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Fake Don Pepin Garcia Cuban Classic 1979?!?

Ok fellas, here's the latest.

I received an email from Janny regarding the cigars in question and based on the images they saw, the cigars do not appear to be fake. The auction site I purchased them from, buys directly from El Rey De Los Habanos. According to Janny, they recently changed the print on the bands to what we see today. Unfortunately, sometimes a few bad cigars get mixed up in the bunch and that's more than likely what happend. I am confident that the cigars I purchased are legit and am sorry for making a big deal out of it on here. I will continue to support both the auction site and Don Pepin Garcia as both stepped up and did their best help answer my question. You guys on here are amazing and I am very stoked that I found a community like this. Hope this clarifies things.
Jerod
 
Ihighly doubt they are fake, IMHO. I have two different DPG's, the Cuban Class and Blue label. One has a shiny golden band, and the other has the duller appearance to it. These are both legit, so they just must have changed their bands. I was curious at first too.
 
Glad to hear it. I'd really like to hear a response from El Rey De Los Habanos though.


He did get a reply from El Rey De Los Habanos, Janny is Jose Garcia's daughter and runs the shop. She was behind the counter when I visited there a year ago.

I've bought Don Pepin Garcia cigars on C-bid before and found the quality to be lower than the ones I've smoked which were purchased at B&M's out of Boxes. I think most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality.
 
By the way Jerod, You might consider editing the title of this thread since Janny verified the authenticity of your cigars. I'd hate to see Don Pepin getting a bad rap due to this posting.......
 
How do I edit the title to this thread? Better yet close it and have it deleted. DPG manned up and handled the issue like no other company I have ever dealt with before. I really don't want them to get a bad rap. Is it possible for a mod to delete this thread altogether? Thanks!!
 
How do I edit the title to this thread? Better yet close it and have it deleted. DPG manned up and handled the issue like no other company I have ever dealt with before. I really don't want them to get a bad rap. Is it possible for a mod to delete this thread altogether? Thanks!!

As others will tell you, there are no mods here, Rod is the only governing body we have here at CP other than each other. It's a community run by it's members + 1 (rod lol). I believe you can edit the title by clicking "edit" on your first post and changing the title there...I could be wrong though. Give it a try. :thumbs:
 
How do I edit the title to this thread? Better yet close it and have it deleted. DPG manned up and handled the issue like no other company I have ever dealt with before. I really don't want them to get a bad rap. Is it possible for a mod to delete this thread altogether? Thanks!!

I wouldn't worry about it. I don't think thread looks negatively upon DPG at all. It was a valid concern that has now been brought to light.

I didn't know Janny was with DPG, thanks for that clarification mrtapes.

I think it reflects positive on DPG that they answered your concern in a timely manner. Nothing negative about this thread IMO.
 
I've bought Don Pepin Garcia cigars on C-bid before and found the quality to be lower than the ones I've smoked which were purchased at B&M's out of Boxes. I think most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality.


If I understand correctly, if I buy cigar from CI and the same one from a local retailer, the one from CI will be of lesser quality? I ask because I get my DPGs from CI and I would like to know if I'm missing out on the real quality. Does anyone know if this is true?
 
I've bought Don Pepin Garcia cigars on C-bid before and found the quality to be lower than the ones I've smoked which were purchased at B&M's out of Boxes. I think most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality.


That would make sense to me.

At another level.....
I believe CI looks at all cigars that come in the shop. The ones on the Daily Joe deals, I am willing to bet, are lesser quality of the bunch.
This is my opinion and a wild guess how they operate. If this were true, does it surprise you?
 
I've bought Don Pepin Garcia cigars on C-bid before and found the quality to be lower than the ones I've smoked which were purchased at B&M's out of Boxes. I think most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality.


If I understand correctly, if I buy cigar from CI and the same one from a local retailer, the one from CI will be of lesser quality? I ask because I get my DPGs from CI and I would like to know if I'm missing out on the real quality. Does anyone know if this is true?
I don't know if this is true or not. I'd lean towards not. It could just be that the sticks purchased form B&M may be from older releases. A lot of people (myself included), have noticed a downward trend in production quality with some of the newer boxes of Pepin stuff (which would include a lot of what CI has to offer). I hope it's just growing pains and temporary. I love the tobacco so much, I'd hate to have to stop smoking them altogether.
 
At another level.....
I believe CI looks at all cigars that come in the shop. The ones on the Daily Joe deals, I am willing to bet, are lesser quality of the bunch.
This is my opinion and a wild guess how they operate. If this were true, does it surprise you?

