A friend of mine (no, REALLY!) wants to order a box of CC's on the Internet from what appears to be a reputable Swiss seller (Habanos S.A. approved). The seller gave him the option of choosing to remove the bands before shipping, and place the cigars in a nondescript box. Furthermore they also will place the cigars in cellophane wrappers "for additional protection."

My friend already owns a definitely authentic box of those cigars, in their original box with their original bands on. But when he tries to slip off the bands he finds that they are much too tight, and forcing the process would definitely damage the cigars.

Can my friend trust this well-known source to send him genuine CC's?

Thanks for your input.

I think I know the vendor you're talking about. You can trust them to send authentic cigars w/out bands, but why bother? The odds of siezure are low and they guarantee your order either way, so just tell them to ship everything intact and they will.

Akumushi, thanks for your input and advice, but my friend is on the cautious side, and prefers to have the bands removed; on the other hand he wonders how bands can be removed without hurting the cigars.

Have to agree with Akumushi. The chances of getting caught are very low. Removing the bands can cause slight damage, but most of the time it won't. Personally I ship all intact and I have yet to have any problems.

Jose

There is nothing i hate more than sources that take the bands off. If you ever have the option, don't do it! I have always felt that if i'm going to get caught, then i'm going to get caught. Bands or no bands. Plus the people at customs aren't idiots...if they even suspect they are cuban's they will take them. Because for instance, my last package, the contents were listed " 2 small books " if they open the package bands or no bands they are going to know they are cubans.

I guess I'll repeat my last question:

how can bands be removed without hurting the cigars?

I've tried this myself, and can't do it.

I would say there is no fool proof way. Unless maybe they use some sort of heating device that melts the glue a little there is no way. If you don't heat up the glue you are definitely going to hurt some of the cigars. i mean some might slip off easily but most of the time the wrapper will get torn a little. How about you or your friend just e-mail the company he is ordering from and ask them?

quote:

Originally posted by LiLo:
How about you or your friend just e-mail the company he is ordering from and ask them?

Duh! I guess this was too easy. Good point. Thanks

I have found the bands to be tighter with higher humidity. I have noticed over time with aging at 65 percent humidity they will slip off more easily.

quote:

Originally posted by Scapino:

quote:

Originally posted by LiLo:
How about you or your friend just e-mail the company he is ordering from and ask them?

Duh! I guess this was too easy. Good point. Thanks

Let us know what they say!

quote:

Originally posted by CompitaVeggie:
Have to agree with Akumushi. The chances of getting caught are very low. Removing the bands can cause slight damage, but most of the time it won't. Personally I ship all intact and I have yet to have any problems.

Jose

in our shop we get asked this question at least once a week.

100% agreement.

cheers
drew p

Cigars in cabinet boxes used to have no bands. I hated that!

Nah, no point in getting the bands removed. Chances of getting them siezed are low and to the best of my knowledge, there haven't been any OFAC fines recently, although if someone has heard of recent fines, I'd be curious in knowing, I can only find old fines online.

I think the bands are not on the cigars in the first place. If the source is the place I think it is, then the bands are not put on at the time of packaging, they are left separate. I read that large distributors overseas have such arrangements with Cuba. They buy skids worth of bare product and put the bands on themselves. Don't quote me though, it just something I read recently.

Any other opinions?

quote:

Originally posted by bundwallah:
I think the bands are not on the cigars in the first place. If the source is the place I think it is, then the bands are not put on at the time of packaging, they are left separate. I read that large distributors overseas have such arrangements with Cuba. They buy skids worth of bare product and put the bands on themselves. Don't quote me though, it just something I read recently.

Any other opinions?

That makes perfect sense, and I think you're right.

quote:

Originally posted by bundwallah:
I think the bands are not on the cigars in the first place. If the source is the place I think it is, then the bands are not put on at the time of packaging, they are left separate. I read that large distributors overseas have such arrangements with Cuba. They buy skids worth of bare product and put the bands on themselves. Don't quote me though, it just something I read recently.

Any other opinions?

Im sorry but that sounds like absolute BS. I find it hard to believe that Habanos would ship out cigars bandless. I have no source to back my thoughts up but it just seems to me that isn't how it's done.

quote:

Originally posted by LiLo:

quote:

Originally posted by bundwallah:
I think the bands are not on the cigars in the first place. If the source is the place I think it is, then the bands are not put on at the time of packaging, they are left separate. I read that large distributors overseas have such arrangements with Cuba. They buy skids worth of bare product and put the bands on themselves. Don't quote me though, it just something I read recently.

Any other opinions?

Im sorry but that sounds like absolute BS. I find it hard to believe that Habanos would ship out cigars bandless. I have no source to back my thoughts up but it just seems to me that isn't how it's done.

I watched a DVD about CCs and they were putting bands on Cohibas right at the factory.

No your friend cannot trust this well know source! Every Swiss source ships in sealed boxes except one that I think ships repackaged crap to the USA. Everything I'd gotten from Swiss sites had been great until I used a site that repackaged the cigars. What garbage! After emails flew back and forth they took them back and gave me a full refund and paid for shipping. Do not order from them!!

quote:

Originally posted by bundwallah:
I think the bands are not on the cigars in the first place. If the source is the place I think it is, then the bands are not put on at the time of packaging, they are left separate. I read that large distributors overseas have such arrangements with Cuba. They buy skids worth of bare product and put the bands on themselves. Don't quote me though, it just something I read recently.

Any other opinions?

I received my shipment from your Swiss Source. I ordered 5 each of three different smokes. They arrived two days after I placed the order. Amazing. A week later the labels arrived in an envelope. They were definitely removed. They were opened - not slid off. No problem. I told them to send them with the bands if they would still guarantee the shipment. They came without so I guess that says something.

I'll post my thoughts on the smokes in another post.

quote:

Originally posted by bundwallah:
I think the bands are not on the cigars in the first place. If the source is the place I think it is, then the bands are not put on at the time of packaging, they are left separate. I read that large distributors overseas have such arrangements with Cuba. They buy skids worth of bare product and put the bands on themselves. Don't quote me though, it just something I read recently.

Any other opinions?

Exactly where did you read this?

ALL Cuban cigars have been banded (with perhaps the exception of RyJ Cazadores) since about 2004. Trust me, Habanos does NOT have vendors band their cigars for them. It's absolutely ridiculous for anyone, especially a vendor, to make that claim. Any vendor that makes that claim either a) thinks you're an idiot, b) is trying to scam you, or most likely, c) both.

Think about it....why would Habanos ship out unbanded cigars and trust vendors to band them? Why wouldn't they just do it themselves? It's not like they would be saving money on labor since they pay workers slave wages, anyway. And why would vendors even want to be bothered with the extra work. There is no rhyme or reason for either side to do this. The logistics of this are simply nonsensical. And it could/would lead to vendors negligently or, more likely, intentionally putting the wrong bands on cigars.

I have to say, if it is a vendor telling you this....run far, FAR away.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: The Peacemaker,