Resealed and weighed packs

Resealed and weighed packs are Pokémon booster packs that have been opened, sorted or assessed and then closed again so they look unopened. The practice takes several forms, and at worst it is used to sell packs that are not what they claim to be. This entry explains what the terms mean, without giving a recipe.

What the terms mean

• Weighed pack: a pack where weight has been used as a hint about what it contains. Weight can vary slightly between packs, and some have claimed that it says something about the contents.
• Resealed pack: a pack or box that has been opened and closed again, often with new plastic or a new closure.
• Searched pack: a pack chosen based on its contents and then sold as unopened.

Whether weight actually tells you anything reliable about the contents is disputed. Publishers have not confirmed that it does, and modern packs often vary in weight for other reasons.

Why it is a problem

A person who obtains a sealed product expects the contents to be as they left the factory. If packs have been swapped or removed, that is no longer true. This applies both to single packs and to whole booster boxes. It is also one reason sealed products from unknown sellers call for extra care; see scams when trading.

Signs to look for

• Seams, folds or glue marks in the plastic that look different from comparable products.
• Packs whose edges are crimped unusually, or where the seal is uneven.
• Damage or crushed packaging that does not fit with the rest of the box.
• Sellers with no history or with prices far below comparable offers.

None of these signs is proof. Certainty comes only from dealing with known sellers and through channels with buyer protection. See sealed products and counterfeit cards for related problems.

A caveat

There are no reliable figures on how widespread the practice is. Also read about how pack contents are distributed under pull rates, since that explains why some try to influence the outcome.

In summary

Resealed and weighed packs are a known problem for sealed products. The best protection is to know the seller, use channels with buyer protection and compare the packaging with known examples. Note that no single check is certain. If something seems too good to be true, there is reason to ask questions before going further.