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[quote author=JohnE1000 link=topic=42889.msg174165#msg174165 date=1505774169]
2013 was an exceptional vintage year for Cohiba and BTO boxes demands very high premium.

Barcodes are usually scratched off by regional distributors to cover their track. They are not suppose to sell outside of their geographical territory. It appears that Habano SA is turning a blind eye to the practice, so the distributors became more laxed about removing the barcodes. Few years ago, almost all of grey-market came without barcodes. Recently, many of them come with one.

My 2 cents,

[/quote]
The BTO 13 comment was just referencing that he regrets purchase because "cigars don't taste right" via his PM

Not sure what 9 month old CCs do "taste right"

[quote author=sig 111 link=topic=42889.msg174167#msg174167 date=1505774997]
I sure wish I could post pics!
[/quote]

Maybe you should ask your grandkids to help you post them?

And anyone that has bought from the common gray market vendors should know scratched off barcodes are commonplace.  You're probably the first person I've heard of that has been buying cigars for at least a few years that only has intact barcodes. Unless of course this was your first box.

Need a bar code to authenticate.
What color market?

[quote author=sig 111 link=topic=42889.msg174171#msg174171 date=1505776407]
Need a bar code to authenticate.
What color market?
[/quote]

Yes, barcodes are the only way to authenticate.  They are 100% accurate gospel  :bigup:

please tell me you are joking with the bar barcode =fake comment. You come on here insisting a guy is selling fakes because you are uneducated. What a joke. How many 2016 siglo vi have you smoked to base your statement on that "they don't taste right"

I know of only 2 vendors that don't scratch off bar codes. Other than that, you have a 50/50 chance of getting these. I have yet to smoke a 2016 Siglo that tastes right. BTO 12/13 are smoking the house down. 14's are starting to come around. 16's are a ways away. Btw, Ryan's a good dude in my book

[quote author=H Upmann link=topic=42889.msg174174#msg174174 date=1505779537]
I know of only 2 vendors that don't scratch off bar codes. Other than that, you have a 50/50 chance of getting these. I have yet to smoke a 2016 Siglo that tastes right. BTO 12/13 are smoking the house down. 14's are starting to come around. 16's are a ways away. Btw, Ryan's a good dude in my book
[/quote]

Thanks Dave  :clap:

[quote author=H Upmann link=topic=42889.msg174174#msg174174 date=1505779537]
I know of only 2 vendors that don't scratch off bar codes. Other than that, you have a 50/50 chance of getting these. I have yet to smoke a 2016 Siglo that tastes right. BTO 12/13 are smoking the house down. 14's are starting to come around. 16's are a ways away. Btw, Ryan's a good dude in my book
[/quote]

^ THIS.

Sig, minimally leave the box in a climate controlled humidor for a week or two and try them.  Smoking a stick ROTT and complaining is bush league.  No different than drinking a beer off the shelf of a supermarket and bitching about taste.

Many legit vendors scratch off bar codes as to not have their OG sources traced back to them. Not uncommon to have the micro serials scratched off as well with the newer seals.

Pretty shitty to go full out battle mode vs asking around and looking into it first. Typically how you end up with egg on your face.

Throwing a fit over scratched codes? He's either being a troll or the biggest rookie here.