Box open but warranty seal intact

[RDBM]

Just received two boxes from a well known and reputable supplier which were box of 10 and a box of 25, both came with Habanos seals broken and box tape cut open but warranty seals intact. Just wondered if this is common ?

[wayne_w]

The following website will help you to verify the contents

http://www.habanos.com/Sellos/Info/VerificaSelloCajon

Wayne

[RDBM]

Thanks Wayne, already checked them out and they come up exactly as they should. Was just wondering why they would clearly have been opened and then warranty seal applied. I haven't opened them myself as yet as am still waiting for reply from vendor.
To be honest my main concern is are they what it says on the box or is it a copied warranty seal with correct bar coding. I'm fairly sure they're legit given the vendor's rep, just a little unsure as to why warranty seal should be applied after they've been opened. I could understand it if there was evidence of two seals, one on top of the other but there doesn't seem to be.
I await the wisdom of the combined knowledge of the forum

[cj121]

Perhaps the contents have been checked and the seals applied afterwards? If you wish to further check authenticity, get a magnifying glass and you should find (depending on the year) some very, very small numbers embedded in the printed design on the seal. They are in a number of places. I would imagine that to fake the barcode is easy, but to have the number match as well would prove more difficult. I'm no expert though. The micro serial number was introduced in 2011.

[sheppsea]

Box open but warranty seal intact

To be honest if they are from a well known and reputable vendor I wouldn't be too concerned (and would place more importance on that than the barcode checker on HSA's website, which is known to include errors; getting a correct barcode would also be the first thing I would do if I were to make a fake box of cigars as well)

Which vendor is it? (assuming you can say!)

[Simon G]

That is strange. You could drop them a message with your query, see what their response is?

[Krist]

The seals could of been carefully peeled back and then replaced, I've never seen it myself though

[Sligub]

The following website will help you to verify the contents

http://www.habanos.com/Sellos/Info/VerificaSelloCajon

Wayne

Apart from fakes are already using "correct" barcodes. If its a reliable vendor your fine Cuba does some wierd stuff from time to time

[Simon G]

The seals could of been carefully peeled back and then replaced, I've never seen it myself though

This is exactly what I thought. But the seals seem to perfectly intact... v v strange...

[RDBM]

The seals are absolutely untouched, definitely applied after the boxes have been opened. @ SimonG, The first reply I had from the vendor suggested the Habanos seal could have been broken during transit, "as the carriers don't take care during transit", no acknowledging the tape round both boxes being clearly cut open. I put this down to not looking at the pics carefully enough, so emailed back asking about this and was told that's how they received them and they just sent them on to me as is. No explanation of how they thought it could be like this.
I will now take CJ's advice and check out the warranty seals for those numbers hidden in the design. If I can't find any then it's back to the vendor and see where we go from there.

Thanks for the input guys, will keep you informed as to how it plays out.

John.

[Wigan]

This is perfectly normal from many suppliers. They check the contents first. All is ok, I had the same worry but trust me its fine.

[cj121]

Open the buggers up. I think you'll be fine

[MrMaduro]

I'm tempted to say from looking at the pics that the box has taken a small shunt on the corner where the diagonal Habanos label is during transit, causing it to 'shear tear', which would not affect the warranty label in the same way hence why it's still intact. There definitely looks to be a dent on the corner and the side strip of the box looks to have shifted. I honestly don't think there is anything to worry about (so long as the sticks aren't damaged!!!) Get em open and get en smoked!

[RDBM]

Thanks to CJ's advice about the barcode numbers being incorporated in the design of the warranty seal, I've confirmed the seal is genuine as the numbers were indeed hidden away in there in super tiny size. Even with a magnifying glass I couldn't read them but fortunately my daughter who's eyes are a lot younger than mine could.
They are now resting in a humidor after their traumatic last couple of days Thanks to everyone for their input, much appreciated.

[cj121]

OMFG, they look a bit dodgy RD!!

Only joking Glad to hear that you're happy with them. Here's to setting fire to one of them soon