What the heck does MINT mean anymore?

Avotius

Avotius

Some guy
Local time
1:57 PM
Joined
Dec 5, 2005
Messages
3,518
Some moron called this 8+ and mint

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mint-condition-...2QQihZ014QQcategoryZ73445QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Now in my book mint means the same as unopened, flawless, new, etc...for instance if I go buy toaster at a garage sale, that would not be mint...

So when the hell did mint, which means "as if new" get applied to all this crap? More and more these days I see the word mint being thrown around with no care to what it means. Sometimes ya just want to nuke ebay huh...
 
To me, mint means new without a box - I very rarely throw around that word. Who knows what it means to other people. I found this auction also funny:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330071898833&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12

to quote: "The original owner's name is also engraved onto the back (JE Spurgeon)"

If it has someone's name engraved it in, it is nowhere close to "near mint" to me.

I do however find the auctions where the person states "near mint" and puts some beater next to a piece of mint gum, somewhat funny.
 
That's why I like to buy KEH Bargain grade. 90% of the time it's better than expected and none of this minty nonsense.

William
 
You missed his meaning...

What he really means is you get a mint in addition to the camera if you win the auction...
 
I once purchased a camera of ebay described as mint condition. I took it to mean not necessarily actually brand new just out of the box, but looks and works well enough to pass for it. The picture was not very big or good, and it only showed it from one angle. Anyhow it turned that it WASN'T mint by my definitely, there were 3 scratches on the finish, including a pretty big one, it was a little disappointing, but at least it worked well enough and I have been getting a lot of use out of it. But after that I figured mint is probably never actually mint.
 
XP2 SUPER said:
I would rate this one as "Ugly" by KEH standards; it's one of the worst looking M6 I've seen. The seller also misrepresented by saying that the "black paint" has peeled off. Rust on the flash contact too.
Click to expand...

If that one is "mint" mine would easily go "mint+++"

With the bubbling of the chrome and the rust I'd be afraid there might be a lot of internal damage..
 
What does "MINT" mean in eBay ads?

-- Mostly Illusory Notion of Truth
-- Misery, Irritation, Nuisance and Trouble
-- Misleading Information for Nitwit Traders
-- Move Immediately to Nearest Trashcan
-- Marred by Impact with Neighbor's Toyota
-- Months of Immersion in Nags' Trough
-- Mauled In Nocturnal Tornado
-- Mangled In Nuclear Test
-- Manhandled by Irate Norwegian Trolls
-- Might be Improved by Nitroglycerin or TNT
-- Me, I'm Not Telling!
 
Last edited:
I try to buy from keh if it's available. I go to ebay as a last resort. I have found a lot of the time that mint on ebay is bargain grade at keh, making keh a better deal most of the time than ebay! At least you know it's gonna turn up your doorstep as well. Anything excellent or more at keh I found to be almost brand new or hardly used.
 
jlw said:
What does "MINT" mean in eBay ads?

-- Mostly Illusory Notion of Truth
-- Misery, Irritation, Nuisance and Trouble
-- Misleading Information for Nitwit Traders
-- Move Immediately to Nearest Trashcan
-- Marred by Impact with Neighbor's Toyota
-- Months of Immersion in Nags' Trough
-- Mauled In Nocturnal Tornado
-- Mangled In Nuclear Test
-- Manhandled by Irate Norwegian Trolls
-- Might be Improved by Nitroglycerin or TNT
-- Me, I'm Not Telling!
Click to expand...

How about ... Many Idiots Need This? :angel:
 
Back in the day, Shutterbug Magazine established rating criteria that helped bring some order to all the many private listers in their classified section. Later, with the advent of the internet, most of the classified listings dried up and were replaced with the commercial ads from small dealers such as Del Hegland, Don Chatterton and Jim Kuehl — all gone now. These guys stayed with the rating system and one could have a fair amount of confidence in those ratings. Some of the other advertisers started taking liberties with the system, for instance, E+++ attempting to make finer and finer distinctions until the whole system lost any meaning. What's the difference between LN and M?

With the advent of ebay, the flood gates have opened and there are many advertisers who, even if they are honest, lack the background and knowledge to accurately rate the equipment. Then there are others who deliberately deceive.

I wish everyone would agree to go back to the original Shutterbug system but that's not going to happen. It;s a jungle out there!
 
All this can be confusing like Mint, Mint+, Mint- then Exc+ etc.
 
Aside from being duplicitous, when it comes to cameras I think some sellers who don't know cameras think "mint" means the camera is functionally perfect ... or at least it ain't "stuck". Lord knows how they'd be able to judge that, though. Mint is useless term on ePay. I read descriptions very carefully and judge the who the seller is as much as the actual description.
 
Avotius said:
Some moron called this 8+ and mint

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mint-condition-...2QQihZ014QQcategoryZ73445QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Now in my book mint means the same as unopened, flawless, new, etc...for instance if I go buy toaster at a garage sale, that would not be mint...

So when the hell did mint, which means "as if new" get applied to all this crap? More and more these days I see the word mint being thrown around with no care to what it means. Sometimes ya just want to nuke ebay huh...
Click to expand...

If you are buying from one of the many FSU sellers on feeBay it means it has only been dropped once :D . To be fair not all of them are less than honest tho!
 
Mint means "perfect". If a piece is distinguishable from new, or if you can tell it has been handled, it is not "mint". Useful mostly for collectors, IMHO.

Ben
 
Mint is an advertising phrase and no more. Viewing pictures in No. 1 that Leica to me would be a bargain grade. 70-79%. Ebay is buy at you own risk.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom