Since my question on this matter has been buried in another thread, allow me to repeat it here.

Someone questioned the accuracy of the authenticity check at the Habanos SA website, regarding the legitimacy of bar codes on CC boxes.

I have never seen such bar codes on any of the boxes I've gotten -- all from reliable sources.

So, what's the deal with the bar codes?

I have them on the last two boxes I got. The new seal with halogram and bar code is visible over the old seal this 50 cab of Rass http://img.photobucket.com/alb...echke/PICT0005-3.jpg

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kechke,

What's the box code for your box? The bar code is a fairly new item, probably only for late 2008 or later boxes. You might have just gotten some older boxes.

quote:

Originally posted by Boknows:
What's the box code for your box? The bar code is a fairly new item, probably only for late 2008 or later boxes. You might have just gotten some older boxes.

Good question, that might be it: my boxes are mostly '07 and '08

The RASS are May 08 and the PSP#2's are Jul 08.
The codes on both boxes check out as legit on the LCDH Authenticity web site.
Here is the link to the authenticity Page.

http://www.habanos.com/sellos?lang=en

quote:

Originally posted by kechke:
The RASS are May 08 and the PSP#2's are Jul 08.
The codes on both boxes check out as legit on the LCDH Authenticity web site.
Here is the link to the authenticity Page.

http://www.habanos.com/sellos?lang=en

Now I'm confused again, and I still don't have an answer to my original question

I KNOW the Habanos S.A. authenticity web site (as I mentioned in my original post) . My question was why I don't have bar codes on any of my CC boxes (all bought from reliable sources)?

Boknows suggested that the bar codes were added in in late 08. I thought that this was the explanation.

But now kechke says he has these bar codes on May 08 and Jul 08 boxes. Some of my boxes are from the same dates, and DON'T have bar codes.

So my question remains:

What's the deal with the bar codes being on some boxes and not on others?

I'm beginning to think that most people here are as clueless as I am

I would say that your purchases were from sources that had the cigars before the new seals were applied prior to shipping from Cuba. I don't know for sure as nothing conforms to protocol in Cuba.
There were probobly orders from that time that are already shipped when the new seal poilicy was introduced.
Remember a lot of strange things happen in Cuba so I would not sweat it if your boxes don't have the hologram/bar code seals unless you don't trust your sources. You say your sources are reliable but you still think there is an issue.
E-mail Altadis, perhaps they can give you the answer you want.

You said your source is reliable (which I'm not doubting), but is your source an official LCDH distributor?

I thought it was already mentioned that gray market sources remove the bar codes so the cigars cannot be traced back to the distributors from where they purchased them.

I was always under the impression that Habanos S.A. frowns upon the practice of official distributors picking up a little extra revenue by selling CC's to non-official distributors, so the codes are removed so they can't be traced back.

Anyone can feel free to straighten me out on that one if I'm in error.

I believe I read that these new bar codes would not even be on all 09 boxes, so it's not surprising that you don't have them on 08 and particularly 07 boxes (I'm not an expert and I'm not positive that this is the case).

I had a problem with a bar code not working on the authentication site but that same box now works. So it did have some problems but the last few boxes I received (08 boxes) from the same source that had the new bar codes have checked out fine on the authentication site. If you want to discuss through email just let me know.

quote:

Originally posted by JD Bailey:...

I had a problem with a bar code not working on the authentication site but that same box now works. So it did have some problems but the last few boxes I received (08 boxes) from the same source that had the new bar codes have checked out fine on the authentication site. If you want to discuss through email just let me know.

Thanks for the offer JD, but I really have nothing to discuss since, as I mentioned, I have never seen such a bar code on any of the boxes I've gotten. I'm expecting a couple more boxes, and I may get back to you on this if they have bar codes

CubanCigarWebsite discusses the use of the bar codes on '09 boxes. Check it Scapino... My '08 boxes dont have 'em either.

As for the seals being removed for 'grey market' distributors, wouldnt that require the removal of the entire warrunty seal? And if so, it would be pretty tough to trust that source because of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Samb:

As for the seals being removed for 'grey market' distributors, wouldnt that require the removal of the entire warrunty seal? And if so, it would be pretty tough to trust that source because of it.

No, what Eugene was talking about is that some boxes have the new bar code warranty seal over the old-style warranty seal. Some gray market vendors simply remove the new bar code seal and leave the old warranty seal.

quote:

Originally posted by Boknows:

quote:

Originally posted by Samb:

As for the seals being removed for 'grey market' distributors, wouldnt that require the removal of the entire warrunty seal? And if so, it would be pretty tough to trust that source because of it.

No, what Eugene was talking about is that some boxes have the new bar code warranty seal over the old-style warranty seal. Some gray market vendors simply remove the new bar code seal and leave the old warranty seal.

Oh, ok, I got ya, I really wasnt sure about that. Im no expert in the grey market. I only buy from LCDH .

From the dates on your boxes I would not be concerned that there are no bar codes.