How can you tell if it is Mint or Near Mint?

[THATinkjar]

How do you know if a game's packaging is in MINT or NEAR MINT condition?

I don't know how to elaborate any further other than to say I'm trying to classify all the games I own in my database. I want to put in the condition of the packaging.

[The_EniGma]

Only thing i can think of is if its a cardboard box, if its crushed or not bent ripped etc etc

Or a ps1 game case to be mint it shouldnt have a big ugly crack on the front cover

[howdoin]

IMO :

MINT = you could easily pass it for new but it has been opened and used.

NEAR MINT = looks lile new but maybe there is a small insertion mark on the cartridge or the box as a minimal mark somewhere

Excellent / Good condition = obviously used but still in a condition that makes the game worthy of being displayed in you "hall of treasures"

Fair condition = average, some insertion marks, scratched box... don;t expect to much

Gamer condition (bad) = you might as well used the thing to play hockey

[16-bit]

To me "Near Mint" appears Mint on a quick evaluation; however, upon close and careful examination under a strong light, a tiny flaw or two may be present.

[THATinkjar]

Many thanks for those replies, I feel more confident in my assesments now! Once again, the DP board comes up trumps!

[Cauterize]

IMO :

MINT = you could easily pass it for new but it has been opened and used.

NEAR MINT = looks lile new but maybe there is a small insertion mark on the cartridge or the box as a minimal mark somewhere

Excellent / Good condition = obviously used but still in a condition that makes the game worthy of being displayed in you "hall of treasures"

Fair condition = average, some insertion marks, scratched box... don;t expect to much

Gamer condition (bad) = you might as well used the thing to play hockey

I would say that is a dead on definition! heh LOL

Btw slightly off topic, Mr THATinkjar, may i ask where abouts in the UK you are from?

[Sniderman]

To me:

MINT = Never opened, never played, still sealed in shrinkwrap.

Near Mint = Like new, but opened and possibly played once or twice. Looks like you just opened it up minutes earlier.

Very good = Collectible condition. Maybe some very insignificant scratches or a small dent/tear.

[Nesmaster]

To me:

MINT = Never opened, never played, still sealed in shrinkwrap.

Near Mint = Like new, but opened and possibly played once or twice. Looks like you just opened it up minutes earlier.

Very good = Collectible condition. Maybe some very insignificant scratches or a small dent/tear.

very close to myself, except:

MINT = Like new, but opened and possibly played once or twice. Looks like you just opened it up minutes earlier.

Near Mint = Collectible condition. Maybe some very insignificant scratches or a small dent/tear.

Very good = Obvious wear, Though minor. Noticeable scratches or creases to the game disc/game label/box

Fair = Above average wear, maybe deep scratches to label/disc/box and cracked cases/bent boxes

Bad = Game looks like crap and will hardly play/not play at all

[Ed Oscuro]

I tried creating a sort of grading system taking in all sorts of factors...in my view, ratings don't work as well as precise descriptions of exactly what is wrong; but these tend to exaggerate the problem so I wouldn't expect anybody to really use them except for significantly damaged items (i.e. water damage on manuals, badly scuffed plastic insert window on a Genesis or Mega Drive game case). I'm always a bit miffed when an item is rated "complete" and it turns out there's a good deal of wear to the box, but it pays to be cynical about things ;)


To me "Near Mint" appears Mint on a quick evaluation; however, upon close and careful examination under a strong light, a tiny flaw or two may be present.
I use the same view. Before I go into my views...I'll say that 16-bit really does stick to his grading; you don't see better quality and standards applied to such a large stock anywhere, really.

I'm often lucky (speaking in general) to get an item with only a few flaws (scribble lines on a carton, or scratches on a CD-ROM case are pretty much unavoidable from daily use, though I've found that cartons are easier to keep in good shape than jewel cases and CD-ROMs). Any part of a CD-ROM case can be fragmented or cracked, and it's easy to miss some things. In the long run, then, I've stopped expecting PlayStation games to be like new with smooth, unblemished cases - if the manual's new and fresh, that's good enough.

I just got a Nam-1975 carton box from JGN, for example. The site stated it was the best copy he'd ever sold; it's awesome but even so you've got the (mentioned) slight wearing off of the printing on the edges of a few flaps, and a few little scribble-like lines here and there. If I'd been keeping it for all these years, I'm sure it would be perfect, but on the other hand it shows this is an item that's been played - used like it was supposed to be. I can't argue with that.

[hydr0x]

MINT = Never opened, never played, still sealed in shrinkwrap.

huh? that makes no sense to me, your definition fits SEALED, and MINT is definetly not the same as sealed or there would be no use for the word at all

[I Am Humanoid]

How can you tell if it is Mint or Near Mint?



That one is easy! You can tell by the smell!

LOL