To be honest, I take a lot more meaning from photo's of models conditon than most people's online diagnosis. I've bought models before that have been described as 'perfect', 'immaculate', or indeed 'mint' which turn out to be coated in dirt, chipped, and so on.

Thus, I would say that you shouldn't take the term 'mint' seriously. Everyone selling diecast will have a different view of what's good condition and what's not. Compare say a seasoned collector versus a collector's wife, or someone who's received a collection through a family death and is selling them off. And then there's even those who're trying to sell a lemon as a minter.

 

Mint is more of an english term, like pucker or the dogs nads etc. Means it's the business!

 

Being a Brit, I would say that i think the origin comes from the state of a new coin that has just entered circulation having just been 'minted'.

Indeed 'Mint' is different from 'new'...
even though a model may be new, it may be damaged or scratched.....or the box dented....

Therefore, mint can mean that it has been removed from the box but still is as shiny as the day it was made...

So i would class a car that is VERY clean (no scratches - or even finger marks!) and dustfree outside AND in....would pass as 'mint' in my book....

The box could also be mint - no signs of scuffs, creases or shelfware, and this is separate from the condition of the model.

Therefore a description of 'mint in mint box' differs from 'mint in box' - indeed a model can be 'mint' even if there is NO box!!

 

Mint is something in a condition similar to what you would have reasonably expected to get when the item was brand new. It may not be perfect because what model really is but at least it should not be missing anything. I'm sure there are varying opinions on things like the plastic bands that keep moving doors/hoods/trunks closed.

If you collect watches, there's this website called timezone and they have a really good rating system in their classified section. They won't let anyone post without the product being given a tz rating. With cars it seems that things are either mint or damaged without too much in between. TZ ratings are out if 100.

For me, I don't care if a model has been displayed as long as it us put back to something very near it's original condition. Ive gotten a few things over the years that have been nowhere near mint and I think the sellers just either haven't looked at the model they've sold in ages or they are clueless.

 

From what I've seen, the word "mint" or "mint in box" is somewhat subjective. To me, if the model looks like it did when bought new, that's mint. Even if it's been displayed on a shelf or in a cabinet. If it doesn't have the shipping straps attached or the original box, it can still be "mint".

If advertised as "new in box", then it should be as you would buy it off the shelf from a retailer.

That's my 2 cents, anyway

Mark

 

Unfortunately mint is an often used term by sellers to convey the meaning that an item is like new and it may or may not be when it arrives.

 

As far as online descriptions go, I don't trust 'Mint' at all. If it's listed as such, I make sure to ask direct and specific questions to confirm the details I'm concerned are up to par. Something like...

"Hello, I understand your description lists the item as mint, however I have just a few questions if you could confirm:

1. Is there any damage at all to the decals?
2. Has the model been displayed?
3. Was the model in a smoke-free environment?
4. Is there any dust/dirt/smoke on the model?
5. Have any pieces at one time been broken and then reattached to the model?"

I don't ask every question every time, because sometimes you can see from good photos. But stuff like broken pieces having been reglued really piss me off when it's "Mint" so I am often sure to ask that be clarified. I think many sellers consider "Mint" to mean, "If you're looking at it from five feet away and not scrutinizing it, it looks mint." Which is a B.S. way to do it but unfortunately that is the reality. All the more reason to use a reputable online shop and not the "ebay sweathshops" as some guys here lovingly refer to many eBay sellers.

 

LOL I do the same.... Unfortunatley I've been burned on a few occasions. Everyone's definition of mint is not always the same

 

Thanks for your replies guys. In this case, I was the seller and I listed the model as mint. And the day before we met to make the sale, the buyer emailed me asking about the metal wirings underneath the car. And when I said the car had been displayed in a dust free cabinet and mint, he refused to buy it because the car had been opened and displayed thus it wasn't "mint" as described. He never asked for photos so I never sent any. But that incident made me wonder what mint actually meant. I've bought tons of models online and in my mind, mint just simply meant good condition but could possibly (or in most cases) been displayed before. So I wanted to find out how do most of you guys perceive the term mint.

