My First Cabinet of Cohiba's and its Mouldy!

[seanbeer]

This is a 2010 box mate ! those are mold pretty certain. but are new mold, likely due to humidity and temp during postage.

As for the construction quality of Cohibas, they are quite inconsistence according to my experience the only thing is that almost all bands looked funny to me, the colour mainly, but could be due to camera. the colour of the cigars tho, looked fine. looked cohiba like

please PM me the name of supplier if possible.

thanks.

[Mo_Robusto]

Update:

I got call this afternoon from the owner of the site where i bought the cigars, he was very irate.

A few points arouse in the call:

1. According to the owner the fuzz was bloom and not mould and it was my lack of experience that was cauing me to think that it was mould. He mentioned that when a cigar smoker see's bloom for the first time they automatically think it is mould.

2. In regards to the bands, according to the owner the Cuban industy isnt that professional when it comes to quality control and their bands and shape of cigars arent as 'Bently Standard', he mentioned some cigar called aturo fonatian [ or something similar; it was hard to understand very thing as he was shouting, irate and it was long distanct call] and said they were better made and were something you would see in a Bently drawer. In addition, he mentioned the bands can be a bit hit and miss and apparently something that is too good and professional is suspect and that this has happened before.

3. He was very irate that i had accused his company, thats sells and stocks thousands of cigars, of selling fakes. In none of my emails did i accuse the comapny of selling fakes, i only put 'forward my concerns' regarding the bands and the quality of them.

4. I felt that he was trying to guilt trip me into keeping the cab as he mentioned it was ruined and he could not sell it. So they would have to keep it for themselves to smoke etc.

5. I asked for the postage that would be incurred in sending the cab back to be refunded but me mentioned that he couldnt do that. He could only refund the amount that i had spent on the cab and and other amount if ite were to be refunded would be illegal. Which is think is a load of BS tbh.

6. Duty discussion, lets keep it to cigar discussions, Nic, Mod

7. He has asked that i return the parcel via normal post and NOT insured. I am not happy about this just incase it gets lost and i dont get my refund. I got a further email from them saying that only once they had received the package would they refund my money. This has got me worried because if i send it like this and it gets lost then i'll be out of pocket and out of cigars. Or they might get the cigars and say they didnt get it out of spite, so that i dont get my refund. Anyone think i should send it back normal post?

regards
Mo

[monkey66]

OK so lets summarise a little:

That is mould, all be it young, fresh mould caused by the combination of vac packaging, bovida pouch and extreme changes in temp it would have been exposed to during its journey in the last few weeks. The vendors storage conditions will make no difference to this! (NB - I have seen this happen in a matter of days when I attempted the same in my early days of sticks)

The mould (being very young) will most likely brush off and no real harm done.

The labels and ribbon shaping are not pleasant but not uncommon.

The vendor has offered you a full refund which is good. My suggestion would be to take him up as it is unlikely you will ever be happy as these sticks are tainted to you now (it is a strange phenomena but we often have a very emotional relationship with our little bundle of backy).

Don't be too put off by this experience, next time will get better

[monkey66]

Update:

I got call this afternoon from the owner of the site where i bought the cigars, he was very irate.

A few points arouse in the call:

1. According to the owner the fuzz was bloom and not mould and it was my lack of experience that was cauing me to think that it was mould. He mentioned that when a cigar smoker see's bloom for the first time they automatically think it is mould.

Defiantly early mould, the vendor is being over-digressive here.


2. In regards to the bands, according to the owner the Cuban industy isnt that professional when it comes to quality control and their bands and shape of cigars arent as 'Bently Standard', he mentioned some cigar called aturo fonatian [ or something similar; it was hard to understand very thing as he was shouting, irate and it was long distanct call] and said they were better made and were something you would see in a Bently drawer. In addition, he mentioned the bands can be a bit hit and miss and apparently something that is too good and professional is suspect and that this has happened before.

Not sure I understand this paragraph.

