Mint Condition, Doesn't Anyone Know What It Means

I laugh when I see "minty", too. I think this term has been borrowed from coin collectors. When they say a coin is in mint condition, they mean it quite literally, as if it just came from the mint that made it (as alluded to above). The other grading trend that drives me nuts is "I graded it 7/10, but really more like 10/10". So what are we to believe? If we buy basesd on his assertion it's really 10/10, and complain, he can say he only gave it a 7/10? If you say it's really 10/10, and it isn't, you've still misrepresented the product, even if you graded it worse on the "official" grade. At least explain the diffenrece (i.e. "technically it recieved a 7/10 because if this particular scrartch, but with the platter mat in place, it doesn't show" or some such)

I have a customer who refers to cars he is buying or selling as "triple mint". I guess that means they are three times better than mint. Or mint, mint, mint. Really, its mint. Honest. I kid you not. Cracks me up.

If you're gonna use the term, ya better mean it.
That means every surface (wood, metal) knob, screw, nut etc. should appear new or like new.
I've seen a lot of *claimed mint* items (cars also) that were a pathetic joke, didn't take much of a close eye to see the obvious.
So yeah, the term *mint* can be over-used-abused.
How bout *perfect* ??!!

If you were talking vinyl records as apposed to Hifi gear Goldmine defines mint in this way...

GOLDMINE RECORD GRADING STANDARD

"How to grade. Look at everything about a record -- its playing surface, its label, its edges -- under a strong light. Then, based on your overall impression, give it a grade based on the following criteria:

Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way -- certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. (More on still sealed under "Other considerations.") Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all."

If people used that standard on Hifi gear I dare say few things would be said to be mint and that even includes new stuff. It's to bad sellers spectacles work different than buyers spectacles. In my opinion as a long time vinyl buyer "mint" is not a point of view. Cheers!

Mint just means no flaws. Don't read too much into it. No flaws and no technical problems is all that matters. I wouldn't get too anal about it.