As eBay has grown, so has the lingo that members use as shortcuts to describe their merchandise. It might be a good idea to get a grip on this handy list of common abbreviations and phrases used to describe items. (Hint: “Mint” means “may as well be brand new,” not “cool chocolate treat attached.”)
| eBay | What It Abbreviates | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| MIB | Mint in Box | The item is in the original box, in great shape, and just the way you’d expect to find it in a store. |
| MIMB | Mint in Mint Box | The box has never been opened and looks like it just left the factory. |
| MOC | Mint on Card | The item is mounted on its original display card, attached with the original fastenings, in store-new condition. |
| NRFB | Never Removed from Box | The item has never been opened. |
| COA | Certificate of Authenticity | Documentation that vouches for the genuineness of an item, such as an autograph or painting. |
| NOS | New Old Stock | Merchandise is new and unopened, but may have been stocked (or on the shelf) for a while. |
| OEM | Original Equipment Manufacture | You’re selling the item and all the equipment that originally came with it, but you don’t have the original box, owner’s manual, or instructions. |
| OOAK | One of a Kind | You are selling the only one in existence! |
| NR | No Reserve Price | A reserve price is the price you can set when you begin your auction. If bids don’t meet the reserve, you don’t have to sell. Many buyers don’t like reserve prices because they don’t think that they can get a bargain. If you’re not listing a reserve for your item, be sure to let bidders know. |
| NWT | New with Tags | An item, possibly apparel, is in new condition with the tags from the manufacturer still affixed. |
| NWOT | New, but Without Store Tags | Generally a new article of apparel that is missing the store tags, but is unused. |
| HTF, OOP | Hard to Find, Out of Print | Out of print, only a few ever made, or people grabbed up all there were. (HTF doesn’t mean you spent a week looking for it in the attic.) |
Normally, you can rely on eBay abbreviations to get your point across, but make sure that you mean it and that you’re using it accurately. Don’t label something MIB (Mint in Box) when it looks like it’s been Mashed in Box. You’ll find more eBay abbreviations you can use here.