You are 100% right. I don't think that it full falls back on DE. However there is no evidence of damage to the box like if it had been dropped. however I had registered and account with DE and when I was looking around i found out that they will replace any cigar that has any defect.
So I figured instead of sending the box of damaged unsmokable sticks back to the BOTL, why not give this a try. and that is also why i was/am willing to take a substitution.
There are big splits mostly at the head, but there is also on with a huge split down the side. Like I said the pictures just do not show the severity of the damage.
The 3rd picture shows the damage the best.
“My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.”
― Winston S. Churchill