URL : http://www.topcubans.com
Sells : Cuban Cigars
Based in : Switzerland
Online Since : 2002
Rating : 29 (
: 39, 
: 10)
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Description (taken from the website) : Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Cuban cigar capital of the world, you will understand that our 'modus operandi' is Authenticity, Quality and Service.
Experience:
Generously sponsored one of our contests with an amazing lighter. …and Richard is just a very nice person :)
Experience:
These guys are the Go-To when you want knowledge with your purchase experience. Highly highly reccomended. Often ship in foam boxes with cigars seperated individually to ensure safety. Just wish they’d send a small gel humidification device with it, especially when coming all the way from Switzerland!
Experience:
Have placed several orders with Top Cubans. Excellent service, great selection, great quality. Prices are higher than some of the other retailers but if you watch for their monthly specials you can get better prices.
Experience:
I add my recommendation to the foregoing. Richard’s prices can be matched (or bettered) but not his service, nor the quality of his product, nor the care with which they are selected, packed and shipped.
TopCubans ships cigars vacuum-packed, which does something special when the packs are opened: the cigars seem to “inhale” air at normal atmospheric pressure, which seems to help them rehumidify quickly and evenly in the humidor.
Experience:
My cigars came in great condition perfect in every way, although i had to pay dutys on them (Canadian) the service was great as well.
Experience:
I have placed many orders over 5 years through richard with 100% flawless delivery and product. they are the best of the best. not the cheapest but you get what you pay for
Experience:
This company is run the way a company should be run 100% customer service. Richard and David are the best. I have made may purchases and all of them completely legitimate. The product,prices and customer service have never been matched by any other cigar company I have done business with. This website is a must for avid cigar lovers.
Experience:
Great site for authentic cuban cigars! Prices aren’t as great as some on the web, but they’re 100% authentic so it’s worth paying a bit extra for some piece of mind. Cigars shipped promptly, I only wish they shipped with humidipacks.
Experience:
(comments have been consolidated)
Comment #1 (May 17 2010) receivd the personel box 10 of my choice great shipping ,the cigars
needed 3 weeks minimum for fresh up
10 days for Canada
Comment #2 (Sep 8 2010) Like them , the only problem I order 3 times And last order did have to pay the canadien taxes over 200 percent it’s
like Russian roulette if you order better go to Cuba a week smoke like Crazy and buy a max of cigars
Andrew
Experience:
I have been ordering from Richard and David (and Rick from a while back) for years now and am ALWAYS impressed by their customer service, attention to loyalty, and their response if ever anything goes wrong. These guys are just the best. They never mess up orders and I have never had to wait weeks on end for orders to arive. If they are out of stock on something, they don’t take your order (like some others), or if they run out somehow after you have ordered, they will make it right.
Experience:
Fast response and well communication with the customer. One week delivered to Thailand… Sometime the price is not the main factor to buy. Well communication and response are a must on this.
Experience:
excellent site and great service. very helpful customer service and cigars are always packed safley. would recommend to any of my friends. it helps when the people that sell the cigars are cigar smokers and can give you decent advice.
Experience:
I’ve been ordering from TC since 2007 and have never had anything other than an excellent experience. David and Richard provide the best customer service of any Cuban cigar online retailer, hands down. You might pay a bit more, but they are really the pinnacle. Stick to the specials and you’ll do well.
Experience:
I used to use this firm and was very pleased. Switched over to a competitor only because their prices are much better. Last 2 orders however were a nightmare. Will go back to Topcubans and pay the extra money.
Experience:
I ordered from topcubans on december 8th i live on long island in NY. My order shipped out unbanded and reboxed that same day. Great right? Well so i thought. Package left geneva on the 8th the bands arrived on the 14th. Well it is now january 7 and no package. David said he will ship a replacement package which is great. But if it does not arrive this time im SOL! So be carefull if u live in the US because if youre unlucky like me youll be out of alot of money for nothing. Other than that davids a very nice reasonable fella so give them a shot as long as you dont mind playing russian roulette w customs.
