I'd be interested in comments re internet fraud in cigar sales. I live in Canada & have recently begun buying cigars online. A friend who is knowledgeable about cigars & familiar with the brand I bought (had bought the same brand in the Dominican where they are made) was of the opinion that they might be fakes. The low price entered into his reasoning. Can anyone comment on their experience as to internet prices being significantly lower? How about fakes?

A little more info would be helpful. What cigar brand? What did you pay? There are many legit retailers for non-cubans with great prices.

The brand is Don Diego. Babies & panatelas.

lol

Perhpas someone with a better memory/knowledge can help explain the free trade zone in DR, but it wouldn't surprise me if you can actually get the cigars cheaper via an internet retailer.

And why would anyone make fakes of Don Diego?

I didn't think you could buy cigars in the DR that were made in the Free Trade Zone. Perhaps your friend bought fakes. But I go back to my first question, whu would anyone make fakes on Don Diego?

How much did you pay and from what site. Have you compared your price with other internet sites.

Don Diegos and most other Dominican cigars are made in free trade zones. All the cigars made in those factories must be exported. Therefore, for them to be legally sold in the DR, they would have to be reimported. So it's no bargain to buy cigars made by Altadis USA (Montecristo, H Upmann, Don Diego), General Cigar (Macanudo, Partagas), Fuente (A. Fuente, FFOpusX), Davidoff (Davidoff, Avo) etc. in the Dominican Republic.

A couple of notable brands are made outside the free zones, including La Aurora and La Flor Dominicana. So you can find these cigars for sale in the Dominican Republic.

Bought from Cigargoyle at a competitve price (special offer, 10 to 30% percrnt lower than offered prices)

Cigargoyle...how cute is that?

quote:

Originally posted by smokem1:
Cigargoyle...how cute is that?

Extremely!

I too live in Canada and recently purchased a box of Don Diego Robusto's sfor significantly less than what I would have piad for the at my local tobacconist. As was previsouly mentioned I believe this is due to FTZ's and shipping them out of the country. I checked with Altadis and they did say the online retailler I purchased them from is legit. Good for me. I love them. Also picked up Montecristo Platinum Robusto's for a good price.

Cheers