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03-25-2005, 04:14 PM
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#1 of 19 
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Member
Join Date: May 2001
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Local Date: 10-15-2008
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what does "mint condition" mean to you?
hi all -
help me settle a debate between me and wifey! 
i say "mint" condition means the item is just like new. in other words, if i handed it to you, you would not be able to tell i just took it out of the box. no scratches, dings, scuff marks, etc. however, it has been used in day-to-day activities.
she says "mint" condition means brand-spankin' new, never been used, etc. in other words, no human hands have ever touched or operated the thing.
so...who is right?
vote for ted!
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03-25-2005, 04:15 PM
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#2 of 19
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
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You can read a comic book and if you are very careful, it will still be in mint condition. Therefore, Sugartastic wins the fruit cup for today.
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03-25-2005, 04:39 PM
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#3 of 19
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Member
Join Date: Apr 1999
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Once again Ted, you're right and your wife is WRONG.
"What does God want with a Starship?" - Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
"For the first few minutes of the film, I had accidently listened to the Dolby Digital track." - Ron Epstein (HTF)
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03-25-2005, 04:49 PM
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#4 of 19
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Member
Location: The stars at night.....
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Ted,
Your wife is always correct, even when she may not be.
This time however I happen to agree with her definition. A "mint" coin for instance, has NOT been in "day-to-day" use.
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03-25-2005, 05:00 PM
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#5 of 19
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Member
Join Date: Apr 1999
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Mint condition to me is never used, could be taken out of the box if it can be placed back in the box without any difference to the look or performance to the unit, if the packaging has remained pristinely intact that also helps. Your definition is more of a 'like new' condition and to me works just as good as mint but costs less!
out of the box example...I bought my PSP and opened the box with only the slightest hint that the tape seal had been lifted. I took the PSP out of the container, inspected it and put it back just the same as if it had not ever been opened. If i wanted to sell it, i would sell it in mint condition. couldnt say never opened cuz that would be lying . If i would have turned it on, watched the start up screen, said this sucks, and then turned it back off, boxed it up oh so carefully, and tried to sell it...i'd have to say it was 'like new', if i said mint condition, that would be lying IMO. YMMV. |
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03-25-2005, 05:11 PM
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#6 of 19
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I agree with you Ted, mint is as new. new would be, well new or new in box.
I don't think either is right. it's like asking "how many is several?"
also, the dictionary isn't much help
Quote:
mint
adj : as if new; "in mint condition" [syn: mint(a)] n
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I suppose "as if new" would mean not new, but just like it was, in my mind anyway. (6th edit of the afternoon)
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03-25-2005, 05:23 PM
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#7 of 19
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There is no debate; "new" is used to describe a new item and "mint" is to described a used item.
The truth at last!
Ram it Down, Judas Priest...best...album...ever
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03-25-2005, 05:42 PM
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#8 of 19
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Member
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Since "mint condition" is used exclusively to describe items that have, in fact, been used, it should be obvious who is right. (As noted above, we already have a perfectly good word for new, unused, items - "new".)
Take a look at eBay or Amazon or the newspaper classifieds. New, unopened, items are invariably described as "new, unopened." Used items in "like new, you'd never know the difference" condition are "mint".
Joe
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03-25-2005, 06:40 PM
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#9 of 19
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Member
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"Mint condition" means it's like a coin newly struck from the mint. In other words, no wear from day to day use. Even light handling of a coin will cause surface oxidation and fingerprints, so it's not really mint condition unless you handle it with gloves. So I would expect the same about other kinds of items labled as "mint".
Feline videophiles Susie and Dukie.
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03-25-2005, 06:56 PM
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#10 of 19
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Roger Jason Adams
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