When you're selling items on eBay, it helps to know what kind of shape your items are in. For many categories of merchandise, that means grading the item's conditionaccording to some very formal rules. Grading is a way of noting the condition of an item, according to a predetermined standard. Collectors use these grading scales to help evaluate and price items within a category. If you know the grade of your item, you can include the grade in the item's title or description, and thus more accurately describe the item to potential bidders. Making a Mint Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a "universal" grading system for all items; different types of collectibles have their own unique grading systems. For example, trading cards are graded from A1 to F1; stamps are graded from Poor to Superb. That said, many collectible categories use a variation of the Mint grading system, as shown in Table 17.1. Table 17.1. Mint System GradingGrade | Abbreviation | Description |
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Mint | MT, M, 10 | An item in perfect condition, without any damage or imperfections. | Very Fine | VF | Similar to mint. | Near Mint | NM, 9 | An item with a very minor, hardly noticeable flaw. Sometimes described as "like new." | Near Fine | NF | Similar to near mint. | Excellent | EX,8 | An item considered above average, but with pronounced signs of wear. | Fine | F | Similar to excellent. | Very Good | VG, 7 | An item in average condition. | Good | GD, G, 6 | An item that has clear indications of age, wear, and use. | Fair | F | An item that is heavily worn. | Poor | P, 5 | An item that is damaged or somehow incomplete. |
Degrees between grade levels are indicated with a + or . (For example, an item between Fine and Very Fine would be designated as F+.) Naturally, the definition of a Mint or Fair item differs by item type. Getting Graded If you're not sure what grade an item is, you may want to utilize a professional grading and authentication service. These services will examine your item, authenticate it (confirm that it's the real deal), and give it a professional grade. Some services will even encase your item in a sealed plastic container or bag. Where can you get your items graded? Table 17.2 lists some popular websites for grading and authenticating collectible items. Table 17.2. Grading and Authentication ServicesCollectible | Site | URL |
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Autographs | OnlineAuthentics.com | www.onlineauthentics.com | | PSA/DNA | www.psadna.com | Beanie Babies | Peggy Gallagher Enterprises, Inc. | www.beaniephenomenon.com | Books | PKBooks | www.pkbooks.com | Coins | American Numismatic Association Certification Service | www.anacs.com | | Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America | www.ngccoin.com | | Professional Coin Grading Service | www.pcgs.com | Comic books | Comics Guaranty | www.cgccomics.com | Jewelry | International Gemological Institute | www.e-igi.com | Sports cards | Professional Sports Authenticator | www.psacard.com | | Sportscard Guaranty, LLC | www.sgccard.com | Stamps | American Philatelic Society | www.stamps.org | | The Pilatectic Foundation | www.philatelicfoundation.org | | Professional Stamps Experts | www.psestamp.com |
The cost of these authentication services varies wildly, depending on what you're authenticating, the age or value of the item, and the extent of the service itself. For example, Professional Sports Authenticator rates range from $5 to $150 per sports card; Professional Stamps Experts rates range from $15 to $500 per stamp. Make sure that the item you're selling is worth it before you go to this expenseand that you can recoup this expense in your auction. Tip | eBay provides a page of links to "authorized" authentication services at pages.ebay.com/help/community/auth-overview.html. |
Other Ways to Describe Your Item There are some other grading-related abbreviations you can use in your item listings. As you can see in Table 17.3, these abbreviations help you describe your item (especially in the title) without wasting a lot of valuable space. Table 17.3. Grading-Related TermsAbbreviation | Description | Meaning |
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ARC | Advanced readers copy | A pre-publication version of a book manuscript, typically released to reviewers and bookstores for publicity purposes | BU | Built up | For models and other to-be-assembled items; indicates that the item has already been assembled | CC | Cut corner | Some closeout items are marked by a notch on the corner of the package | CO | Cut out | Closeout item | COA | Certificate of authenticity | Document that vouches for the authenticity of the item; often found with autographed or rare collectible items | COC | Cut out corner | Same as CC (cut corner) | COH | Cut out hole | Some closeout items are marked by a small hole punched somewhere on the package | FS | Factory sealed | Still in the original manufacturer's packaging | GP | Gold plate | Item is gold plated | HC | Hard cover | Used to indicate hardcover (as opposed to softcover, or paperback) books | HE | Heavy gold electroplated | Item has heavy gold plating | HTF | Hard to find | Item isn't in widespread circulation | LE | Limited edition | Item was produced in limited quantities | LSW | Label shows wear | Item's label shows normal usage for its age | MCU | Might clean up | Might show a higher grade if cleaned or otherwise restored | MIB | Mint in box | Item in perfect condition, still in the original box | MIMB | Mint in mint box | Item in perfect condition, still in the original boxwhich itself is in perfect condition | MIP | Mint in package | Item in perfect condition, still in the original package | MISB | Mint in sealed box | Item in perfect condition, still in the original box with the original seal | MNB | Mint, no box | Mint-condition item but without the original packaging | MOC | Mint on card | For action figures and similar items, an item in perfect condition still in its original carded package | MOMC | Mint on mint card | Item in perfect condition, still on its original carded packagewhich is also in mint condition | MONMC | Mint on near-mint card | Same as MOMC, but with the card in less-than-perfect condition | MWBMT | Mint with both mint tags | For stuffed animals that typically have both a hang tag and a tush (sewn-on) tag, indicates both tags are in perfect condition | MWBT | Mint with both tags | Same as MWBMT, but with the tags in less-than-mint condition | MWMT | Mint with mint tag | Mint-condition item with its original tag, which is also in mint condition | NIB | New in box | Brand-new item, still in its original box | NOS | New old stock | Old, discontinued parts in original, unused condition | NR | No reserve | Indicates that you're selling an item with no reserve price | NRFB | Never removed from box | An item bought but never used or played with | NWOT | New without tags | Item, unused, but without its original tags | NWT | New with tags | Item, unused, that still has its original hanging tags | OOP | Out of print | Item is no longer being manufactured | P/O | Punched out | Same as CC (cut corner) | RR | Re-release | Not the original issue, but rather a reissue (typically done for the collector's market) | SC | Soft cover | A paperback (nonhard cover) book | SS | Still sealed | As it says, still in the original sealed package | SW | Slight wear | Only minor wear commensurate with age | VHTF | Very hard to find | Self-descriptive | WOC | Writing on cover | Item has markings on front surface |
The big problem with any grading system is that grading is subjective. Although there may be guidelines for different grading levels, the line between very good and excellent is often a fine one. You should be very careful about assigning your own grading levels; even better, supplement the grade with a detailed description and photographs so that bidders can make up their own minds as to your item's true value. |