Update: I just wanted to post a follow up to my above post. My second package arrived yesterday via fedex 3 day. The packaging was great cigars taste excellent amd there was no damage at all when the bands were removed on all 20 cigars. David thankyou if you read this. Amd to all who may order from him, have them ship fedex it will cost more but US CUSTOMS is more lax via fedex than via usps.
Experience:
I have ordered three times from Top Cubans. Each time they exceeded my expectations. Fast shipping. Excellent packaging. Great experience.
Experience:
(comments have been consolidated)
Comment #1 (Nov 6 2010) I have ordered twice from this company and I find their prices extremely competitive, especially if you watch their monthly and weekly sale items.
First and foremost this site has the best customer service of any cigar vendor I have encountered online. They answer emails almost immediately and were very helpful with fixing my first order when I made a mistake and tried to order something no longer available. I followed an old link from here for a limited edition pack that still exsisted on their server but has long since sold out. My fault for not checking dates. David contacted me and allowed me to choose other merchandise of the same value and threw in a free Cohiba.
All arrived vacuum sealed and well packaged. As other have said no humidipaks included but I am not sure why some people here say that is a must with vacuum sealing. If there is no air in there your humidipak is useless or of minimal value.
I have placed a second larger order with them this week. It shipped the next day with a confirmation from David. Waiting for it to arrive. I live in the US and the first package arrived via USPS and Suissmail with no customs issues. It took about 5-7 days to arrive.
All cigars were in perfect condition. Placed them all in the humidor for a few weeks to make sure they were fully recovered from shipping. Had a friend that owns a local cigar store look at them and as others have said they are completely legit and great quality Cubans.
The seals were broken on the boxes but I assume that they must open them to verify they are ok before shipping. Serial nmbers are authentic.
Love this company, looking forward to many more years of getting my Cubans from them.
Comment #2 (Nov 8 2010) Second order arrived today in perfect condition. Well packaged and in great shape. Got a box of Trinidad T’s and although they remove the barcode, I assume for my protection and theirs since I am in the US, the box was pristine with all the appropriate seals and markings. Couldn’t be happier with these guys.
Comment #3 (Dec 22 2010) Yet another order from them in perfect condition. David is very nice and helpful. I was a little worried on my last order after seeing a bunch of Cubans siezed by customs in Chicage but all my orders from these guys have arrived safely via the regular mail no problems at all.
Comment #4 (Jan 18 2011) I recieved another order last week no problem. A single box of 25 Montecristo #4′s. As usual, they were sent via regular mail and arrived in exactly one week. Original Cuban box with bands on. All of their boxes do come opened but they have the appropriate Cuban tax stamps with holograms. Bar codes are removed though when shipping to the US. Here is verification of my order history from last year:
http://www.phyrefile.com/image/view/ygydZhARU1v5rZSN
Everything seems as authentic as can be. I referred a friend and noted it to them on my last order and received two free Cohiba Siglo VI’s as promised through the refer a friend program. Here are some links to pics of product received from them:
http://www.phyrefile.com/image/view/1TwDCbJ7lke9MM6k
http://www.phyrefile.com/image/view/GM6JEzEdyUVEGJvx
Thats just a sample of what I have gotten from them and took the time to take some pics of. Everyone seems to cry “fake” when it comes to Cubans but I have yet to get anything from them that has not looked and tasted as it should. Some things to note:
1. If you live in the Northern US shipping has been slow lately. My friend in Detroit had to wait almost a month for his order to arrive as it sat in customs forever. He thought it was lost for good and then it just showed up out of the blue a couple of days later. Everything was fine since it’s all vacuum sealed. I live in the South and this does not seem to be an issue. I assume it’s because customs is backed up in areas where they have had terror threats, plus they seem to be cracking down on Cubans coming through places like Chicago and New York.
