URL: http://www.cigar-czar.com
Sells : Cuban Cigars
Based in : Australia
Online Since : 2004
Rating : 18 (
: 27, 
: 9)
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Description : (taken from the website) Czar House is located in Brisbane, Australia and at any time of the day you will find Rob, Lisa and Smithy plus a myriad of local clients in various states of work and revelry. A cigar and champagne on the rocking chairs on the deck of Czar house awaits members ….so come and visit us!
Experience:
I had a very positive experience with cigar-czar.com. They are based in Australia and receive their product from PCC (the authorized Habanos distributor for that area). While their selection is not quite as expansive as some of the other online sites (but close), they have all of the key basics, all of the LEs and some interesting selections exclusive to Asia-Pacific (such as limited Por Larranaga robustos). They are very friendly and unbelievably quick. Shipping is included. I did not ask for any expedited shipping and my cigars still arrived in record time (order placed on a Thursday (Friday in Australia where they are located); shipped that Monday; and arrived in perfect condition on Friday. Very courteous.
Experience:
Great company. Fine selections, fine people. A perfect place for cigar lovers and friends. Highly, highly recommended!
Update (Oct 4 2011) Another satisfied – no – ECSTATIC happy customer here, another great ordering experience! You have to remember this is coming from Australia. It MAY take awhile to get to YOU
Experience:
Excellent service from Lisa…delivery was quite quick and the cigars were packed very well. Have already placed my next order with them.
Update (May 31 2011) Just received my Partagas Serie D4 and Esplendidos order from the Czar.excellent quality again!! Received in 11 days here in Canada.
Experience:
Czar is one of my three preferred vendors. Prices are a little higher than others, but service is superb. Recommended.
Experience:
Cigar Czar has the best Cubans period. I have ordered dozens and dozens of boxes from them. Every time I open a new box from them I have the same reaction. WOW. These guys have a real passion for cigars and it shows.
Experience:
I have used Cigar Czar for a long time. They are the only vendor I trust and they are the only vendor I will use. I am blown away by their customer service from both Lisa and Rob. Anytime you have a question, you always receive a timely and efficient response. Lisa is great at special requests and special accommodations. I have never had one problem with shipping, not one. I don’t even feel the need to discuss their authenticity, because it’s not even a question. Once you are involved with such a quality vendor the question is not authenticity, the question at czar now turns to, just what type of quality do you want. Most places you think about real vs. fake. At Czar they are all real, but Rob spends the time and passion to classify his cigars into different quality ratings. It takes someone with a passion like that to be all the evidence I need to be a loyal customer for life and refer all of my smoking buddies to them as well. I am an active member on the forum, and I find it refreshing that the other members conduct themselves with honor, respect and integrity. The rules are in place to provide an atmosphere and an environment that is conducive and equal to the quality and the class of the shop and the people running it. Rob and the rest of the crew at FOH post some great cigar review videos, that can be viewed on YouTube. They are my number one source for honest and also humorous reviews of cigars. No agenda, just good information and entertainment. Look no further than the Czar, like anything else in life, you get what you pay for, and if you are wanting the highest quality, they best customer service, and the best no hassle shipping, use the Czar!
Experience:
This shop gives wonderful, personal service and ships excellent quality cigars. Highly recommended.
Experience:
the highest quality cigars around and the most wonderful service from the czar crew hands down the best retailer in the industry..
Experience:
I’ve ordered from Czar many times and have yet to be disappointed….
Excellent customer service!
High Quality product!
Great prices!
Thanks Rob, Lisa, Diana and Kurt! You guys are the best! Smithy ok too I guess ;)
Experience:
Just got half of my first order, went off without a hitch…..recieved in 11 days from ordering. Great communication throughout. Emailed me that last half shipped and I’ll let them know when they arrive and update here as well.
Experience:
Just received my first order!Cigar smell great, smoking fantastic.Best customer service so far.
Experience:
I ordered the robusto sampler pack and a couple of single sticks of brands that I’ve never tried before. The order arrived in less than two weeks and looks great. They did have to make three substitutions out of the twelve cigars that were supposed to be included with the sampler pack. They had told me about one of them before my order was shipped. I noticed the two additional subs when I opened the package. They picked excellent replacements for the other two sticks that I presume were out of stock. A very smooth and easy transaction. I’m pleased.
Experience:
i have had good luck with these guys in the past. recently I had an order not show up. they replaced the order pronto. very nice
Experience:
My experience with Cigar Czar was good. I ordered two boxes of cigars and was informed via email that each would be shipped separately due to safety. First box arrived 8 days after I received their shipping notification. After 4 days, I received another email indicating the second box had just been shipped. While the first box arrived, the second box never arrived.
