The use of the word "Mint"

Alfisti · 03-13-2008, 07:32 AM

Just a quick note that this word is popping up a lot in the marketplace when it shouldn't be. A "mint" copy of an item should be unused, as in bought but never used, hence it is "mint".

Cheers.

ankit · 03-13-2008, 07:36 AM

Then what is "like new"? I always assumed "like new" meant never used, and "mint" meant very mildly used, but indistinguishable from "like new" for all practical purposes.

JCSullivan · 03-13-2008, 07:43 AM

Answer: The other-way-round.

falconeye · 03-13-2008, 10:30 AM

From Wikipedia:

"Mint condition is often used to describe a collectible item such as a model figure, doll, or toy that has never been removed from its box"

So, a dealer discovering unsold items from the past may call it mint, the rest of us "like new".

Geekybiker · 03-13-2008, 11:12 AM

If I accidentally dropped my lens in wintergreen extract, can I call it mint?

m8o · 03-13-2008, 12:07 PM

...and how much do we hate the [eBay] word "minty"?

aegisphan · 03-13-2008, 12:44 PM

Mint condition for photography equipments has a different meaning than other items, at least based on KEH and other seller's POV. "Like new" is basically open box with very light usage. "Mint" should have more usage, but both body and glass are in near perfect condition (no scratch/mark, etc.), little wear on cap or mount would qualify. Internal dust/light wear should qualify as excellent condition. TBH, when i look at an eBay description, mint doesn't have much meaning to me. I just hope they have something like immaculate optics, smooth focus, snappy aperture, then i'm a happy bidder.

ankit · 03-13-2008, 12:55 PM

I guess part of the problem is that different people understand "mint" differently. The question remains, is it "new > mint > like new > excellent" or "new > like new > mint > excellent". I think we should just settle on one and have it as a sticky in the marketplace.

christinelandon · 03-13-2008, 04:36 PM

For myself, it's "new > mint > like new > excellent" or it's meaningless.

falconeye · 03-13-2008, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by christinelandon

For myself, it's "new > mint > like new > excellent" or it's meaningless.

I second this and I learned it the hard way with German missing an equivalent for mint (*).

(*) The equivalent exists ("prägefrisch") but kept its original meaning for a coin.

**monochrome** · 03-13-2008, 05:40 PM

Don't forget NOS and MIB wherever they should go (and whatever they mean). The devil is in the descriptive text and the images.

m8o · 03-13-2008, 06:20 PM

Having loads of Tube Amps I know NOS, but what's MIB? " ___ in box" I imagine, but I don't have enough imagination to figure out what the ___ is.

edit: shows how much an idiot I can be ... maybe the very subject of this thread, "mint" in box? <lol>

SpecialK · 03-13-2008, 07:59 PM

Quote:

For myself, it's "new > mint > like new > excellent" or it's meaningless.

Me, too. Mint and new would have no marks or scratches anywhere.

**monochrome** · 03-13-2008, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by m8o

Having loads of Tube Amps I know NOS, but what's MIB? " ___ in box" I imagine, but I don't have enough imagination to figure out what the ___ is.

edit: shows how much an idiot I can be ... maybe the very subject of this thread, "mint" in box? <lol>

Hi: Mint-in-Box is, I suppose, another way to express New-old-Stock. It implies more than just, "I kept the box, used the lens, and now I'm selling you the lens AND the box."

It seems to connote, "Never taken out of the box, so it is Mint."

SpecialK · 03-13-2008, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by m8o

Having loads of Tube Amps I know NOS, but what's MIB? " ___ in box" I imagine, but I don't have enough imagination to figure out what the ___ is.

edit: shows how much an idiot I can be ... maybe the very subject of this thread, "mint" in box? <lol>

Likely a one-key-off typo, as "NIB" is a very common term - "new in box". This implies never used, or mint, though perhaps held and ogled :-)

03-13-2008, 07:32 AM	#1
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	The use of the word "Mint" Just a quick note that this word is popping up a lot in the marketplace when it shouldn't be. A "mint" copy of an item should be unused, as in bought but never used, hence it is "mint". Cheers.