2. These guys are recognized by Habanos as an authorized retailer, why woul they send you fakes?
3. They OPEN and inspect every box. So if you can’t handle that then I would not order from them.
David is one of the easiest guys to work with when ordering cigars and this site has been nothing but top notch for me. It sucks others have had issues, but if you live in the US you have to be prepared for customs delays or maybe even loss of a shipment. Hope this info helps.
Experience:
very prompt service, i verified my order, and it,s the real thing. These guys are trustworthy, honest, fair, and fast. Defintely will order again
Update (Feb 16 2011) Ordered once again, this time some very expensive cigars, as usual came fast and in perfect condition!!!!
thanks david
Anthony
Experience:
Not the cheapest site for cigars, but if you are patient you will always be able to nab a few freebies. Received 3 free cigars with my order of 10. One Partagas Lusitanias, one Edmundo and one Belicos Finos! When you factor that in, even with the rather high shipping cost, it’s a bargain. Your cigars will always arrive in a timely fashion as well. So glad I switched back to these guys after mistakenly trying a competitor.
Very Satisfied once again.
Experience:
I work in the police department in Taiwan,
I can confirm that the quality of their fine cigars,I can receive their cigars even in Taiwan.
Experience:
I just received my first order from topcubans. The cigars arrived in perfect conditions (This may be your top concern). Shipping is fast. Plus they respond my request very soon and with full respect. Thanks, David and Richard!
Experience:
Very personal service, authentic, quality cigars for a decent price.
Experience:
BUYER BEWARE!
I placed an order in May…received confirmation that payment had been received on May 24, items shipped on May 25. I received a tracking number through email…I emailed “David” to ask what service had been used and he replied back USPS. Here is where it becomes suspect;
1. The tracking number says that the item shipped was a letter (kind of hard to ship 15 cigars in a letter)
2. After 12 days of nothing and no action on the tracking I began to again email “David”. 5 emails later I am yet to get a response back. (pretty suspect for a company that gets such high reviews on customer service)
3. If you check out every review board you will notice that all of their reviews come in bunches…either grouped together on the same day or within a couple of days of each other (tells me that the same people are posting these reviews)
4. The phone number that is listed on their website is out of service…I tried numerous times to contact it.
Needless to say I think I have been had…I hope that I am wrong and that everything works out but all signs are pointing to no.
BUYER BEWARE!
Update #1 (Jun 9 2011) I would like to update my post from yesterday. After sending a couple more emails I did receive a response this morning. I am still yet to receive my package but at least have some communication. TopCubans did make the offer to resend my order if after a month I have not received it.
I must say that I contacted Intertabak AG (habanos importer) and they replied to me saying, “I can confirm you that within our borders we maintain a business relationship with topcubans.com”. So this response puts me a bit at ease. It looks more like this may be a case of disappointing customer service. I will continue to post updates to my experience. I hope that there is a positive end and I can give TopCubans praise.
Update #2 (Jun 29 2011) Well I would like to continue my updates…I am still yet to receive my cigars from topcubans.com. It has now been over a month since they received my payment. There has been no communication from them since my last post…I have sent two inquiry emails last week and just sent one today…once again they are not responding to me.
Summery: Not only have I not received my cigars but the customer service has been flat horrible with them practically ignoring all of my attempts at contacting them about the issue.
Update #3 (Aug 10 2011) First I would like to submit one final comment to my post above…I finally received all the cigars and they all seemed suspect from the get go.
I think that Top Cubans sells fake cigars and I have the proof. I purchased two Cohiba Behike 52′s…I was first concerned with the construction of the actual cigars and then I checked out Cigar Aficionado’s insider on counterfeit Behikes, Behike bands, and Behike Boxes…in their video they compare a real Behike band with two fakes…one fake is very obvious but the other is very good…After just looking at the pictures I was convinced that mine were real…BUT…after watching the video and getting better closeups I noticed that mine matched the second counterfeit. The dead give away is in the white box squares…particularly those around the woman’s head…and even more every white square that is cut or angled to shape around the head…it is most noticed at the bottom of the head near the neck. So BUYER BEWARE… I paid over $40 each for these and over $300 by the end of my order…don’t be had like I was.
