SUMMARY: "Mint" means perfect, if the item's not literally in perfect shape, it's not mint.

Hello sellers, have you ever stopped and wondered what the word "MINT" means when you use it? As in "this item is MINT in box." The word gets used all the time, but almost never correctly. This guide is a plea for item description accuracy.

The term "mint" as an adjective was coined (no pun intended) by numismatists to indicate that a coin looked as if it had just been minted. Other collectors quickly adopted the term. Unlike terms such as "good" or "excellent" which could mean different things to different people, "mint" has a very precise meaning. An object described as in "MINT CONDITION" means, literally, that the item looks as if it just came off the assembly line in the factory; that there is not a single defect of any kind in the product. It is in the BEST possible condition a product can possibly be in.

Because this term is used by collectors, a seller should be aware that what an ordinary person may perceive as perfect may not be sufficient. For example, condition of the box of toys and video games are very important. While a crease in the laminate of the surface of a carboard box may not even be visible to the ordinary buyer or uneducated seller, it is of concern to the collector. Again, because this is a term derived from the collector community, there is an expectation that when it is used, the seller is indicating that he/she can properly evaluate the "collectible" condition of the item. In practice on eBay this almost never seems to be the case.

Some descriptions that do not make sense:

• "Mad Magazine #1, MINT, copy has slight dogeared corner" (if it has a dogeared corner it's not perfect, therefore not mint)
  
• "NEW XBOX 360, ABOVE MINT CONDITION" (it is logically impossible for a product to be better than the best possible condition for that product)

I'm tired of winning bids on video games where the box is torn or crushed, or the manual has the corner dogeared. When I can get a smashed Legend of Zelda box anywhere for a dollar, why would I bid 35 for it on here? There is an expectation that when an item is described as perfect, the item is going to in fact have nothing wrong with it. It wastes everyone's time and causes bad feelings all around. It wastes my time if I'm searching for mint products and have to filter through the obviously wrong descriptions; it wastes time for both of us when I have to send you a comment asking you if the description really means what it says. If a product is not in perfect condition, please do not advertize it as mint.

I can see how some of you may think that this article and the concern with perfection is being anal-retentive. I actually agree with you! Anal-retentiveness is the essence of effective collecting and you are using our language, so please be courteous and help us feed our addiction with less heartbreak.

Thank you and good night.