Original packaging

[ashauler]

I'd guess that their retailers might have reported damage when packed sans celo, so they reacted to it.

Yeah, I would think you're right on that one. I seem to notice damage at the b/m on the naked sticks too. I just got a free padilla miami lancero earlier this week due to a cracked wrapper that I reported to the owner when I picked up a few.

I can speak as a retailer....... Cello helps prevent damage for those folks who rumage through each stick. These are the ones that feel inclined to sniff - snort, -squeeze and roll their hands all over the cigar. They know who they are. Why they feel the need to want to do this????? 99.99% have no clue about premium tobacco. Anyway, I call cello a sneeze gaurd. Personally I would love to see every cigar come naked (no cello). Just a personal preference.

O.K., I've read several threads on other boards about this kind of "fondling" and sniffing of cigars. Does it really happen that often? What would you guess the percentage of people coming in do this kinda thing?

I will almost always pick up a stick I am intending to buy, naked or not, to inspect it closely for any damage or soft spots. I was told that as long as you don't run your grubbies all over the head of the cigar, and run your nose on it that it was o.k.

[islcigar]

Ashauler -

Your fine. Its good to look over a cigar before purchase. Just don't rape the cigar. I use cabniet humidors, and unfortunatly (since 4 months ago) have to lock them. Though it eliminates molestation and theft. It also helps me the purveyor - more interaction with the customer. It gives high end customer service and provides quality.

But for all with in humidors.....YIKES! Its like eating out of the mint bowl when leaving a restaurant. Coughing, sneazing, picking or worse....God know where hands have been. Its very unfortunate, but it is real.

[DeeDubya]

What percentage of people shopping a humidor are seasoned cigar smokers or those just there out of curiosity? My son and I strolled into a nice smoke shop in Albuquerque. When we started into the humidor the owner immediately jumped up and offered to help, asking if we were aficionado's or "casual smokers". When we asked for specific sticks he pointed them out and left us alone to browse. That was a clever way of profiling and therefore trusting us to handle the cigars. While we were still in the humidor, two young couples came into the shop and straight into the humidor. "Do you have any Macanudo's or Davidson's, we want the best for our friend's wedding". The other couple was digging, sniffing, giggling, dropping, pitching back, mixing up, squeezing and doing all the wrong things. Needless to say the owner followed them until they left, with Macanudo's of course. Actually, all of his top shelf cigars were locked within a glass display inside the humidor, not an uncommon practice these days.

The only drawback to cello is that it makes it hard to see if a wrapper is cracked. So if one was mishandled, you might not know it until you get home.

[chefchris]

I saw a box of Tats a couple months back that were cello'd. Only box I've ever seen. Thought it was odd.

[guado]

I saw a box of Tats a couple months back that were cello'd. Only box I've ever seen. Thought it was odd.

I have heard of some B&M owners putting cello on them themselves.

Tat's, cabiguans, padillas are horrible for splitting feet. <--notice a trend...although I love EVERY friggin one of those cigars. LOL

Oliva V's also were very bad. Cello is REAL nice in a B&M. There are so many F'n people that have to SNIFF every cigar they "THINK" they may want. WTF?! If I sniff a cigar for some reason I usually do it AFTER I buy it. There are guys that roll every cigar in their fingers to "make sure it is good." WTF!!! They usually walk out with an Mac or some other BS "big name" cigar that sucks.

**with all due respect the Macanudo 1968 has definitely broken the mold of a typical Macanudo. If you get a chance I would recommend trying it.** / PC jargon.

[Silencei2]

Tat's, cabiguans, padillas are horrible for splitting feet.

Good to know, I picked up a cabinet of Tats a couple of months ago and noticed splitting feet. I thought I got a crappy box that the UPS guy chucked at my door but I guess its a common problem. Haven't noticed any split feet on my Padillas though, but then again it is my first box of them.