03-13-2008, 06:20 PM	#12
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Having loads of Tube Amps I know NOS, but what's MIB? " ___ in box" I imagine, but I don't have enough imagination to figure out what the ___ is. edit: shows how much an idiot I can be ... maybe the very subject of this thread, "mint" in box? <lol> Last edited by m8o; 03-13-2008 at 08:05 PM.

03-13-2008, 08:16 PM	#14
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Mint in Box Originally posted by m8o Having loads of Tube Amps I know NOS, but what's MIB? " ___ in box" I imagine, but I don't have enough imagination to figure out what the ___ is. edit: shows how much an idiot I can be ... maybe the very subject of this thread, "mint" in box? <lol> Hi: Mint-in-Box is, I suppose, another way to express New-old-Stock. It implies more than just, "I kept the box, used the lens, and now I'm selling you the lens AND the box." It seems to connote, "Never taken out of the box, so it is Mint."

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03-13-2008, 07:36 AM	#2
ankit Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 140	Then what is "like new"? I always assumed "like new" meant never used, and "mint" meant very mildly used, but indistinguishable from "like new" for all practical purposes.

03-13-2008, 07:43 AM	#3
JCSullivan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Windsor, Canada Posts: 3,056	Answer: The other-way-round.

03-13-2008, 10:30 AM	#4
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	From Wikipedia: "Mint condition is often used to describe a collectible item such as a model figure, doll, or toy that has never been removed from its box" So, a dealer discovering unsold items from the past may call it mint, the rest of us "like new".

03-13-2008, 11:12 AM	#5
Geekybiker Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 337	If I accidentally dropped my lens in wintergreen extract, can I call it mint?

03-13-2008, 12:07 PM	#6
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	...and how much do we hate the [eBay] word "minty"?

03-13-2008, 12:44 PM	#7
aegisphan Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 815	Mint condition for photography equipments has a different meaning than other items, at least based on KEH and other seller's POV. "Like new" is basically open box with very light usage. "Mint" should have more usage, but both body and glass are in near perfect condition (no scratch/mark, etc.), little wear on cap or mount would qualify. Internal dust/light wear should qualify as excellent condition. TBH, when i look at an eBay description, mint doesn't have much meaning to me. I just hope they have something like immaculate optics, smooth focus, snappy aperture, then i'm a happy bidder.

03-13-2008, 12:55 PM	#8
ankit Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 140	I guess part of the problem is that different people understand "mint" differently. The question remains, is it "new > mint > like new > excellent" or "new > like new > mint > excellent". I think we should just settle on one and have it as a sticky in the marketplace.

03-13-2008, 04:36 PM	#9
christinelandon Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 812	For myself, it's "new > mint > like new > excellent" or it's meaningless.

03-13-2008, 05:20 PM	#10
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by christinelandon For myself, it's "new > mint > like new > excellent" or it's meaningless. I second this and I learned it the hard way with German missing an equivalent for mint (). () The equivalent exists ("prägefrisch") but kept its original meaning for a coin.

03-13-2008, 05:40 PM	#11
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Don't forget NOS and MIB wherever they should go (and whatever they mean). The devil is in the descriptive text and the images.

03-13-2008, 07:59 PM	#13
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Quote: For myself, it's "new > mint > like new > excellent" or it's meaningless. Me, too. Mint and new would have no marks or scratches anywhere.

03-13-2008, 08:32 PM	#15
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Originally posted by m8o Having loads of Tube Amps I know NOS, but what's MIB? " ___ in box" I imagine, but I don't have enough imagination to figure out what the ___ is. edit: shows how much an idiot I can be ... maybe the very subject of this thread, "mint" in box? <lol> Likely a one-key-off typo, as "NIB" is a very common term - "new in box". This implies never used, or mint, though perhaps held and ogled :-)