Why Do Some RELX Pods Have the Codes Scratched Off?

There has always been a question that many users have raised about whether the RELX pods they purchased have had their codes scratched off. Are they genuine products? Today, I will analyze this issue.

Firstly, the best and most direct way to verify the authenticity of RELX products is to scan the code, which is also the official recommended method for verification.

So, the question arises: why do some people end up buying products with scratched codes? In fact, the sale of electronic cigarettes online is prohibited, and all official RELX specialty stores are also not allowed to engage in cross-regional distribution (meaning they cannot ship products to other areas). If caught, they face fines. According to the current penalty mechanism of RELX, a fine of 10,000 yuan is imposed for cross-regional distribution of one box.

The barcodes on the boxes and the QR codes on the pods can identify the source of the products in the store. To avoid penalties from RELX, many specialty stores choose to scratch off the codes during cross-regional distribution. Once the codes are scratched off, the store cannot be identified, thus eliminating the risk of fines.

The most concerning question for users is: are the scratched pods or devices genuine?

In my personal opinion, it is very difficult to identify, especially for new RELX users. Of course, there are methods to verify, but the difficulty has increased significantly. For specific methods, I have written two articles on my blog:

1. Video introduction on how to identify the authenticity of RELX electronic cigarette devices and pods

2. How to distinguish the authenticity of RELX pods - RELX authenticity identification

Now let's talk about the main forms of counterfeit RELX pods:

1. Directly faking QR codes and barcodes, which are completely fake and will show as counterfeit when scanned. This method is relatively low-end, which is why some people scratch off the codes to confuse users' judgments.

2. Directly recycling genuine RELX pod QR codes and then mass copying them. This method is also quite common. It can bypass the WeChat scan that indicates authenticity, but it won't indicate if it has been scanned before. Therefore, for such pods, you can only use the RELX app to scan the QR code, as the RELX app will indicate whether the QR code has been scanned previously.

Finally, I want to remind everyone that counterfeit products carry significant risks, primarily due to the potential for formaldehyde exceeding safe levels. Formaldehyde is a major carcinogen and can lead to leukemia. For long-term electronic cigarette users, I ultimately recommend purchasing from specialty stores, as it provides insurance and health guarantees.