Imitation NCs?

[icantbejon]

So, here in America (and most of the rest of the world I suppose) we have to deal with the reality of fake CCs. Does the rest of the world deal with fake NCs? I know that in places like the tulip twins live, NCs are fairly expensive compared to what they sell for here. Therefore, I would assume there is a market for faking. If a Padron 1926 is going for $30 here, what would it be going for over in NL? These cigars clearly don't come with the stigma of a CC in America....but money is money. Just curious.

[Don Fernando]

I know that you will find counterfeit Fuente's in the Dominican Republic. And didn't they recently killed a counterfeit Backwoods operation?

[sikk50]

I know that you will find counterfeit Fuente's in the Dominican Republic. And didn't they recently killed a counterfeit Backwoods operation?

Yep! So if theyre knocking of the cheap stuff I can only imagine that they are knocking off the super premiums!

[icantbejon]

Is there a market for fake NCs in NL though? Anything major anyway?

[Don Fernando]

No, the Dutch cigar market is too small for it. The market is quite big, but most of the cigars sold (like 95%) are shortfiller drycigars.

[icantbejon]

Any of my other wordly BOTLs have any input. NLs market apparently sucks butt.

[Don Fernando]

are you looking to make an extra buck Jon? :r

[icantbejon]

are you looking to make an extra buck Jon? :r

It seems like there would be something too this. Why is it that we only hear about fake CCs. Most of the premium NCs I know of go for more than I spend on CCs. I know that there are exceptionally expensive CCs (of which I will likely never buy) but I have to assume someone must see potential in selling off knock-off Padron's and Fuente's.

[NCRadioMan]

It seems like there would be something too this. Why is it that we only hear about fake CCs. Most of the premium NCs I know of go for more than I spend on CCs. I know that there are exceptionally expensive CCs (of which I will likely never buy) but I have to assume someone must see potential in selling off knock-off Padron's and Fuente's.

They do, but there is not as much money in it as selling the "legendary" Cuban cigar. Especially to suckers in the US.

[captain53]

I am of the humble opinion that there are knockoff products on the markets representing anything and everything of value. ;s

[icantbejon]

I am of the humble opinion that there are knockoff products on the markets representing anything and everything of value. ;s

That's kinda the assumption I am under. If there is money to be made...someone is making it. I'm just curious if it's a "big" deal or just small fries compared to the CC thing.

[poker]

I am of the humble opinion that there are knockoff products on the markets representing anything and everything of value. ;s

:tpd: So true

[BlackDog]

I know that you will find counterfeit Fuente's in the Dominican Republic.
Hmmm. Maybe I should re-band some of these tent peg '99 CC's as Fuentes. :hm

:r

[JJG]

I have seen pictures of fake Padrons Anis before but with so many reputable vendors out there, its unlikely you would ever run into something like that. As far outside the U.S.? hell if I know!

It's an interesting topic though. As you mentioned, premium NCs are often more expensive than Cubans. but I think the reason you mostly see Cuban fakes is because everyone, even non-smokers, are familiar with names like Montecristo and Cohiba.

Fakes are targeted more towards that demographic anyway; non-smokers or people who don't smoke often, and people like that may not be as familiar with brands such as Padron or Fuente.

[troutbreath]

I am of the humble opinion that there are knockoff products on the markets representing anything and everything of value. ;s

This is true. And, I'm not so sure you need to look to the expensive items to find counterfeit goods. Look to the items that sell in high volume. That was the deal with the Swishers -- there are probably thousands of those sold for every Padron 80th. The margins are smaller, but the volume makes up the difference.

[adampc22]

i hear about fake ccs all the time but i dont think i have ever seen or been told enything about fake ncs ncs do cost alot here but not as mutch as cc and there is so few ncs for sale here i think there would be no profit in fakeing them

[pmwz]

padron 1926 prices in germany: no6/corona: 30€, no9/robusto:45€ + no.1/churchill 50€.
I think its hard to find counterfeit over here because we dont have a big black market for cuban cigars like you do in the united states. the b+ms have to sell the cigars at a predetermined price.
The target of fakes are usually people that rarely smoke cigar and want to demonstrate that they are smoking something expensive. They are smoking the band and not the cigar. i think that most of these people are going to buy a cohiba or montecristo and not a nc cigar.
I think the market for faked nc cigars is bigger in the us because most people know the big brands like padron and the prestige that goes a long with smoking one is higher.
i think most fakes are sold at tourist destinations. I wouldnt be surprised to find fakes in spain, mexico, the caribbeans.

[sikk50]

This actualy reminds me of a thread on CS that had a guy bought Opus X off eBay and when they came they were some random dog rocket that had been rebanded. So that right there's your answer

[captain53]

I also agree with the tourist destination popularity for fake everything, Bahamas are full of the stuff and not only at the markets but in the nicer stores also. :td

Ebay - I assume that everything on there is fake unless it is just being used by a legit store front for advertising. :td

[Texan in Mexico]

Interesting thread, I think if there is a market there would be.

One of the posters asks about Mexico and the Caribbean. I live in Mexico and am in Cayman this week and travel to Tortola, Anguilla, blah, blahn blah for work and I have never seen counterfeited NC's.

Fake CC's abound as we all know but not NC's.

[Snake Hips]

I've seen fake Fuentes, Graycliffs, Davidoffs and Padrons in my travels, so they're around. Though the fake Cohibas and Montecristos always outnumber them.

[captain53]

I found this information on the Altadis Web Site regarding counterfeit cigars:

Industry experts estimate the cigar counterfeiting problem involves the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars of fake and inferior products annually to unsuspecting consumers.

According to attorneys for Altadis, more and more warehouses and backrooms of tobacco retailers in South Florida have become home to tobacco counterfeiters.

The cigar counterfeiting industry has a number of levels. There are the printers of the fake cigar bands and labels that mimic the logo of well-known brands. There are individuals who sell the fake bands, labels and cigar boxes to cigar makers. And then there are cigar makers who market the bogus product. In some cases, there are financiers.

[Snake Hips]

I found this information on the Altadis Web Site regarding counterfeit cigars:

Industry experts estimate the cigar counterfeiting problem involves the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars of fake and inferior products annually to unsuspecting consumers.

According to attorneys for Altadis, more and more warehouses and backrooms of tobacco retailers in South Florida have become home to tobacco counterfeiters.

The cigar counterfeiting industry has a number of levels. There are the printers of the fake cigar bands and labels that mimic the logo of well-known brands. There are individuals who sell the fake bands, labels and cigar boxes to cigar makers. And then there are cigar makers who market the bogus product. In some cases, there are financiers.
Yes, but these counterfeits are of Cuban cigars, not non-Cuban cigars. Altadis just has the advantage of owning the rights to those brand names in teh United States. Kind of like General Cigar winning court cases over Feauxhiba production, even though they weren't mimicking General's Cohiba.

[Mikepd]

Non-Cuban Cigars are produced with the market in mind for sale is the US. One reason NC cigars are at such a high rate here is because of taxes. Outside of the states if they were to be sold, they wouldn't specifically carry those taxes and thus could be at retail for a much lower rate. Thus i would think if someone wanted to retail them they would probably retail the real thing. Though I would expect if you looked for them in Europe you would be able to find fake NC's but i still would expect the fake CC's to still be more prevalent.

[icantbejon]

Lots of interesting opinions here. I think generally speaking my question was answered. Fake NCs exist out there, and people can be burned by them. However, they are not "common" by any means. Thanks everybody.