A Tip On Spotting Reseals

[KingPokemon]

I was helping my friend Nick (pokemonrevolution) and I was telling him something that I don’t think I ever shared publically. Now with the WOTC boxes shooting up so high I thought I’d tell everyone.

Years ago there were quite a few 1st Ed boxes from Belgium that were reseals. They put 2 shadowless packs on top with garbage packs underneath then sealed them extremely well. For me though, there was a dead giveaway. A speck or more of dirt on the bottom.

You see, they weren’t getting fresh, sealed 1st Ed Base boxes then rigging them. They were finding emptys and using the freshest to reseal.

That brings us to the speck of dirt. Whenever you open a box you always lay it down on the bottom. The bottom is white and shows every little thing.
The original process wouldn’t allow for dirt on the bottom.

In conclusion: Worried about a reseal? Check the bottom for little scrapes or even the tiniest hint of dirt:)

[ssjc]

[kaminoikari]

Not Pokemon but hey its WOTC (magic) : Step by Step Process of SCAMMING and RESEALING Magic The Gathering Boxes - YouTube

[japanime]

Good advice, though I do wonder how effective it is all these years later. I still have plenty of sealed boxes, and many of them show specks of dirt on the bottom, simply because they’ve been in storage for so long. I know for a fact that these “dirty” boxes are factory-sealed.

I’m not trying to say that the dirt can’t be an effective indicator that a box has been reselaed — just that it might not be a foolproof way of telling after several years of passed.

[KingPokemon]

@japanime

Good advice, though I do wonder how effective it is all these years later. I still have plenty of sealed boxes, and many of them show specks of dirt on the bottom, simply because they’ve been in storage for so long. I know for a fact that these “dirty” boxes are factory-sealed.

I’m not trying to say that the dirt can’t be an effective indicator that a box has been reselaed — just that it might not be a foolproof way of telling after several years of passed.

Of course the dirt is on the box, not the wrap. No dirt should be added after the original seal so the number of years that pass is inconsequential.

Based on what Glenn said I should add that I’m specifically talking about original wotc boxes cause those are the only ones I’ve used this method on. Did Media Factory or others have dirt on the bottom of their new boxes, under the wrap? Not sure but I don’t know why they would.
Given a little time you can probably decipher the difference between factory marks and after market smudges and dirt lol.

[pierce]

@KingPokemon

You see, they weren’t getting fresh, sealed 1st Ed Base boxes then rigging them. They were finding emptys and using the freshest to reseal.

So the reseal would have been the clear wrap since it was 1st ed boxes, have you seen any reseals with the wotc wrap over the years?

[KingPokemon]

@pierce

@KingPokemon

You see, they weren’t getting fresh, sealed 1st Ed Base boxes then rigging them. They were finding emptys and using the freshest to reseal.

So the reseal would have been the clear wrap since it was 1st ed boxes, have you seen any reseals with the wotc wrap over the years?

I believe there’s been reports of all series boxes. Personally I’ve seen shadowless and Jungle1st along with the 1st base.

[pierce]

@KingPokemon

@pierce

So the reseal would have been the clear wrap since it was 1st ed boxes, have you seen any reseals with the wotc wrap over the years?

I believe there’s been reports of all series boxes. Personally I’ve seen shadowless and Jungle1st along with the 1st base.

Oh really? Were the wotc wrapped reseals you saw noticeable? (the jungle specifically, I’m not sure if the shadowless you saw was clear wrap). I would have thought people wouldn’t bother with boxes with the wotc wrap because wouldn’t it be really obvious if it was a reseal, or did they not reuse the original plastic wrap when resealing?

[KingPokemon]

Yes, the Shadowless were mostly clear wrapped.
The jungle weren’t so easy to spot either. I guess they’d open at the seams then heat seal them back up?

[japanime]

@KingPokemon

@japanime

Good advice, though I do wonder how effective it is all these years later. I still have plenty of sealed boxes, and many of them show specks of dirt on the bottom, simply because they’ve been in storage for so long. I know for a fact that these “dirty” boxes are factory-sealed.

I’m not trying to say that the dirt can’t be an effective indicator that a box has been reselaed — just that it might not be a foolproof way of telling after several years of passed.

Of course the dirt is on the box, not the wrap. No dirt should be added after the original seal so the number of years that pass is inconsequential.

Based on what Glenn said I should add that I’m specifically talking about original wotc boxes cause those are the only ones I’ve used this method on. Did Media Factory or others have dirt on the bottom of their new boxes, under the wrap? Not sure but I don’t know why they would.
Given a little time you can probably decipher the difference between factory marks and after market smudges and dirt lol.

Dirt can get inside the wrap and onto the actual Media Factory boxes, because the plastic doesn’t seal all the way around.

[poke1stedition]

@KingPokemon

Yes, the Shadowless were mostly clear wrapped.
The jungle weren’t so easy to spot either. I guess they’d open at the seams then heat seal them back up?

And is that hard to spot? are their telltale signs? I have a jungle 1st box Id like to verify is legit and not a reseal.