When buying, sometimes sellers (honest ones and not scammers) might not always have good photos nor would they post pics of their models. And usually I try not to create too much trouble by insisting on seeing more or better pics because I don't want to ruin picking up that great deal. But there's always a risk in buying from someone since like many of you say the term mint is totally subjective. Although I see these risks when buying from someone, I have to say there are deals out which are simply too tempting that you just wouldn't mind taking these risk! And fortunately I haven't been burned badly and I hope that day will never come!!

 

Some of these cars you could not know if they were mint unless they were opened and removed from the box. Just because one has never been opened may mean New as from the factory, but again that is far from being sure it's mint.

I don't use the word mint describing models. After handling thousands of them the fact is if you look hard and long enough you will find something wrong.

AzTom

 

Well I usually would just put displayed/excellent condition. I wouldn't use term like Brand New in Box, or Mint in Box because it can be abit misleading.

But yea, I have been at the end of "used but excellent condition" which turns out to be "used, broken and glued back together".

 

I agree. When I see people say 'mint', I always think of the model as one which has probably been out.

The only time I'll consider a model to be one that's never left its box is when someone literally says that it hasn't. Not that it bothers me. Even my retailer takes all his incoming models out of their boxes to survey them.

 

well, I checked on dictionary.com, and one of the definitions is "as-if new". Which I wholly agree. Before you asked this question, this is also what I had in mind when I shop for die-casts on eBay. If the seller has it listed as "mint in box", I expect the model to be like new w/o any blemishes or broken parts. I don't care if it had been on display, as long as it's in new condition, why does it matter that it had been displayed if it's still in new condition?

I've bought about half a dozen models on eBay that were listed as "mint" - and most of them did arrive in new condition. But I did have one bad experience with an older lady. She listed a 1/18 Autoart Diablo VT Roadster in yellow as mint without box for $65 with shipping. I jumped on it w/o bothering to ask cuz it was a rare model for dirt cheap and if I waited for her to reply to my email, someone could buy-it-now in the interim. The model arrived in less than favorable condition - the paint underneath the clearcoat on the engine bonnet had cracks on it as if it had been under enduring extreme heat, the yellow paint is super faded, and the front buper has some sort of indentation on it as if a kid rammed it against the wall. Because of all the paint issue, I beleive the model had been sitting next to a window for a very long time - paint cracked from the heat and the sun's harmful UV lightened the paint pigments.

So yeah, there are people out there who uses terms really loosely. I shouldn't have trusted this seller to begin with after finding out that upon clicking "see seller's other items", all of the other items were play dolls and toddler clothes.

 

I have always thought that mint meant in perfect order no scratches dents missing parts and is nothing to do with the packaging and all it fixing to be still in place. I mean it the model your buying not the fixings if the box is said to be mint too I would expect it to be in perfect condition but I would not expect all the fixing wire to be in place

 

Mint should be mean "like new" but unfortunatly it's not always true.

 

I was going to write my two peneth worth about ebay sellers, then I remembered that I'd seen a thread,

One thing that really irritates me are the people who list a car with no box & damage as new, how they come to that idea is anyones guess!!

The other week there was a stupidly high priced UT Escort Cosworth on there in red - they usually go for £40 on a very good day, this tool wanted almost £80 it had no box, was dusty as hell & the driver door mirror was missing

NEW means just that!! You get the same people selling UT items with no shipping bands, so that to me means used!

Most of my cars live in their boxes so I put that in the ad, I also take about a dozen pics of it & of course make sure the thing is clean before I take the pics - I HATE people who look like they have a 0.1 MP camera, to be honest here is no excuse for awful out of focus pictures!

I have a list of questions too, but most sellers just lie, or they'll say "Well it's a used model, what do you expect?" Oh right then, just because it's a bit old can't mean that it's in perfect condition can it ?

After all this, you're still never sure, I bought a Michelin Pilot UT Escort a while back, the seller said I'd not find better, it's been in my special room etc.
It turned up looking like it had competed on a rally stage, it smelt of poo (I didn't even want to look at it, let laone touch it!) Plus most of the decals were missing, including the big Michelin man on the back, he was half missing!
I told the dude he was having a laugh, he said - oh for the age I didn't think you'd get better!
Hmm, I got a refund.

