sure they just chose the cheapest to include in their price comparison and state that they do not vouch for whether they are any good or not. Going by that, I'd say it's a surprise there are any that are any good at all in the list!

Considering the subject of this thread, I'd like to remind you all that discussion of retailers from outside the UK is prohibited.