Foil Packs Tampered With? Scratched or Scrapped?
Danblack1980
Posts: 79 ✭✭
Hello, I'm a bit worried that foil packs can be tampered with by scratching off some of the foil so you can see at least the front and back cards in the pack. However, I'm not sure if that's actually what's going on, or it that's just how the packs came - some look as if their foil has been scrapped off, while some look fine. Does anybody have any insight into this matter? I've attached a few photos as examples. Note: The red color in the SPx logo is actually from the first card in the pack. 
0
Comments
I've never heard of this method. I guess my first question is: can you tell which cards are on the front and back of the packs?
I'd be much more concerned about the pack just being flat-out resealed, which is something I've actually come across in foil packs. I'd rather jump a small river in a rocket-equipped Port-O-Potty than buy lose foil packs on eBay.
Arthur
Well, with most of the packs, yes, you could make out the card on the front on the back. I didn't realize you could actually reseal foil packs, though I've always collected older wax until recently, so I'm new to foil products. I know how to spot a resealed wax pack, but not a foil. Is there a way to tell if a foil pack has been resealed?
Check the seam in the folded portion on the back. People can easily slit the pack open with a razor, then apply a thin line of adhesive to reseal the pack. Very common for scum to do that, going as far back (for foil packs at least) to 1989 Upper Deck, 1993 SP Baseball, and other products. Since 2000 football has a shot at Brady Rookies, I wouldn't put it past anyone. Also, I don't know how to describe this without sounding confusing, but the foil on some packs can "stretch". What I mean by that and I hope someone can better explain what I am describing is that gentle heat makes the foil a little more translucent and pliable. Pack searchers then "stretch" the pack to examine the cards. If too much heat is applied or if the pack is more "plastic" and less "foil" the pack will actually shrink a little and the cards will be too snug inside. I have seen some horrendous looking packs from a failed attempt at this process.
Hmm, I wonder if the packs I'm suspect about have been heated, because some are much more translucent than others of the same exact brand...I thought maybe the foils were just cheaply produced, with some coming out more translucent than others, but I bet the translucent ones have been slightly heated. Unreal what people will do when there is a buck to be made...sad
Not sure where you acquired the packs, but also to consider is packs that have been sitting around for a while in a lighted display case or near a window front can also fade and become translucent. Often the packs look bad, not from anything fraudulent or intentional. I live near a card shop that has stupid insane prices on some packs that have been sitting in that display case for over 10 years.
The foil packs I got that were resealed didn't have the back fold opened. They just carefully opened an end, separating it into a front side and back side, and then recrimped them. With just a little heat it's enough to hold the seal. They did it on the bottom since most people open foil packs the same way with the top side up. They weren't expecting anyone to ever even test the bottom crimp.
There is absolutely no way I would buy loose foil packs for modern stuff that I'm ripping, nevermind older packs that are valuable. If a reputable dealer like BBCE, Blowout, etc. cracked a box and sold by the pack then that's one thing but no way in hell I'm buying those things off eBay. It's SO much easier to reseal foil packs than older wax packs. People are doing it on 2019 stuff that you can buy at Target/WalMart, you think the expensive stuff on eBay is good?
Just as a general PSA (no pun intended) to those reading this, DO NOT buy loose foil packs on eBay. You WILL get burned.
Arthur