This guide is to enlighten you on the concept of Guaranteed Game-used or Autograph packs.  I sell many of these packs and have many happy customers. 

As many of you know, most card manufacturers randomly insert cards containing a swatch of uniform material, gameball, bases, etc or autographs in their packs.  Often the odds of pulling one of these cards are 1 per box or about 1 out 24 packs.  In most cases, I know how to find this one pack without opening the pack.  There are many different techniques.  One technique may not work for all products, while other products may take two different techiques.  In industry, this is referred to as non-destructive inspection (NDI).  The purpose of this guide is not to teach or reveal these techniques.  The basic concept is based on the Sesame Street "One of these things is not like the others."

When buying these packs, make sure you check the feedback.  Be careful buying packs that have clear wrappers.  Its easy to see exactly who the player in the clear wrapper pack is.  Also be aware of those who advertise GU/Autograph.  In most cases I can tell you if there is an autograph or GU relic in the pack.  Autographs bring more money. So if  I know there is an autograph in the pack, I list it as a guaranteed autograph pack.  I suspect the sellers that list a pack as relic or autograph inside know that there is a relic inside. 

There are many conspiracy theorists out there who claim that these packs are resealed.  Many of them reside on the Beckett Message Boards.  It is actually entertaining to read their opinion on the subject and that they know for a fact that guaranteed packs are resealed.  I personally think that a resealed pack would be obvious to spot.  I assume it is possible, however I don't know anyone with the machinery or time to do this. 

So what's the benefit of a Guaranteed pack?  If you are not into the chase cards such as autographs or relice, then there is none.  However, if you collect these cards you will save money with guaranteed packs.  Upper Deck, Topps, etc offer packs with guaranteed autographs and relics with prices starting around $30 to over $300.  The sad thing is that many of these guaranteed packs contain common players that have low value compared to the price of the pack.  My packs sell in the range of $6 to $20 depending on the possible pulls.  I listed a pack of 06 Topps Rookie Debut Football this year with a guaranteed numbered rookie autograph.  I had a high buy it now on the pack and it did not sell.  I opened the pack and pulled a Matt Leinart autograph numbered out of 199.  Had someone purchased this pack they would have come out way ahead.  I sell various items on ebay, but check my feedback for my happy winners and some of thier pulls they were kind enough to list in the feedback.  Thank you for reading. 

Lastly, I do not give out my techniques and I am not a hobby shop owner or employee.  This is merely a fun and challenging hobby.