The definitive guide to lux living on eBay: Part 3

The last instalment in my three part guide to eBay. Just to recap, in part 1 we took a look at eBay’s amazing array of luxury products at rock bottom prices. In part 2 we got down to the nitty gritty of locating your items, vetting sellers, shipping costs and snipers. To round-off your definitive guide to lux living on eBay, I’ve put together an eBay glossary for you, so you can find your way easily through the maze of acronyms littered all over eBay listings.

BIN (buy it now)

eBay listings come in two guises. Some are fixed price listings, where buyers pay the asking price. Others are auction-style listings, where punters bid on the product. Many auction listings have a ‘buy it now’ option, so buyers can decide whether they want to compete in the auction or buy the item straight away.

G/GD/GC (good condition)

A used item that hasn’t suffered too much wear and tear. Items described as FC or VFC mean fine or very fine condition, whilst EX means that they are in excellent condition. As ever, it’s always good to take these subjective descriptions with a pinch of salt. The seller’s full listing and comments are great starting points for you to see whether the description really is too good to be true or whether sellers have over-exaggerated their items’ quality grading in the past.

GU (gently used)

A used item which has been used with care and hasn’t sustained too much damage, as opposed to EUC items (goods in an excellent used condition), which have suffered virtually no wear and tear at all. The same rule applies when you’re assessing any eBay quality or condition description- always read the seller’s full listing and feedback to check that the seller isn’t embellishing the truth.

HTF (hard to find)

A rare or limited edition item that is hard to track down elsewhere. Other descriptions for rare items include OOAK (one of a kind) or, when it comes to books, OOP (out of print).

MNT

Think less northern slang and more a description of a perfect condition. The term ‘mint’ appears in lots of eBay abbreviations and acronyms. For example MIB (mint in box), MIMP (mint in mint package), MIP (mint in package), (MNB mint no box), MWBT (mint with both tags), MWMT (mint with mint tags) or NM (near mint). You get the picture. As ever ‘mint’ is a subjective description of perfection, so check out the seller’s comments for more information.

NARU (not a registered user)

A NARU is someone whose eBay account has been suspended. Reasons for account suspension include technical glitches, failure to pay fees, violation of eBay’s rules and policies, refusal to complete transactions with buyers or sellers or the account has been hacked via a fraudulent spam email. If your seller becomes a NARU midway through the transaction, eBay says you’re not obligated to go through with the purchase. Much the same is true if you’re a seller and the payment from a recently-turned NARU hasn’t come through.

NBW (never been worn)

An item that hasn’t been worn by the previous owner.

NIB (new with box)

A brand-new, unused, and unworn item (including handmade items) in the original packaging (such as the original box or bag) and/or with the original tags attached.

NRFB (never removed from box)

An unused and unworn item that hasn’t been taken out of its original packaging and/or with the original tags attached.

NWOB (new without box)

A brand-new, unused, and unworn item (including handmade items) that is not in original packaging or may be missing original packaging materials, such as the original box or bag. The original tags may not be attached. For example, new shoes with absolutely no signs of wear that are no longer in their original box fall into this category. Sometimes NWOB is preceded by a ‘B’ (brand new without box).

NWT (new with tags)

A brand-new, unused, and unworn item (including handmade items) in the original packaging (such as the original box or bag) and/or with the original tags attached. Sometimes NWT  is preceded by a ‘B’ (brand new with tags).

NWOT (new without tags)

A brand-new, unused, and unworn item (including handmade items) that is not in original packaging or may be missing original packaging materials (such as the original box or bag). The original tags may not be attached.

New with defects

A brand-new, unused, and unworn item. Possible cosmetic imperfections range from natural color variations to scuffs, cuts or nicks, hanging threads or missing buttons that occasionally occur during the manufacturing or delivery process. The apparel may contain irregular or mismarked size tags. The item may be missing the original packaging materials (such as original box or tag).  New factory seconds and/or new irregular items may fall into this category. The original tags may or may not be attached. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.

RET

A confusing one. In most eBay guides, you’re told that RET is an abbreviation for ‘retired’. It is, however, commonly used as an abbreviation for ‘retail’. You’ll find RET often followed by a price or a recommended price, which reflects how much the item would cost you if you bought it at retail.

Pre-owned (used)

An item that has been used or worn previously. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.

VTG

An item that is described as ‘vintage’. As we’ve discussed before, it’s always good to err on the side of caution when the word ‘vintage’ is being used. Vintage is a term increasingly bandied around to command higher prices. Sometimes sellers will describe an item as ‘vintage-style’, which means it’s categorically not the real deal. Have a read of Sian’s guide to vintage shopping to make sure you’re not getting ripped off.

What to do when a transaction does not work out

eBay has a very good customer support team so if your item does not arrive, is misrepresented or any other problem has arose, they are usually quick to get it sorted.  Since they own PayPal, they work together to make sure disputes get settled.  After all it is in their best interest to make using eBay and PayPal a good experience.

A word of caution

You must be vigilant when buying certain things such as computers or big ticket items.  Be very cautious when dealing with obscure parts of the world where counterfeit goods are prevalent. eBay works to ban counterfeit goods but there are always instances of things getting in under the radar.

Always vet your seller by reviewing their most recent feedback, looking at how many successful transactions they have completed and where they are selling from.

Happy eBay shopping!

{Photo: Ryan Fanshaw}