Also I bought three dealer edition Mclaren F1's a while ago, I got the 38 & 39, plus the Fina one - great I thought, all listed as NEW, lovely! NEW written in the ad about five times etc, what can go wrong!?!

I got them & the decals were absolutely knackered, cracked up, plus one car had paint missing off the door (he blamed the poly box for that

) plus there were a few other bits wrong.
Then I had the enjoyment of a Paypal dispute, all he'd say was, "I'm not a shop"
Luckily Paypal agreed I'd been had & I was given my refund once he'd got them back - the dude had also insisted on a cheque, hmm luckily I knew better, otherwise I'd have been screwed!

Aside from this, I've had idiots saying that I've swapped the models over & am trying to pull a fast one (I'm not they, are the ones pulling a fast one)

At the end of the day I have plenty of stories to tell, so I'll probably add more later.

 

Sometimes Mint is used to cover up something that stinks.

 

As close to brand new as possible, but not brand new. Too many sellers say that, but deliver something else

 

Lately it seems that mint stands for:
My
Interpretation
Not
True

I've had 5 woefully inaccurately described models this year.

 

I define 'mint' as used but in perfect condition, just like new but opened (ie. straps removed, shipping tape removed etc...)

 

^ pretty much right. Mint, just like in the 1:1 car world, "should" mean that the item is used, but is in excellent condition (but not perfect mind you). It's one notch under as-new. It also can mean "in excellent for it's age". I've seen 20yr old pieces described as mint that aren't 100% as-new (light scratching, maybe a little dusty), but are really nice for being displayed. With real cars, people throw the term out way too loosely, but normally mint means a car is as nice as one would expect for its age.

that aside, I've seen both 1:1s and scale versions described as mint, and they are at best a 6 out of 10. These people think "mint" means it's all there, and most of it works lol.

 

Yep one mans mint is another mans dog!

You're right that even finding a 'perfect' pukka condition model is almost as hard as finding a real car in great condition!
I often wonder how people can have a model with half the door handle missing, or a crack in the front screen etc

 

Seeing Cyrus's thread on pic representation has reminded me,

I think that nowadays a lot of sellers are complete tools, at the end of the day all they care about is getting the money, they're not interested in the buyer...

I am though, I want people to be happy with things, that way they'll come back (one dude has a had five expensive ford models off me, he can't get enough) I want all to be happy!

I bought a 1/18 22B a while back with the intention of keeping it a bit, then punting it again, supposedly it was mint etc, never out of the box, blah blah blah. It turned up with half the grill missing (snapped off just under the bonnet) & a big paint chip on it

it also had some dry water marks on it, where he'd cleaned the dust off.

I had to complain to ebay as he wasn't having any of it, reckoned I'd been telling porkies etc (I wasn't) anyway, he agreed to have it back in the condition it came in.
I packed it up BETTER than it came to me, plus did it by Special Del, I put the tracking in the case.... the moron messaged me up & said - as you've not responded to me, I'll report you to the police saying you've stolen it'

Talk about an idiot!! then his wife messaged me saying oh, it's here - he'll have to inspect it etc. I got the money back.

To be honest sellers like that do my head in, he did re list it with an accurate desription soon after.
The mad thing is, there had been one kicking around on there with a borken grill, I think he either bought it & wanted rid of it, or he just left that info out.

 

well it means brand new e.g factory fresh not opened do you see what i mean

 

Regardless of what each person's interpretation of mint is, I wouldn't say it exclusively means factory new, never opened (although many sellers do use "mint in box" to mean new). Terms like "As-new", or "factory fresh" are all good terms for brand- new. Gotta love how one word can be so open to interpretation lol

 

Seeing this thread reminded me of an auction I saw yesterday.

"car is in mint condition wing is missing apart from that all good "
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/porche-race-car-biante-1-18-/320719254683?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item4aac5b749b

 

Seeing this thread reminded me of an auction I saw yesterday.

"car is in mint condition wing is missing apart from that all good "
http://www.ebay.com....=item4aac5b749b

It's not even a Biante model! and he spelt mis- spelt Porsche. Yep, how does a model lose it's mirror ? I wonder what people do with thier cars