I think I'm more surprised that I can buy the same cigar with the same band at two different places, but with inconsistent quality. Wouldn't it be considered "second quality" and not sport the same band?
 
I've bought Don Pepin Garcia cigars on C-bid before and found the quality to be lower than the ones I've smoked which were purchased at B&M's out of Boxes. I think most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality.


If I understand correctly, if I buy cigar from CI and the same one from a local retailer, the one from CI will be of lesser quality? I ask because I get my DPGs from CI and I would like to know if I'm missing out on the real quality. Does anyone know if this is true?
I don't know if this is true or not. I'd lean towards not. It could just be that the sticks purchased form B&M may be from older releases. A lot of people (myself included), have noticed a downward trend in production quality with some of the newer boxes of Pepin stuff (which would include a lot of what CI has to offer). I hope it's just growing pains and temporary. I love the tobacco so much, I'd hate to have to stop smoking them altogether.


I'd lean more toward true Alan. A lot of the vendors I talk to (some well known ones here), and manufacturers as well seem to say a common thing about the above web sites......."CI is where cigars go to die" was something that rings a bell from a very recent conversation. Another recent conversation I had with an owner of a well known brand can't stand to see them get his cigars through sources other than his reps. He has seen numerous examples of his brands bought from CI that were not properly cared for, and of the quality of which he wishes not to be represented by. They worry that the average smoker will buy their first ever samples, smoke them, and wonder what all the fuss is about to never come back again. Or, a fan of a line will think quality has gone down and quit buying. I've heard this numerous times.
 
I've bought Don Pepin Garcia cigars on C-bid before and found the quality to be lower than the ones I've smoked which were purchased at B&M's out of Boxes. I think most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality.


If I understand correctly, if I buy cigar from CI and the same one from a local retailer, the one from CI will be of lesser quality? I ask because I get my DPGs from CI and I would like to know if I'm missing out on the real quality. Does anyone know if this is true?
I don't know if this is true or not. I'd lean towards not. It could just be that the sticks purchased form B&M may be from older releases. A lot of people (myself included), have noticed a downward trend in production quality with some of the newer boxes of Pepin stuff (which would include a lot of what CI has to offer). I hope it's just growing pains and temporary. I love the tobacco so much, I'd hate to have to stop smoking them altogether.


I'd lean more toward true Alan. A lot of the vendors I talk to (some well known ones here), and manufacturers as well seem to say a common thing about the above web sites......."CI is where cigars go to die" was something that rings a bell from a very recent conversation. Another recent conversation I had with an owner of a well known brand can't stand to see them get his cigars through sources other than his reps. He has seen numerous examples of his brands bought from CI that were not properly cared for, and of the quality of which he wishes not to be represented by. They worry that the average smoker will buy their first ever samples, smoke them, and wonder what all the fuss is about to never come back again. Or, a fan of a line will think quality has gone down and quit buying. I've heard this numerous times.
So are the manufacturers/vendors sending lesser quality smokes or are the smokes at CI just not well cared for? There's a big difference in the answer to that question. I just can't see any manufacturer/vendor that's worried about perception of their product sending actual lesser sticks to CI as compared to the B&M.

The statement "most manufacturers use Cigars International as a clearing house for the cigars which are of a lesser quality" is what I was responding to. If they do as this claim states, they're not all that concerned about their product and I'll stop buying them from anywhere.

If it's a care/storage issue that's entirely different than a DPG Black Label bought at CI being of somewhat lower quality than a DPG Black Label bought at the B&M from the get go.

Just looking for clarification. :)
 
Ahhh I see, said the blind man. :laugh:

Yes Alan, it is a "care issue". I'm not saying that there are not people that sell seconds to places like CI that go out their doors as regular advertised product..........

But, the examples I was using were in fact concerns about the proper care of cigars that come into these vendors hands, either before or after them taking posession.
 
Ahhh I see, said the blind man. :laugh:

Yes Alan, it is a "care issue". I'm not saying that there are not people that sell seconds to places like CI that go out their doors as regular advertised product..........

But, the examples I was using were in fact concerns about the proper care of cigars that come into these vendors hands, either before or after them taking posession.
We're on the same page. :)

I hope we haven't created even more confusion in our discussion! :laugh:
 
So it all comes down to vendors like CI not really giving a crap about proper storage...I better start looking for a new source.
 
Wow lots of rumors in this thread...

I'll state right up front that I have never received bad cigars from CI. And that starting such a rumor when none of you have any proof of it, is pretty crass.

*edit and that is including the cigars from the Daily Joe Specials
 
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