After 3 weeks, I emailed their sales support to notify them I still hadn’t received the second box. The customer support was top-notch as they were very responsive to my emails. After 6 weeks and still no delivery, I requested a refund for the missing box. The refund was issued and processed after about a week.
I will probably try them again and place another order sometime in the near future.
Experience:
Living in Brisbane I have personally visited and purchased cigars from the walk-in humidor at Cigar Czars. I have also while living abroad (Europe) ordered from them online. I feel this gives me an independent and rounded view of this retailer.
Ordered: PETIT CORONA “SPLITS” sampler plus several assorted sticks
Received: Similar to experiences of Sactochris and Drben, I received a substitution (H.Upmann for Bolivar Petit Corona) in my order. Listed on the website is the following; NOTE: if we are out of stock of an item we will replace it with something just as good. Also noted is; BOX code for each of the cigars is supplied. These codes were not supplied. Having both physically visited this retailer and smoked their cigars I have complete faith as to the authenticity of any purchase.
Communication/Correspondence: As also referenced in some comments communication with this retailer is patchy. It also reinforces my opinion that without a personal connection communication can be difficult for those outside this circle.
Shipping: All cigars were shipped loose in a Vegas Robaina box (although no VR ordered) wrapped in two layers of paper (no humidi-gel or vacuum seal) All cigars arrived in good order. I make note of these conditions as across Australian cigar fora the debate supporting ordering locally (despite higher tax/costs) uses the loss of quality due to poor shipping conditions (including use of vacuum seal, no humidi-gel) as a central argument.
Despite the perhaps minor points I have raised they are genuine concerns. Improvements can be made in customer service/communication however I will order from this retailer in the future.
Experience:
Shipped quickly and cigars were in perfect condition . I ordered the robusto sampler.
Experience:
My second order from CZ didn’t show up. They had me wait a few weeks to make sure that it didn’t turn up then they resent my order. This time, it arrived in about two weeks and looked fabulous. I ordered the Robusto sampler again, as well as a couple of RE’s. They were out of the SLR Regio that comes with the Robusto sampler, so they substituted a Por larranaga RE Robusto just like they did last time. Great customer service from this place. I’ve already placed my third order.
Experience:
I’ve done business with Cigar Czar twice so far. Their forums are pretty friendly and the staff is very helpful.
Though I wish their selection were a bit bigger, the prices are competitive, the cigars are shipped quickly (given that they’re all the way in the Oceania region), and they have a great reputation.
If you’re looking for a place to get your Cubans, definitely look the Czar up.
Experience:
My third order arrived in only 10 days. I had originally ordered 18 single sticks of things that I hadn’t tried yet. That’s one of the best things about CZ is that you can get singles. 6 out of the 18 that I had ordered were out of stock. When I opened the package I noticed that they had made substitutions for another 2 of the sticks I had ordered. They always choose great stuff when they have to make a substitution. I wanted that Ramon Allones Gigantes I ordered but I sure wasn’t upset to see that a Hoyo Double Corona had taken it’s place. First rate customer service is what you get when you order from Cigar Czar.
Experience:
I have ordered from CZAR in the past and also recently. Positives – Great selection, very responsive, decent/good prices. Negatives – It does appear with my limited amount of orders, that shipping success rate compared to other sites is less. I also don’t like the policy they established a couple years ago with the HQ/PE and paying a premimum for this. Since they open all there boxes, if you order “standard” level cigars, essentially you’re getting their lower quality cigars by default. All said, I do like them and wouldn’t hesitate to used them again.
Experience:
I’ve used CZAR a few times, everything is OK, A++. Fast communication, fast shipping.
Experience:
A++ service, REAL CUBAN CiGARS, i added photos for you, http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2929/27936965.jpg http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/1070/20822596.jpg http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/2148/15688108.jpg http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8585/36691256.jpg
Experience:
I ordered a box of Cohiba 1966 through Friends of Habanos, the storefront is Cigar Czar, which never arrived after 3 shipping attempts. I can’t say positively they were ever shipped and they don’t supply shipping or tracking info. Finally a refund was issued but it fell $30 short of what I actually paid. At the same time I ordered that box, I also purchased a box of PL ’07 Robustos and Partagas 898 through “Live from the Humidor” also part of FoH.
Fast forward 8 months and I finally asked them to ship those boxes one at a time. I had heard via a couple of forum sites that they were having shipping/seizure problems so I waited. Well they shipped the two boxes two days apart and that was over three weeks ago. Again, no shipping info provided.