Pictures: pic #1, pic #2
Experience:
I have found Topcubans several years ago and I buy online often. Their prices are lower than in Italy and the service is generally very good. I have been disappointed with only a few sticks (10 Saint Luis Rey Regios too tight to draw and, last, one 2007 box of Romeo y Julieta Exhibición No. 4 – too old and dry and with an horrible taste).
My impression is that they aren’t keen to any bad comment about their cigars quality and, even if I’m always polite, their replies doesn’t leave space to any negotiation. To be honest, only the last case has been cleared with a promise to send me some R&J with my next order (but I still have a dozen of sticks that are not even good for light the fireplace…).
No doubts about their cigars are legit: you can stumble in a bad box (but this is the risk for online shopping!) but, absolutely, no fakes there! Long ashes…
Experience:
I’ve been ordering from David now for about 2 years and every order has gone through flawlessly. Sure the prices are higher than other sites but these a AUTHENTIC Cubans. David knows his stuff and is even willing to give you a deal if you send an email to him asking for advice and a possible discount. Just ordered a box of 25 Romeo y Juliet Churchills and got $40 dollars off the price and in addition received 3 free cigars and 2 free cohibas for paying with a bank transfer, plus it arrived vacuum sealed in about a week, no problems with these guys, always generous to send a deal your way and they know their stuff. Better than the rest of the online dealers who get shady when it comes to real authenticity.. You know they’re authentic when they sell a specialty product for $40,000.00 USD with Fidel Castro’s Signature and authenticity slip from Habanos and Cohiba with Gold on the Humidor. Make the right decision, topcubans.com
Experience:
I think you still need to be very careful. I bought for years from these guys, but have some serious reservations regarding my last experience as to the authenticity of the product. Suffice to say it they were two different cigars I’ve both smoked for years and years, so I know what they should look like and taste like, and these clearly didn’t. Not to mention the bands looked so fake they were pathetic. I heard the “we’re and authorized dealer” spiel, but don’t for a minute think that anyone wouldn’t be tempted to make a quick buck (or several hundred) given the opportunity.
Experience:
I used to be a regular customer of Top Cubans. Their customer service used to be quite reliable and deliveries were often fast to the US. However the quality of the cigars became very suspect. I even had to send a couple boxes back. After a while (many months) I got tired of dealing with inferior quality cigars, it just took up too much of my time writing letters and exchanging the cigars. In the meantime I started using another dealer. The quality of my cigars got much better while my friend who kept buying from Top Cubans continuted to have the same problems. Eventually he alsos got tired of all the BS so he started buying from another supplier. A few months ago another friend who stopped smoking gave my buddy a bag full (at least 40 cigars) of cigars he bought from Top Cubans. All kinds of limited edition cigars, regional cigars, and a nice selection of Bolivar, Romeo and Julietta, etc. The selection blew us away. So one night we’re watching football and start smoking a couple cigars. They were flavorless.
Experience:
Cigar arrived today,smell great smoke even better.Very pleased with price quality and shippping time.
Experience:
Very good experience, although I’ve only 3-4 orders with them. Will keep on doing business with them.
I’d like to see more proof of these fake claims. I’ve yet to see side by side pictures of bad cigars, bands, labels etc. Perhaps Habanos should be contacted to legitimise any claims of mismatches – with all the regional releases and variations over the years and such, it’s possible that differences perceived as counterfeit signs are not that all.
Also, think about it – isn’t it better to smoke the original cigars, and *reuse* the bands on lower quality or at least cheaper replacements? Why would you bother to produce bands, and get them wrong, for cigars that are not rare at all?
It’s understandable to recreate bands for when they’re scarce, e.g. for old, out of production cigars. But new, series cigars? Seriously, just bribe someone on the process chain that creates the authentic labels… suddenly someone lost a bag of labels, and you’ve “found” it.
