Yikes, guessing they didn't have any pics of the underside of the box in the auction then. Surprised they offered a replacement without even asking, that's a great seller. I was close to getting a 93 Series 1 Topps box to rip recently too.
I have 5 boxes stored away, 2x 93/94 Fleer Ultra Series 1, 3x Series 2. All notorious for it, but similar if I opened and they're bricked, that's the risk you take. Boxes all look normal but who knows what life they led in the almost 30 years before I got hold of them