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Felipe Gregorio/aka Philip Wynne, I believe, makes some excellent cigars; often terribly over priced, but some fine cigars. When the Felipe Reserva II N were selling locally for $124.00 a box, I shied away from buying a box, though I'd buy an occasional single or two. When they came up on Cigarbid, I was quite curious how the bidding would go, and when it stayed very low, I gleefully bought several boxes. I hadn't had the Felipe Dominicana Corona, so when they came up for auction I grabbed a couple of boxes of those also. Now the caution: One box of the Felipe Dominicana Corona was absolutely infested with beetles. There were beetle holes in every cigar. I have never seen this degree of infestation in a box. I could not see any holes in the cigars in the other box, but immediately put it in my freezer. The box with the infestation was still wrapped in cello, so I'm hoping the infestation didn't spread within the cooler where the box was stored. Whether I buy a box of cigars here or elsewhere, I always put it down to rest and set-up for a couple of weeks before I open it, and get it ready for long term aging and storage. For the near future, I will examine every cigar upon its arrival. It can "set-up" after I examine them. As do many of you, I have a considerable investment in my cigar collection. I do not want to see them wiped out by a beetle infestation.

Steve*R: call cbid nd arrange to have ups pick them up and cbid will replace them. they are really nice, except for some lady named ruth with a terrible new york accent, who will give you a hard time.

You need my solution for beetles: a 44 magnum.

Yeah, but if they have too many holes in the cigar it is a little tough to draw! Charlie

It seems that you either like Felipe Gregorio cigars or you don't. I generally like the ones that bear his name, but cigars like the Warhol disappoint me. I did not see beetles, only the holes, and what appeared to be eggs. Had I dissected the cigars, I am certain I would have found live or dead beetles. I did notify Cigarbid and they offered to replace the box, if I returned the beetle infested cigars. I elected to put them immediately in my garbage. It was only $16.00 and I felt better knowing that they weren't going back to the mailroom or warehouse at Cigarbid/Cigars International where the beetles could get into other cigars. I've made enough good buys on Felipe cigars here that this throwaway has to be considered the cost of doing business. It is the first time, however, that I've ever had a vendor ask for beetle infested cigars returned to their premises. Beetles have only happened to me once before, and the vendor requested photos. In fact I remember a service representative saying quite emphatically, "Do not return the infested cigars!" Every company has its policies. If you want to do business with them, you follow them.