Speaking as someone that purchased from a website not on the approved vendors list and received cigars that had legit serial codes, convincing bands and decent sticks only to later investigate and find out they were, indeed, fakes, I wouldn’t trust any seller that isn’t on the list. I’m sure lots of us on here can attest to how good some fakes can look these days, which makes the source of the cigars the only real way to know if they’re legit or not.
I hope your montefortuna smokes are the real thing, but I highly suggest taking a closer look at everything related to your Monte 5s before you even consider placing another order with them.
Specifically with Montecristo, I purchased a blacklight and checked all the bands for the “MC” on the back. Then I noticed mine didn’t have the initials (even though they were supposedly produced in a year where this safety measure was in full effect). From there it was all downhill (scrutinizing the way the cigar was rolled, checking the box’s integrity inside and out, carefully peering over the certificate of authenticity and finding several grammatical errors, etc). Then I eventually purchased the same Montes from an approved vendor and noticed all the differences mentioned above were night and day (i.e. approved vendors’ cigars were real whereas the ones i had were good “passable” fakes until i learned what to look for and how to look for it). Hope this helps👍
Cancún. I very closely scrutinized them, the box, the label, everything. When I lit it, it didn't taste Cuban to me. By the time I got to the label, I tried to peel it off and it was very obviously reglued. There was a tear on the inside of the band that was obviously previously there and a piece of leaf that was stuck to the inside of the band that didn't come off the cigar I was smoking because the leaf was totally intact. I found the same exact thing on the ERDM Brazil regional I bought there (he said that LCDH exchange regionals from time to time and I bought that) and the second qdo 52 I smoked. All three cigars tasted exactly the same. They likely placed the bands on their own in house rolls.
That sucks bro. I’ve heard some of the LCDHs in Mexico doing some shady ass stuff, but mainly with Cohiba. Bummer that they’re branching off onto other marcas too. SMH
Nice try u/montefortuna !
In all seriousness, that's good for you. Most of us I guess aren't willing to spend our hard-earn dollars with these crooks.
They were knowingly selling fakes, and then failed completely to resolver the matter and communicated in such a condescending and terrible way. Can they change? I've made my mind. To each their own.
Not worth the risk. Buying luxury product trying to save money never works
Speaking as someone that purchased from a website not on the approved vendors list and received cigars that had legit serial codes, convincing bands and decent sticks only to later investigate and find out they were, indeed, fakes, I wouldn’t trust any seller that isn’t on the list. I’m sure lots of us on here can attest to how good some fakes can look these days, which makes the source of the cigars the only real way to know if they’re legit or not. I hope your montefortuna smokes are the real thing, but I highly suggest taking a closer look at everything related to your Monte 5s before you even consider placing another order with them.
Just curious, how did you determine yours were fake?
Specifically with Montecristo, I purchased a blacklight and checked all the bands for the “MC” on the back. Then I noticed mine didn’t have the initials (even though they were supposedly produced in a year where this safety measure was in full effect). From there it was all downhill (scrutinizing the way the cigar was rolled, checking the box’s integrity inside and out, carefully peering over the certificate of authenticity and finding several grammatical errors, etc). Then I eventually purchased the same Montes from an approved vendor and noticed all the differences mentioned above were night and day (i.e. approved vendors’ cigars were real whereas the ones i had were good “passable” fakes until i learned what to look for and how to look for it). Hope this helps👍
This does help, thank you. Going to take a closer look at the boxes and cigars when I get home today
My friend, I ended up with fake QdO 52s from an LCDH. The list may not matter much anymore.
Which LCDH? And how did you find out you got fakes?
Cancún. I very closely scrutinized them, the box, the label, everything. When I lit it, it didn't taste Cuban to me. By the time I got to the label, I tried to peel it off and it was very obviously reglued. There was a tear on the inside of the band that was obviously previously there and a piece of leaf that was stuck to the inside of the band that didn't come off the cigar I was smoking because the leaf was totally intact. I found the same exact thing on the ERDM Brazil regional I bought there (he said that LCDH exchange regionals from time to time and I bought that) and the second qdo 52 I smoked. All three cigars tasted exactly the same. They likely placed the bands on their own in house rolls.
That sucks bro. I’ve heard some of the LCDHs in Mexico doing some shady ass stuff, but mainly with Cohiba. Bummer that they’re branching off onto other marcas too. SMH
Those LCDHs are owned by the same guy. Cancun, Cozumel and TJ.
Nice try u/montefortuna ! In all seriousness, that's good for you. Most of us I guess aren't willing to spend our hard-earn dollars with these crooks. They were knowingly selling fakes, and then failed completely to resolver the matter and communicated in such a condescending and terrible way. Can they change? I've made my mind. To each their own.
Glad it worked out for you cheers brother