3. He was very irate that i had accused his company, thats sells and stocks thousands of cigars, of selling fakes. In none of my emails did i accuse the comapny of selling fakes, i only put 'forward my concerns' regarding the bands and the quality of them.

Whilst no excuse maybe not surprising that he interpretative it this way.

4. I felt that he was trying to guilt trip me into keeping the cab as he mentioned it was ruined and he could not sell it. So they would have to keep it for themselves to smoke etc.

He was being a bit tough here but I think the vendors are facing potential disaster at the moment with the US situation so probably a reflection of this pressure, again not an excuse.

5. I asked for the postage that would be incurred in sending the cab back to be refunded but me mentioned that he couldnt do that. He could only refund the amount that i had spent on the cab and and other amount if ite were to be refunded would be illegal. Which is think is a load of BS tbh.

Not illegal,he is just trying to minimise his losses, check his t and c's on returns.

6. Duty discussion, lets keep it to cigar discussions, Nic, Mod

7. He has asked that i return the parcel via normal post and NOT insured. I am not happy about this just incase it gets lost and i dont get my refund. I got a further email from them saying that only once they had received the package would they refund my money. This has got me worried because if i send it like this and it gets lost then i'll be out of pocket and out of cigars. Or they might get the cigars and say they didnt get it out of spite, so that i dont get my refund. Anyone think i should send it back normal post?

You must give him a choice, either refund your money regardless of if they make it back or pay for insurance.

regards
Mo

Overall I think this response would have been completely different a couple of months ago but following the US situation some of these vendors may be facing going bust and this (relatively simple) sale has become a nightmare for him. None of this changes your position, stick to your guns, stay polite, read his T and C's, return the sticks and get a refund.

[nicwing]

Cohiba's, including the Robustos, are rolled in almost every factory in Cuba?
Don't think they're not able to screw up a whole batch ; they're still rolling overfilled Lanceros that are almost unsmokable?

Hmm, I'm sure that's from personal experience, but these days every cigar is put through a vacuum checker to ensure the draw is within a tolerance.

Any that fail this test are rejected and the roller (who is on piece work) looses money.

[tippexx]

Hmm, I'm sure that's from personal experience, but these days every cigar is put through a vacuum checker to ensure the draw is within a tolerance.

Any that fail this test are rejected and the roller (who is on piece work) looses money.

And the rejects Nic, what happens to them?

[nicwing]

OK Mo, from a moderator point of view I suggest we keep this to a conversation about cigar quality ONLY and not sources/location etc etc (as per the forum rules)

[nicwing]

And the rejects Nic, what happens to them?

If I remember right, the tobacco is sent for short filler cigars, but don't quote me.

[tippexx]

If I remember right, the tobacco is sent for short filler cigars, but don't quote me.

Wouldn't dare .... but that would make sense .... and they didn't slide under the factory gate!


he mentioned some cigar called aturo fonatian [ or something similar; it was hard to understand very thing as he was shouting,

I think he meant ... Arturo Fuente

[moidoid]

I would not be happy in your shoes Mo. The mould has been caused by the postal method and the cab of CoRos I had were the nicest looking and consistent cigars I've had. These do not look acceptable to me. I would cut your losses and shop at other retailers that are known to be reliable - like the other Mo!

[Mo_Robusto]

Overall I think this response would have been completely different a couple of months ago but following the US situation some of these vendors may be facing going bust and this (relatively simple) sale has become a nightmare for him. None of this changes your position, stick to your guns, stay polite, read his T and C's, return the sticks and get a refund.

Had a look at the website and there are no T&Cs listed.

Also checked my confirmation email when i ordered them and no t&c's in it either.

Have just emailed them again monkey about accepting responsibility if the package gets lost/damaged if they want me to post it uninsured and also that i want a refund on postage.

Mo

[USAFCigar]

Mo,

Some great comments in the preceeding posts, but the bottom line is you are the customer and should expect to have a quality product delivered.
I can't believe that the owner or his staff would reply to you in email or phone calls like that.
His answer to you should be to immediatly return the product for a full replacement or refund. An irate phone call instead, is a huge flag on the reputability of his company and him as a business owner.
Send only with a return delivery receipt and insured.

