Pocket FREYSH
2 Likes
Mmmmm just pulled a pack fresh, minty Charizard. Can’t wait for it to get a CGC 8.5, then straight into the PC
3 Likes
I believe a pack fresh card should be described as such. The term maybe used loosely sometimes but its better transparency to let people know it hasnt been handled much regardless of the condition it was pulled in. Sure you can pull a pack fresh card and it can be in horrible condition but if someone writes “pack fresh” in that case, theyre simply a douche and shouldnt ruin it for the people who are actually honest about it. I dont believe the term should be shunned or thrown out since it has helped me in picking loose cards that graded gem mint. And Im sure people who understand the term “pack fresh” will also know the difference if it is or isnt pack fresh regardless. Its just annoying when you realize it isnt pack fresh, is all.
2 Likes
As a buyer seeing an item described as “pack fresh” just has too many variables for me. Id much rather see it as “nm/nm+”. Pack fresh holds expectations too high with no back up.
1 Like
I think the longer one spends in this hobby, the easier it becomes to identify certain buzzwords that sellers use to lure in unsuspecting buyers.
“Pack Fresh”
“Minty”
“PSA 10?!?!? REGRADE?!?!?”
“GRAIL 
”
“Waifu”
2 Likes
But I love when my cards arrive smelling like spearmint!
Or even better… Menthols! 
That is a clean card! 
3 Likes
What if it’s pack fresh spearmint?
1 Like
Sometimes I use the term “pack fresh” when buying vintage MTG foils. I would wager 90% of eBay sellers have a misunderstanding of what “Near Mint” is when they list vintage MTG foils. These cards have clouding issues on the black borders that are hard to see unless you know what you’re looking for, and the surface of the foil can scratch very easily, even without play.
Pack fresh typically helps them understand the type of quality that I am looking for (i.e., “mint” without clouding and scratches).
2 Likes
I interpret “pack fresh” as just that- fresh out of a pack. I expect the same thing I would expect right out of the pack. It might be perfect, it might have a ding in it. That’s the risk with buying a card described as such just like it’s the risk when buying a pack of cards.
I don’t recall if I’ve ever used the term “Pack Fesh” but I know I have definitely used “NM” with a descriptor of “Pulled myself” to show the validity of that claim, and also descriptions of any noticeable defects. Plus pics.
“Pack Fresh” though means as much to me as “Near Mint” or “Mint” - that is, I don’t believe shit until I see good pictures because everyone seems to claim NM despite condition.
And with English QC being as shit as it is, almost any pack I open I expect some kind of whitening. It’s been horrid in recent years especially.
I only have 2 terms I use.
Packfresh/new or
Used/played
Most of my packfresh (I indeed pulled all of them myself years ago) go to PSA and return most times as a 9 sometimes a 8 of a 10.
I dislike the whole discussion of M NM LP whatever.
I list all my used/played as Exc on cardmarket. Most time they are better than the NM I see listed but I don’t care. l
2 Likes
@Dyl @filthynwah I feel that MtG sellers generally undershoot the condition of the card (though the black borders really give it away) while PkMn sellers far more often try to bend the definition of “near mint”. Present company and many others excluded of course.
Pack fresh = what you’d expect a card to be like when you open the pack.
But, “pack fresh” has been used for a range from
- absolutely perfect, but probably just near mint
TO - “Well, the pack was bent in the machine, so the card just has a factory defect… Pack Fresh!”
and can be used to weasel your way out of “damaged”, unlike “near mint”. 
1 Like
Just to be clear, I wasn’t being hyperbolic here.
This is how the card came out of the pack. I don’t even know how since most of the other cards did not have the same level of damage and it’s not like this one was on the front or back of the pack.
“Pack fresh” is a generally useless term because a pack fresh card can range from damaged to pristine. It’s such a weasel term. We already have a generally accepted grading scale - HP LP NM M etc. Just use that. It reminds me of when people used to always say “paypal ready” as if they’ve done something special other than owning a credit card.
“Pack fresh”:
3 Likes
Have no problem with the term as long as there is transparency around big defects like all the wear on the card in the OP or other damage.
If I was buying a WOTC “pack fresh” card, I would expect it to look new but probably come with a few white spots or some print lines depending on the card because I know that’s the reality of WOTC. People who open WOTC and expect cards to be guaranteed PSA9 and 10s because the the cards are “new” are just unrealistic or new to the hobby. If standard pack defects like print lines were a big issue for me, I’d ask for more pictures or info.
Tl;dr - I know what “pack-fresh” should realistically look like, any abnormal or OTT damage should be described as with ANY card featuring playwear. Whether it’s a freshly-pulled card or a used one, to not state so is deceptive or inexperienced, and any purchase with a lot of money on the line is entirely down to the buyer to risk assess and do their due diligence on. We always have the opportunity to do so before laying down money. If the seller is uncooperative on that front then probably best to just keep on walking.
“Great condition for its age”
Sellers can call it whatever they want im still going to analyze every picture 
1 Like
Seller: Card 10/10, would grade
Also seller: Not a professional grader, determine condition from pictures
2 Likes
I also love when sellers list a card as NM except for crease/dent 
2 Likes
“Near near mint”
2 Likes