Not all sealed products are equal.
1. Premium Products Have Better Quality Control
Examples:
Pokémon ETBs
Panini Hobby Boxes
Topps Sapphire
They usually produce cleaner cards.
2. Retail Packs Often Have Lower Quality
Frictions during packaging cause:
corner softening
edge whitening
off-centering
3. Older Packs Have Age Damage
Even sealed packs can:
warp inside
shift cards around
create pressure marks
4. Textured Cards Grade Better
Because patterns hide micro-defects.
5. Foil Cards Grade the Worst
Most sensitive surface.
Easiest to scratch.
Prone to print lines.