Good luck,
DB

[jibjob79]

I've been on the end of some pretty poor customer service but i have also been on the business end with some really poor customers. Regardless of which end you are on the main aim of getting your problem resolved should not be forgotten. The ends justify the means, grin and bear it, be polite and get the problem resolved. Who is wrong and why shouldn't detract from the goal of getting your refund in this case.

An example is i bought over ?100 worth of dog stuff, collars, leads, toys etc for an online store. I think it was ?100 and you get free shipping so i added a few cheap toys to get it over ?100 and hit order. When it was delivered everything but one of the cheap toy rugby toys wasn't included, actually the cardboard and zip tie packaging was but not the product. I emailed to let them know but got no reply, ended up phoning to get a response. The manager basically called me a liar, how it couldn't happen as each order it videoed on CCTV, the dog must have taken it and hid it when i wasn't looking etc. I was fuming but politely asked him to check the CCTV footage of the packing and to get back to me. It was more an issue of being treated in such a way than for the actual product. Two days later another manger phones me and says she reviewed the CCTV and the bag fell over while being packed and the rugby ball rolled out and under a table without anyone noticing and apologies for the issue and that they will send it out ASAP. I simply recalled the conversations with the other manger (politely) and asked them to refund the money for the toy and that i would purchase the item somewhere else and asked them to take me off their mailing list as i wouldn't be shopping with them any more.

End result was i got the situation resolved to my satisfaction and gave them the finger in a polite way on completion. They could have easily have fobbed me off and turned into my word against theirs but I'm hoping because i was polite and put quite a bit of business there way they tried to look after me. If i had been trying it on i would have picked an expensive item rather than one of the cheapest toys i ordered lol.

Hell lie if you have to, I'm new to cigars and was thinking about buying some more off you, have you got x,y and z in stock, do you give loyalty vouchers while to cigars are exchanged as they are for a wedding this week, it's not a huge problem as you will use a box of X cigars and buy another from you after the wedding etc. If a business thinks they will get more custom from you they will bend over backwards to help you which is the name of the game.

[Mo_Robusto]

Mo,

Some great comments in the preceeding posts, but the bottom line is you are the customer and should expect to have a quality product delivered.
I can't believe that the owner or his staff would reply to you in email or phone calls like that.
His answer to you should be to immediatly return the product for a full replacement or refund. An irate phone call instead, is a huge flag on the reputability of his company and him as a business owner.
Send only with a return delivery receipt and insured.

Good luck,
DB

It was a surreal experience having an irate cigar website owner shouting at you through the phone.

Yes i will be sending the package back with some sort of receipt as i find the whole thing a bit suspect, and i wont be using them again.

I've been on the end of some pretty poor customer service but i have also been on the business end with some really poor customers............. If a business thinks they will get more custom from you they will bend over backwards to help you which is the name of the game.

Im trying my best Dave, it must be the only time i have had someone shout at me wihtout telling them to F-off. But im gritting my teeth and remaing calm and polite until i get my money back. After that....X?%$ 'em

Mo

[ajay]

Sorry i need to jump in here...just read the whole thread...first we know the box was not from **... I will get straight to the point...the box is fake...no was would a box of box code Apr 10 get that much mould...and its mould....also the bands (rings) are not all 100% real...also you showing how the cigars looked in the box...well that is 100% FAKE....

second..

if you have not sent the box back...do so and make sure you send by recorded delivery... or sign-for...this way you can track it....reading what this guys was saying he would say he never got the package....if he did get the package and did not refund you...you can get your CC to stop the transaction..they should refund you the money...then the CC company will get the money back from the Vendor.



As a LCDH i know, no Cohiba Robusto which are 100% genuine would look like this..and no way Habanos would send out like this....these kind of vendors should not be trading nor should you be buying cigars from them...



You read on their site about great service and good cigars good customer service...they wrote that...not the customers...




Let’s hope you have learnt from thi...


Ajay
La Casa Del Habano Teddington..