Having just sent back a pair of Adidas Harvard that had the soles painted white? I was thinking about the descriptions given by sellers to items on EBay and the true definitions.
Actual definition of deadstock: Old store item that is unused and never sold. Sometimes referred to as NOS (never off shelf). Often come with original packaging, tags, etc.. These items may further be called "new old stock". Unused.
EBay sellers definition of deadstock: A few small marks here and there which should clean off although I haven't tried (or rather you have tried but those black marks won't shift, even using industrial cleaning products).
Actual definition of mint condition: Mint condition is an expression used in the description of pre-owned goods. Originally, the phrase comes from the way collectors describe the condition of coins. As the name given to a coin factory is a "mint", then mint condition is the condition a coin is in as it leaves the mint.
EBay sellers definition of mint condition: Used but in mint condition, apart from a few pulls/light marks/cracking/dog teeth marks here and there which are easy to rectify (yes if you actually buy the item from a shop).
Actual definition of near mint condition: As above but insert nearly.
EBay sellers definition of near mint: Worn sparingly for a few hours then put back in box (have used them for doing the garden for the last 10 years until some bloke in the pub told me they could be worth something. Have put them in the washing machine twice).
