CI "Fake" Cigars?

[Skeat5353]

CI never sold it as a "premium cigar" its description said it was made with "premium tobacco". If you bought this cigar expecting Davidoff quality and premiumness for $1.60, you need your head examined.

I think there's a little bit of a difference between overhyping a crap cigar and buying a brand with a decent reputation, then selling crap cigars under that brand. That's what it appears, at least to me, CI is doing. We know they do that with Gurkha, and it seems like that's what happened here with at least the Los Blancos. I guess it's a fact of the industry, and they're probably not the only ones doing it. Just seems like a bait and switch, which to me is more sinister than simply referring to a shit cigar as "premium."

Both very good points. But the use of the word 'premium' places the cigar in a different class. If I go to the butcher and he sells me a 'Prime' cut of beef for $2 a pound, when it really should be $10 a pound, I'm excited. But if that beef I bought is really 'Select' under the guise of 'Prime', then the butcher has deceived me. If the FDA finds out of this practice, then he will be fined and lose his license. Why are the same standards not in place for cigar retailers and consumers? If I buy what is advertised as a 'premium' cigar, then it should not contain 'non-premium' tobacco. The same way the butcher can't sell me 'Select' beef under the guise of 'Prime.' There should be standards, just like in the meat industry.

When I buy a premium cigar, the band shouldn't matter. The tobacco under the wrapper is all that matters. And it should all be graded, because clearly there is a difference between the leaf used in a Padron '26 and $2 shit rocket. But there is no standard, other than the discerning palate, to place a rating on that difference. There is no way that a 2-dollar shit rocket should be branded under the same 'premium' umbrella as the Padron. But they are. To the uninformed consumer, they see 'premium' as the only standard, whether it's a high-end Tatuaje or low-end piece of garbage like the one Glynn dissected.

[Marc L]

I need a typist.

[jp1979]

Both very good points. But the use of the word 'premium' places the cigar in a different class. If I go to the butcher and he sells me a 'Prime' cut of beef for $2 a pound, when it really should be $10 a pound, I'm excited. But if that beef I bought is really 'Select' under the guise of 'Prime', then the butcher has deceived me. If the FDA finds out of this practice, then he will be fined and lose his license. Why are the same standards not in place for cigar retailers and consumers? If I buy what is advertised as a 'premium' cigar, then it should not contain 'non-premium' tobacco. The same way the butcher can't sell me 'Select' beef under the guise of 'Choice.'

*edit read it wrong* again it was not sold as a premium cigar, no where did it say that. Los Blancos Premiere is the name. it said it was made with premium tobacco, which in someones opinion it might be, in most peoples its not, im not debating the fact that the description is overly done, but so are 90% of the ones you see on ALL products, lotion, cars, food, beer, electronics, etc...

[Ropey]

tons of things you buy are made by one company and rebranded as something else [...] BIG one that comes to mind in the whole Porsche/VW/Audi thing, take some of the trim panels off of a Porsche Cheyenne (sp)and they have VW markings on the back, same parts that are made for the Toureg...

And isn't it nice to know that? Glynn was letting people know that about CI's crap sticks.

Anybody going to sue Porsche because its not made with all Porsche parts? I don't think so.

Glynn wasn't threatening to sue them. He just made a video showing that the cigar was trash with a formerly decent brand's label on it.

Let's take your analogy further. Suppose nobody knew that Porsches were actually mostly VW parts. So you made a video "tak[ing] some of the trim panels off of a Porsche Cheyenne (sp)and [and showing] they have VW markings on the back." And Porsche's lawyer called you and told you to take it down or else.

Would that be fair?

Even if they bought the rights to the Los Blancos brand, I believe they were 5-6 buck sticks before CI bought them, now the are sub 2 dollars.... I would think that that would raise an eyebrow before you put it in your cart.

Again, would noobs necessarily know this? Not until they watch Glynn's (former) video

[Skeat5353]

*edit read it wrong* again it was not sold as a premium cigar, no where did it say that. Los Blancos Premiere is the name. it said it was made with premium tobacco, which in someones opinion it might be, in most peoples its not, im not debating the fact that the description is overly done, but so are 90% of the ones you see on ALL products, lotion, cars, food, beer, electronics, etc...

