Jamie123
Veteran
Yeah, I often see sellers write "Mint except for..." and then they list all the marks and scratches on the camera. That's like telling your wife you've always been faithful except for when you were cheating on her.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Mark,I thought Mentha wath that thmart group of folkth with really high IQ'th!
High IQth, yeth. Thmart, no. A lot of them are pretty thtupid, really: computer programmerth who think that the world owth them a living.
I joined in 1966, but after the early 70th (thorry, theventtieth), I gave up, though I've been to a few meetingth thinth (not thinth the mid-80th, though). It thtopped being a rethearch organithation and became a thothial club for people who failed to thee the lack of correlation between high IQ and intelligenth.
I alwayth feel a bit dithloyal when I ecthplain thith, because I met many good people through Mentha (including, indirectly, my wife); but unleth it'th changed lot in the latht 25-30 yearth, it don't amount to much.
Cheerth,
R.
Thardy
Veteran
I bet that chrome lens would look quite minty after some detailing to get a bit of the grunge off.
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
This is not a new development. But there appears to be a marked increase in unscrupulous sellers over the last few years. This is no doubt a result of the world-wide economic mess we've been in the last few years.
hendriphile
Well-known
.............................................................................................
"Well, apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?"
Back to the subject: I purchased an M lens advertised by the Hong Kong dealer as "MINT" in large capital letters... and so described twice in the same ad!
Not only was it not mint, but also it had been tampered with and was unusable as received.
So much for Hong Kong dealers.
LeicaTom
Watch that step!
I'm still looking for that "Mint" Leica IIIC K Grey......but all I seem to find is Excellent + + Plus Plus!
Tom
Tom
peterm1
Veteran
"....then how do sellers like these claim these lenses are mint?
This seller and HK sellers are notorious for stating 'MINT' when lenses have paint loss and lots of stains."
Maybe they are talking about its flavor??!!!!
This seller and HK sellers are notorious for stating 'MINT' when lenses have paint loss and lots of stains."
Maybe they are talking about its flavor??!!!!
leicashot
Well-known
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Something can't be minty or nearly mint IMO.
It's a little like being half pregnant!
It's a little like being half pregnant!
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
The fact is, that the word "Mint" has no "value" attached to it OR that any value attached to it is subjective depending on WHO is using the word. The best way of grading equipment in my opinion is the method used by many sites such as KEH or B&H or even a local dealer here - a numerical/phrase scale with value statements associated with said numbers/phrases. You don't see KEH valuing "Mint" items nor B&H. Avoid using the word altogether if you can't make a quantifiable statement that is associated with the word.
Of course, there are issues fraught with this method as well but it's likely you'll have less of them unless the person grading the equipment is out of their gourde.
Cheers,
Dave
Of course, there are issues fraught with this method as well but it's likely you'll have less of them unless the person grading the equipment is out of their gourde.
Cheers,
Dave
Frontman
Well-known
I sell a lot of cameras, but "mint" is a term I rarely use. A mint camera has no scratches, no dents, no stains, and all features work as they should. A mint camera should look like it was taken out of the box yesterday.
From time to time I come across mint cameras, usually in their original boxes, and having seen little nor no use, but they make up less than 1% of the cameras I find.
From time to time I come across mint cameras, usually in their original boxes, and having seen little nor no use, but they make up less than 1% of the cameras I find.
Beemermark
Veteran
Mint used to mean un-used. The closest thing to an international standard used to be the Shutterbug paper. This was an 11x14" yellow newspaper that came out once a month and was about 100 pages of cameras & gear for sale. This was before the internet. Mint meant it was a new item missing box, papers and/or warranty. I still think of mint this way. Exc++ was 98-100%.
I miss that newspaper.
I miss that newspaper.
ChrisC
Established
Frustrated by my search for a particular lens I finally decided to pay the Leica Shop Vienna mark-up for a lens which was 'Perfect, close to new/unused, with perfect lenses ........'. The exterior lens elements were so filthy that until I carefully cleaned them there was no way of telling whether the inside elements were clear, and the rear element had a good sized thumbprint on it! I'm now unsure of who can be trusted for their Stock descriptions.
................ Chris
................ Chris
JohnL
Very confused
PMI, but what's a "nifkin"?
rbsinto
Well-known
I always thought the word "mint" when used in terms of physical condition to be an absolute description, and not to be modified with an "almost" prefix or "y" suffix.
Either an object is mint or it isn't.
Unfortunately, as so many here can attest to, the term has become almost meaningless as sellers misrepresent the condition of equipment.
Either an object is mint or it isn't.
Unfortunately, as so many here can attest to, the term has become almost meaningless as sellers misrepresent the condition of equipment.
JohnL
Very confused
+1 ... mutatis mutandi
thegman
Veteran
Fair enough, I guess with the fallibility of certain materials like wood, leather, glue, truly "like new" is just about impossible on some items, so maybe they can never be "mint".
dallard
Well-known
It's funny, I bought a bargain 35 'cron from KEH once in BGN condition and could have easily sold it on the auction site as "mint" for twice as much.
Rogrund
Antti Sivén
Trust me, you don't want to know...