Experience:
A little pricey compared to some others but excellent quality and selection.
Experience:
I ordered from Top Cubans and had my Cohiba Siglo II’s in 7 days here in California. There was some confusion with the billing, but that did not delay the delivery. David called me from Switzerland to explain in great detail the reason for the confusion. I will order from them again.
Update (Oct 18 2011) I just received my second order from David am I’m very happy. 6 boxes all together in original packaging. 7 days total to ship to West Coast USA and all seem to pass the counterfeit test.
Experience:
Have gotten some montecristo #2 and cohiba from top cubans. Both arrived timely and were perfect to smoke. Boxes are slightly older than some of the lower cost providers. Although you pay more and have to deal with bands being shipped separately, I am finding that it is worth it to have absolute knowledge about what you are getting.
Experience:
Good cust service, authentic cigars!
Experience:
This was the 1st time I ordered from Top Cuban. I will defiantly order with David again. Great customer service, great product and received the stix in 7 days from ordering with a tracking # not like other sites that send you garbage.
John DI
Experience:
service excellent,good quality …defintely continue with R&D
Experience:
I never recievded my shipment, I have contacted the shipper numerous times but with no results, buyer beware. With all these positive reviews I felt confident when ordering but would recomend people order from a different site.
Experience:
So I took a gamble and ordered a couple of singles from these guys, some that I already had in my humidor and some I didn’t. The RyJ Duke looked the same as mine all be it a little darker, and the El Ray Del Mundo Choix supreme looked bang on.
Don’t really know if I will order from them again though, $20 shipping is a little to high and I got hit with duty and PST. PST!! I live in Alberta so I don’t know how that works
Experience:
Received my order today of several different brands. They ALL are the same COLOR! The R&J’s have varying sizes. I’ve seen better construction. Buyer beware!
Experience:
I have bought from Topcubans for three years now. As of late i have noticed the latest cigars which they shipped me have a discolored light brown label on the Monticristos No. 2. The labels dont have the embossed raised label as the authentic ones. i had honestly thought they were a straight up shop. in addition, i received a box of Hoyo’s dated may of 2008 with a hollowgram on it when the hollowgram started in 2009. I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM TOPCUBAN AGAIN. i have spent many of thousands from them. BE Careful, when you think you can trust a vendor… they get you in the end.
Experience:
I have bought from Topcubans for three years now. As of late i have noticed the latest cigars which they shipped me have a discolored light brown label on the Monticristos No. 2. The labels dont have the embossed raised label as the authentic ones. In addition, i received a box of Hoyo’s dated May of 2008 when the hollowgram started in 2009. I WOULD NEVER BUY FROM TOPCUBAN AGAIN. i have spent many of thousands from them. BE Careful, when you think you can trust a vendor… they get you in the end.
Experience:
partagas super partagas 25 box. the lid has `made in havana, cuba`. not habana but havana. yes, cuban write never havana. my money in vain…
Experience:
Max, I live in the Netherlands and I’ve recently ordered (on Father’s day promotions) a box of 25 Partagás Serie D No. 4 and a box of 25 Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial.
This cost me about 350 EUR, which is a great deal in my opinion, compared to prices in shops here.
My bank (ABN AMRO) charged me 15 EUR for the transfer, which I found odd, since the bank is in Latvia which is in the EU, and for example transferring money to Germany or France never cost anything (the company’s in Hong-Kong not the other way around).
However, David gave me an extra cigar that would cost about 22 EUR, so I’m very pleased with the order, even though the banks are charging way too much money for the transfer service, in my opinion.
Ciao e buon fumo!
Update (Apr 18 2013) Ordered again, prompted by their recent 10% off most cigars – a box of the lovely Hoyo de Monterrey double coronas, and another of Montecristo 4. David added a 3-pack of Epicures as compensation for the bank transfer charges, and I’m very happy with the cigars and the service. Friday to Tuesday transport CH to NL.
Excellent as usual.
