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Lets talk about 'Mint'

mr.mow

mr.mow

Feb 11, 2009
999
368
Melbourne
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: BBE/G&L Basses
#1
Firstly.. if you know the dealer, please don't post it in here, I'm not out to defame the guys..

So I purchased a bass, I'm not naming the dealer.. but they sell vintage gear..
It was described as "1975 Fender Precision Bass Mint Collector Grade New Old Stock Sunburst w/ Case Candy & OHSC!"

Had lovely story about being old unplayed stock with a couple of very minor marks..

:/

Hmm.. not quite.. Now I will say I paid a bit of a premium for this bass.. While I haven't taken a pic of it as yet, this is the photo of it.

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I mean wow right?!!!

Um.. well.. it IS lovely.. its exceptionally light.. But mint? that term gets bandied around way too much..

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So lets talk about MINT.. Lets look at what MINT means.. MINT means MINT.. no marks.. no scratches.. its NOT subjective. I was aware of 3 small marks described. These are significantly more noticeable.

Am I being too picky here?
 
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#6
Bottom line. "MINT" means "AS NEW" and it does NOT mean "LOOKS GOOD FOR ITS AGE" or "EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN FOR 40 YEARS OLD."

Whether something is 1 or 100 years old, "MINT" means the SAME thing...UNBLEMISHED AS-NEW CONDITION REGARDLESS OF AGE.

Back in the day when I bought a lot of electronics and stuff off of ebay, I would ALWAYS get the seller to clarify the above. I would always ask: "Please describe any and all scuffs, marks, rubs, dings, scratches, dents, dings, marks, blemishes, indentations, or defects of ANY kind ANYWHERE on the item...front, back, bottom, edges, sides, etc. as I am only interested in truly mint condition as-new items, not an item that "looks good for its age." Some sellers responded honestly, but the vast majority who responded verifying that whatever I was purchasing was indeed "MINT" were lying. A great amount of stuff arrived in the condition of the bass above. In all cases, either I was refunded directly (rare) or I ended up returning the items due to them being "significantly not as described" and always got my money back via Paypal or via a chargeback regardless of what the seller's return policy was (EVERYTHING is returnable via a credit card purchase on ebay). I never lost a chargeback, and never got stuck with something I didn't want. But, it got worse, with most sellers overstating items' condition. So, I for the most part stopped ebaying a few years ago.

Anyhoo..."MINT" means just that. MINT.
 
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#7
ggoat!!! said:
Bottom line. "MINT" means "AS NEW" and it does NOT mean "LOOKS GOOD FOR ITS AGE" or "EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN FOR 40 YEARS OLD."

Whether something is 1 or 100 years old, "MINT" means the SAME thing...UNBLEMISHED AS-NEW CONDITION REGARDLESS OF AGE.

Back in the day when I bought a lot of electronics and stuff off of ebay, I would ALWAYS get the seller to clarify the above. I would always ask: "Please describe any and all scuffs, marks, rubs, dings, scratches, dents, dings, marks, blemishes, indentations, or defects of ANY kind ANYWHERE on the item...front, back, bottom, edges, sides, etc. as I am only interested in truly mint condition as-new items, not an item that "looks good for its age." Some sellers responded honestly, but the vast majority who responded verifying that whatever I was purchasing was indeed "MINT" were lying. A great amount of stuff arrived in the condition of the bass above. In all cases, either I was refunded directly (rare) or I ended up returning the items due to them being "significantly not as described" and always got my money back via Paypal or via a chargeback regardless of what the seller's return policy was (EVERYTHING is returnable via a credit card purchase on ebay). I never lost a chargeback, and never got stuck with something I didn't want. But, it got worse, with most sellers overstating items' condition. So, I for the most part stopped ebaying a few years ago.

Anyhoo..."MINT" means just that. MINT.
Click to expand...

Glad its not just me then.. Yes I would return the bass but having already paid $500 in taxes, $300 in shipping.. yeah not so keen on that.
They are a vintage dealer, their photos looked good.. but.. yes..
 
#9
mr.mow said:
Glad its not just me then.. Yes I would return the bass but having already paid $500 in taxes, $300 in shipping.. yeah not so keen on that.
They are a vintage dealer, their photos looked good.. but.. yes..
Click to expand...

Oh man, I'm sorry. You really paid a boatload for that bass. Wow, I'm sorry. I HATE to see someone get ripped off. I really really really HATE sellers like that. I'm sorry.
 
#10
ggoat!!! said:
Bottom line. "MINT" means "AS NEW" and it does NOT mean "LOOKS GOOD FOR ITS AGE" or "EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAN FOR 40 YEARS OLD."

Whether something is 1 or 100 years old, "MINT" means the SAME thing...UNBLEMISHED AS-NEW CONDITION REGARDLESS OF AGE.
Click to expand...


Positively correct. "Mint Condition" is a universally defined term, not open to interpretation.

Nice bass, but absolutely not mint.
 
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#11
mr.mow said:
Glad its not just me then.. Yes I would return the bass but having already paid $500 in taxes, $300 in shipping.. yeah not so keen on that.
They are a vintage dealer, their photos looked good.. but.. yes..
Click to expand...

Understandable. Perhaps some recompense from the dealer?

If that's the exact model/age bass you've been stalking, it could be a long time before another one in that condition comes along. So there's that, at least.

Good luck.
 
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#12
Iridescentone said:
Understandable. Perhaps some recompense from the dealer?

If that's the exact model/age bass you've been stalking, it could be a long time before another one in that condition comes along. So there's that, at least.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Yes I was after a 75 specifically.. But I will say dig enough and theres a bunch of excellent condition 75's floating about.. but right now I've put the ball back in their court.
 
#13
  1. Mint condition is an expression used in the description of pre-owned goods. Originally, the phrase related to the way collectors described thecondition of coins. As the name given to a coin factory is a "mint", thenmint condition is the condition a coin is in when it leaves the mint.
  2. A condition where something is perfect or as if it was originally manufactured.
    A state where something has no flaws.
 
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