Never have had these problems with any other retailer and it’s just such a hassle trying to get product from them that the stress just isnt worth it for me. I’ll consider it a minor miracle if these ever arrive. I’ll update my post on future progression of this deal.
Experience:
I always look to their reviews when deciding to try something new. I ordered a box of 1966 EL’s and a box of behike 54′s. I made a special request to have both boxes sealed and a humidity pack attached. Emails exchanged and replied within hours. Fast forward, I got an email from Smith saying that the cigars have shipped. 4 days later it was at my door step, talk about fast shipping!! Cigars in perfect condition, smelled awesome. I’m letting them rest a while more before lighting them up. It’s my first time ordering from them and def not the last. U guys rock, keep up the good work.
Experience:
Just received my first order. Was at my door nine days after receiving shipping notification. Cigars were in perfect condition and very well packaged. Have already placed a second order. They are a pleasure to do buisness with.
Experience:
Ordered a box of Cohiba 1966 LE’s. Received 7 days after shipping notification. Great packaging and great cigars. Very happy! Will definitely being ordering from them again.
Experience:
Placed an order with them and was told after they shipped that they split it into two shipments. When asked why, they stated it was to get past customs easier. Two months later and still did not receive either shipment. What I did receive was a letter from customs that they confiscated the order. Will never order from them again based on the other confiscation complaints I have read about them.
Experience:
I’m not familiar with the details of shipping policy but I’ve certainly felt similar effects to the above poster.Waited their stated 6 weeks for an order that never showed up.No tracking information as promised so I’ve no idea where they went or to whom.Was not offered a reship but to be honest wouldn’t have taken it up anyway.Refund was given reasonably promptly however.I’m done with this vendor now after two less than satisfactory transactions.As I stated in an earlier post,I still believe that they have a core “elite” group of customers,they also being the most frequent members of the forum family,whom they treat very well and produce good results for.I believe the rest of us receive the crap in product,communication and service.
Experience:
Shipping problems for CZAR is the norm. If they go through LAX you stand a good bet that they may not arrive.
Also, customer service stinks. There are many other vendors who stand by what they sell.
I have a couple of packages taken, I even told him (rob) that I would pay for a more secure method of shipping but he would not do it.
A couple of times what they said they had turned out that it was not in syock but they never told me after repeated requests as to were my smokes were.
Experience:
Not a great experience! Once order confirmed, took them 2 weeks to “process” before sending out. Approximately 1 month later got order, but order had 1 error. Emailed them 2 weeks ago, still have not gotten reply… poor communication!!! Many other better choices!!!
Experience:
It seems very apparent to me that this merchant is receiving more and more negative comments all based around similar issues.As far as I’m concerned Cigar Czar/FOH has become nothing more than a closed, elite group of buddies who look after themselves very well.But if you don’t happen to be in that group then don’t expect to receive a good service from them.Just have a read through their forums to see what I’m saying,it soon becomes clear I assure you.
Experience:
Horrible communications and service. I had to send multiple emails over a two month period just to get updates on an order I never received and that was the first order I placed with Czar.
Experience:
Finally ending my 1 year saga with Rob et al. Read above comments for full story. So, two weeks ago, I decided to email Diana since the outstanding PL 07 Robo box sent 28 November was never received. Normally Diana is good about getting back but never heard from her after two emails in a week. I decided to log in to FoH where I private messaged Rob. He answered same day and refunded my money next day via lapyap, which I appreciated.
Bottom line: if you having success receiving shipments from the Czar, more power to you as their product is good. If you haven’t ordered before, there a plenty of other options unless you just like taking chances on product not showing up and you have plenty of other stock already. Not a pleasant experience for me asking for reshipment and finally refund, as I wonder if they think I’m just trying to rip them off!!
Experience:
I will have to go against the trend that has been building with cigar czar. Placed an order on the 4 th of February which cleared 3 days later. My order was shiped on the 12th of February. Had been talking to Rob and Diana in the meantime who kindly apologised for the small delay since they were short of staff. This kinda gave life to the problems described above but as told by Rob I had my cigars in excellent condition at my doorstep on the 19th (7 calendar days later). Cigars were in perfect condition, well packed and with all the box codes and serial numbers on them. Needless to say that all the numbers check out in the Habanos site and there is no question on their authenticity. To sum up cigar czar has my buisness the few extra days are well worth considering the quality of the received product. Thumbs up czar!
Experience:
I ordered a really nice looking box of Dip #2′s from their live from the humidor feature. They arrived promptly and looked and smoked wonderfully.
Experience:
Past two shipments of 2x boxes of cigars have been confiscated (with nasty letters coming months later). These guys are doing something wrong, as I never had confiscations before ordering from them…