Justin, I find your commentary very honest, stimulating, and sincere. I looked at the Los Blancos advertisement on CI and, yes, there is no mention of 'premium' any where on the page. But have a look at a few links here:

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/s...ment/#p-162826

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/c...-premium-2nds/

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/s...-box/#p-150816

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/s...r-iv/#p-140501

By the use of the word 'premium', CI is putting these cigars under the same umbrella as real premium cigars. I'm not bashing CI. They are well within their rights to market these cigars as such. But to the uninformed and uninitiated, these cigars are 'premium.' Cut them open, and you'll know how premium they are. The tobacco of these cigars is by no means 'premium' at all--not certainly in the same class as genuine premium cigars, like Fuente, Tatuaje, Padron, Davidoff, etc. But they're marketed under this umbrella. That doesn't mean they're fake, as Glynn claimed in his stupid webcast. But they are not 'premium' in any way.

I guess we can just agree to disagree. My FDA meat grade analogy was a bit off, only because there is not the same grading system in place for tobacco, like you indicated. But my point was that there should be a 'grading' system for cigar tobacco. There's no way that retailers should be able to slap a 'premium' label on a shit rocket and sell it for 10 times its true value. If some shlub with a Youtube web channel decides to expose that, it just doesn't seem right that CI can threaten him with legal repercussions and force him to remove a video. Again, it goes back to my small guy vs. big guy analogy above.

Like Ropey was alluding to in his post, I would've stood my ground and forced CI to reveal their shady marketing practices through discovery. And then settled out of court. I would've then taken the money and bought real premium cigars from a dealer in Hong Kong or Geneva! LOL

[Skeat5353]

padron also got back to him after doing that and stated that is normal. these are natural products being rolled by people. natural defects and human error are to be expected at some point. the fact that he is claiming these to be fake and the nature of him doing so is wrong which is probably why they got on him. also the same Bryan Glynn that said its ok to take Heartfelt beads and soak them in tap water lol

Don't mistake me at all. Bryan Glynn is a goofball. What amazes me is that he's had industry professionals on his shows, master blenders, industry execs, etc. He's got 10,000+ subscribers on Youtube. I can't watch him though. He has no personality whatever. Not a joke, not a laugh, no intelligence, just a boring loser in his backyard. I don't know why people watch him in the first place. But he still has a right to make his videos without legal pressure from some giant online retailer.

[Browns7213]

CI never sold it as a "premium cigar" its description said it was made with "premium tobacco". If you bought this cigar expecting Davidoff quality and premiumness for $1.60, you need your head examined.

Hey, hey, hey! Let's not bring common sense into this argument

[jp1979]

And isn't it nice to know that? Glynn was letting people know that about CI's crap sticks.

Glynn wasn't threatening to sue them. He just made a video showing that the cigar was trash with a formerly decent brand's label on it.

Let's take your analogy further. Suppose nobody knew that Porsches were actually mostly VW parts. So you made a video "tak[ing] some of the trim panels off of a Porsche Cheyenne (sp)and [and showing] they have VW markings on the back." And Porsche's lawyer called you and told you to take it down or else.

Would that be fair?


Again, would noobs necessarily know this? Not until they watch Glynn's (former) video

1. Dude, they were crap sticks before he cut them open, and still are after. Who cares.

2. See what you did there Mr. Glynn Jr? I never said "mostly VW parts" I said "not all Porsche parts". If they had to choose between us they would probably call you first.. my point is its all over the place.

3. is some one who buys and smokes dollar cigars really going to give a shit? Do you think that the quality of that cigar is any worse than other 1 dollar cigars, I doubt it....

[Emperor Zurg]

Don't mistake me at all. Bryan Glynn is a goofball. What amazes me is that he's had industry professionals on his shows, master blenders, industry execs, etc. He's got 10,000+ subscribers on Youtube. I can't watch him though. He has no personality whatever. Not a joke, not a laugh, no intelligence, just a boring loser in his backyard. I don't know why people watch him in the first place. But he still has a right to make his videos without legal pressure from some giant online retailer.

I agree with ya, Skeat

He has every right to make his videos and post his arrogant opinions. More power to him. Hooray for Bryan (insert sarcastic clapping) He does not have the right to make things up and spread libelous accusations. "CI sells this as a long filler cigar" is just plain false. Slander and libel are illegal and kudos to CI for standing up to the jackass.


I can't believe this discussion has gone on for 11 pages...

[theHammer56]

I can't believe this discussion has gone on for 11 pages...

Yep.