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Mint,
near mint, fair, good--what's the difference? That's what
uninformed buyers sometimes wonder when faced with technical
grading terminology. Furthermore, it's important for sellers to
have an accurate grasp of grading terms so that buyers are not
mislead or misinformed when deciding whether to place a bid on
an auction. That said, our tip clarifies general grading
terminology and offers some helpful advice on how to avoid
surprising--and angering--customers by sending them an item that
isn't exactly what they expected.
The
Preliminaries
First, there are no universal grades for all collecting
disciplines. Though often quite similar, slight variations
exist. For instance, the standards used for coins and comic
books are somewhat different; or one discipline might use
"excellent" whereas another prefers "fine."
(Coin dealers and collectors use designations such as extremely
fine, about uncirculated, and brilliant uncirculated.) Make sure
that you're familiar with the terminology that has been adopted
for your particular area (or areas) of interest, whether it's
coins, books, stamps, comics, magazines, trading cards, LPs, or
furniture. It's up to you to be a responsible seller and provide
your customers with the most accurate information possible.
Second, assigning grades to items can
be subjective, even though there are general agreed upon
specifications. One person's "fine" can be another's
"good." In addition to including a grade in your item
description, you also should describe the item in detail,
especially if there are any flaws or imperfections. In other
words, don't just say "near mint" and leave it at
that; the buyer should be told why it isn't mint. Thus, you
might state the following: "Near mint; the book contains
one slight blemish: a small, circular stain on the title
page." Remember: Grading terms are almost useless unless
buyer and seller have a mutual understanding of what they mean.
The
Terms
Here are some of the commonly used grading terms, along with
brief definitions and examples. However, please note that these
are very general guidelines and amalgams of multiple
disciplines; they should not be substituted for the specificity
of a particular discipline.
Mint: An item that's in
absolutely perfect condition, without any blemishes or
imperfections. The equivalent "as new" is used for
books.
Near Mint: An item with a very
minor flaw. This can include a small mark or blemish in a book,
a hardly noticeable production deficiency in a baseball card, or
a quilt that has a tiny snag or slight discoloration. Depending
on the discipline, sometimes the price of a mint or near mint
item might not differ very much--or not at all. For example,
some comic book price guides assign the same price for mint and
near mint comics.
Very Fine: An item in overall
excellent condition that also exhibits tiny imperfections, such
as a small crease in a comic book or a trading card that shows
small signs of age.
Fine: An item that is still
considered above average but demonstrates more pronounced signs
of wear (yellowing of pages in a comic book, or a magazine cover
starting to lose its gloss). Excellent is used instead of fine
in some fields--in quilt collecting, for example; a quilt
described as excellent could have been washed once or twice but
not enough times so that its value has been substantially
diminished.
Very Good: An item that is
considered to be in average condition. A comic book in this
condition might have a substantial tear or noticeable crease.
Magazines might show some spine wear, light cover soiling, rub
marks, or multiple creases. Books deemed as very good will
exhibit some small signs of wear, but no tears on either the
binding or paper. A record will show some signs of wear (such as
scratches), while a coin will lack fine detailing.
Good: An item that has clear
indications of age, wear, and use. It's possible that such an
item might have too many defects to garner much resale value. In
comics, this could include big tears; in books, noticeable
corner rounding or significant creasing. A coin classified as
good can indicate that major designs are visible but that
there's faintness in certain areas.
Fair: An item that is heavily
worn. With trading cards, this might include soiling and/or
creasing. For a comic book to be considered fair, it must have
at least a partial cover and all its pages. In the case of a
book, its binding or jacket might be significantly tattered.
Poor: An item that is damaged
or incomplete. For books or magazines, this might include water
damage and missing pages, as well as a missing cover.
Merchandise considered poor has little or no value to
collectors.
Plus
Signs, Abbreviations, and More
You'll also see plus or minus signs next to grading terms
(fine+), as well as abbreviations of the above terms (M for
mint, NM for near mint, VG for very good, etc.). In addition,
some sellers employ terms that sound official but are not in
fact generally recognized as bona fide grading terms. For
example, an unknowing seller might describe an item as
"very nice"--a designation that has no real meaning.
Your best bet is to do some research and homework. Know the
grading terms for the item you're selling. Consult collector
clubs, books, articles, and the Internet, which is turning into
a great resource for grading and pricing information.
Final
Thought
On the one hand, grading terms serve as a convenient method of
shorthand identification so that people quickly can determine
the general condition of an item; on the other hand, they create
room for confusion if the seller and the buyer are not on the
same page. It's OK to use grading terms in your auction
descriptions, but don't make the mistake of relying on them
solely. In fact, some sellers shy away from using technical
grading terms, preferring only detailed descriptions instead.
The bottom line: Note any flaws, be as honest and forthcoming as
possible, attach a photo (or photos, if necessary) to your
auctions, and find out whether the particular item you're
selling still can be considered valuable if its condition is
anything less than good.
Back to Auction tips &
tactics
by Vendio Services
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