{"id":11242,"date":"2015-06-30T23:20:55","date_gmt":"2015-06-30T21:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flyingcigar.de\/?p=11242"},"modified":"2015-07-11T10:05:44","modified_gmt":"2015-07-11T08:05:44","slug":"the-cigars-i-didnt-buy-scam-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/flyingcigar.de\/startseite\/the-cigars-i-didnt-buy-scam-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cigars I Didn’t Buy – Scam Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Back from a very relaxing, intense and highly interesting trip to Havana and Cuba. All went better than expected and I was able to combine the more productive aspects of the trip in Havana with soothing days at the beach and the tobacco fields of San Juan y Martinez.<\/p>\n

It was such a great trip that I would like to kick off my series of reports with the only bad experience I had just to get it off my chest and continue with all the good parts of my visit.<\/p>\n

Weeks before my trip I had ordered custom rolled cigars for Canadian friends of mine to be picked up later next month by them in Havana from well known rollers.<\/p>\n

I passed by all the Casas del Tabaco \/ LCDH where I ordered the cigars to confirm the order and pick-up date and all was well until I hit the CdT at La Caba\u00f1a, La Triada, where I was told that the cigars were already rolled and I could have them or they would be sold to other customers.<\/p>\n

Now, Cueto, the well-known roller, was off to Italy and the Partagas meeting at Matelica and I had just seen him and other friends like La China off a few days back.<\/p>\n

I re-ordered the cigars for my friends and told the staff to hold the bundles as I would be interested in having some before my departure.<\/p>\n

When I returned to pick up the cigars a few “strange” and very “un-orthodox” things happened …<\/p>\n

First : The cigars, especially the Diademas, were of sub-standard quality, very bad wrapper colours, stains, see pictures.<\/p>\n

Second : I was told by Daniel, the guy in charge that he would give me a “better” price if I would also take the Diademas.<\/p>\n

I would pay only 10 CUC for them instead of 12 and 8 CUC for the Salomones instead of 10.<\/p>\n

Funny, as the first prices quoted are the official prices – he was not giving me a better price, in fact he would have over-charged me with the higher prices.<\/p>\n

Third : I could not pay with Credit Card.<\/p>\n

OK, this might have been true if the machine was down as it often occurs in HAV, but the reason given was BS : custom rolled cigars cannot be paid with a CC. I had done just that a few times that week at other Casas.<\/p>\n

Now for the strange, scammy & unorthodox part :<\/p>\n

When I asked for a receipt the guy went deaf.<\/p>\n

Asked again he started making himself a cafecito.<\/p>\n

Asked again he called the cashier and asked her.<\/p>\n

She had taken my money and placed it in a paper sheet “guaranteed to be passed on upon his return”.<\/p>\n

Now she started telling me that no receipt could be given for custom rolled cigars.<\/p>\n

When I insisted, she told me that “there has never been a receipt given for custom rolled cigars”.<\/p>\n

Insisting again and telling her about the receipts I had received from other Casas that week she kept telling me that no receipts had ever been issued for custom rolled cigars and started a diversion about receipts for boxes – a different thingy all-together madam.<\/p>\n

When I kept insisting and telling her I didn’t care where the money went as long as I got my receipt, she started sweating, the money started to burn in her hands and she couldn’t return it fast enough back to me\u00a0 saying that I should keep my money and they would keep the cigars.<\/p>\n

Guess she realized I not just spoke Spanish but understood unspoken Cuban ….<\/p>\n

By then I already knew that it was a very fishy rotten scam.<\/p>\n

The cat was away, the mice were in charge and that money would go out the back door.<\/p>\n

I had a few conversations later with equally famed rollers and Casa managers and they confirmed that a receipt has to be issued with any purchase or to anyone requesting one.<\/p>\n

Most of the buyers don’t ask for one, don’t know these receipts exists, are told some story but the receipts have to be issued.<\/p>\n

My gut feeling and the opinion of the rollers and managers : The cigars, at least part of them, were rolled by someone wanting to profit from the famed name and the easy money to be had.<\/p>\n

Caveat emptor.<\/p>\n

Again : If you buy custom rolled cigars from a roller at a LCDH\/CdT you should be able to pay with a CC and if you request it, a receipt will be given for your purchase as proof of purchase for Cuban customs.<\/p>\n

Nino<\/strong><\/p>\n

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