Experience:
I have been a customer of topcubans for many years–in fact topcubans has been, until recently,my main source of havanas. I spend approx 7,OOO usd per year on cuban cigars and topcubams has been my sole resource–until recently, because david, the new man in charge is not adept at relationships, top line analysis, the value of long standing customers, and in my subjective opinion, not the man Richard iS. I have taKen my business elsewhere–and there are many options. Just make sure that habanos sa supplies the vendor with havanas.
Experience:
I’ve use topcubans.com, Cohiba Maduro 25′s. REAL CUBAN Cigars. Added photos for you. http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/9671/22881928.jpg http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/9131/50267129.jpg http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/7225/93578066.jpg http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/1121/16356636.jpg http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2702/70119652.jpg http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8965/56298013.jpg
Experience:
I was sold VERY POOR quality cigrs from this mob, they have a returns policy yes but when i returned them they continued to insist that they didnt recieve them.This went on for a couple of months, i checked with the post and they confirmed that the cigars were returned. After i got tired of the excuses i decided to lodge a dispute payment with my credit card company based on the authenticity of the prodiuct. Once the bank got involved Top Cubans miraculously found the cigars!!! the bank found in my favour and ordered Top Cubans to refund my money..
below i have copied some of the response from David at Top Cubans..
Strange mail. As you know all our cigars come from InterTabak Ag, official Habanos Importer in Switzerland. As these cigars are intended for sale on the Swiss terretory only, we are required to remove the Distributos trace code in order to protect our Improter. This bar code is not for public use. This is an internal Habanos tracer to see where their cigars go throughout the world. As each Importer is only suppose to supply his region, we must remove this trace from all boxes exported.
If you are not happy with your cigars, simply return them. This guarantee is marked on our web site. I am shocked by our intention to steal from us by blocking your card for an order you have clearly received. I am not sue if that how business is done in …….., but in the rest of the world it is called credit card fraud. The Credit card companies are fully aware of our guarantee policies, as we are obliged to provide this to them when we sign contracts with them.
I am hoping your mail was a rash cry for help and you will see sense again. If you are not happy with your order, please say so and I will provide you with the return instructions. Once we get the cigars, they will be returned to Intertabak, where the sommelier will give us feedback.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Enjoy !
Yours sincerely,
David
Experience:
These guys are fantastic!!! Order processed same day, 5-8 day delivery to states(colorado)!
High quality, great communication. Would highly recommend… have had 4 orders from them so far!!
Experience:
This was my second order placed and this time my cigars were stopped or lost on the way to my residence. I contacted David at topcigars and he promptly sent a new shipment with 2 day shipping for no additional charges. It really means alot in this day and age. I recommend this company and I will positively order more cigars from them in the future.
Experience:
Stage 1 (Feb 5 2013) – placed an order for club and mini cigars. Delivery to Brazil. Sent a couple of e/m to confirm all OK and asked for some form of tracking number. Was given later, but found this was for German destination. Have sent e/m requesting clarification. Not impressed so far, but will report progress.
Update (Feb 9 2013) Tracking number has worked and David to vcall to explain a couple of points. So I have upgraded experience to neutral and we will see how we go. order in transit.
Update (Feb 23 2013) Package arrived in Brasil on Feb 15th. Still not here with no updates. Waiting!!!!!
Update (Mar 3 2013) Packagae arrived well packed, no markings. Not tried product – but for Brasil customers, be aware it takes 3-weeks on arrival for delivery. But will order again in due course.
Update (Apr 18 2013) Excellent packing. No problems with customs. Free gift of Montecristos for loyalty. Only issue is in Brasil takes 3-4 weeks to get you after arriving in Sao Paulo. But will order again.
Experience:
Ordered 3-pack of Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 and they arrived quickly but all three had hair-like white mold patches on them. When I contacted David, he told me it was plume. I offered to ship them back to him for replacements if he believed it was plume and he never responded. Very disappointing. I won’t be buying more stogies from these guys.
