Banning the term "Minty" from used camera descriptions

<p>Can this be done somehow? Aside from the fact that most cameras described as "Minty" have some sort of damage or wear, it sounds like they stuffed breath mints into the camera somewhere.</p>

Is that necessary? I'm sure everyone knows by now that it's a euphemism for 'been through a rock crusher'.

<p>It's code for "<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Urinal_with_urinal_cake_gsu_cit_2004.jpg">Found it in a freshly cleaned public urinal</a>."</p>

<p>Sellers, marketers have been using whatever words to try to sell their stuff. We can't ban them just understand what they really mean when they use a word. For example "Minty" means it's not mint at all but the defects are not obvious so check carefully. </p>

<p>Perhaps used to describe cameras found in or near herb gardens.</p>

<p>I saw a 6x6 TLR on the auction site last week (might still be there) which was described as a "good user", although it does have "some comedic marks".</p>

<p>Are you sure it wasn't Groucho's camera? Because that would be some comedic Marx!</p>

<p>That doesn't bother me as much as, "perfect for student" or "student camera" and there's even a guy with a username STUDENTCAMERA.</p>

<p><em>"Minty"</em> is a bit like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fnord">fnord</a> to me. I see it but I don't see it. I would be more frightened if <em>"Minty"</em> was replaced with "<em>Minty-fresh <a href="00am6c">Smena</a>"</em>.</p>

<p>I have been making midnight raids on online auctions for a while. I can't keep buying old film cameras. But I never saw "minty" used before this post. Perhaps I need to get out more. Sure it is dumb but I refuse to get my underwear in a twist about it.</p>

<p>Minty stems from old adverts on Shutterbug.</p>

<p>One got charged in adverts once by words and not letters.</p>

<p>An advert in the yellowpage rag 40 years ago had "minty" in Leica stuff and other cameras. it was one word and "like mint" or "near mint" was two words.</p>

<p>I don't think "banning" words we find unpleasant is too smart, but I assume you're being ironic. I, personally, like the word minty. It means as much to me as the word mint. Nothing. It's an advertising term, and we all know advertising's relation to the truth. These descriptions often do not mirror the actual item, as others may have experienced. When online buying, there's no substitute for detailed photos and concisely worded descriptions, along w/ a solid return policy.</p>

<p>People use "Minty" all too often. I searched for "Minty" on ebay and found 158 results in film cameras and 32 in vintage cameras. </p>

<p>I have little kids. To me, "Minty" is one of the "My Little Pony" ponies. :)</p>

<p>I think Modern or Pop Phot once put out a Condition Translation Table that wa squite funny. maybe someone can come up with that.</p>

<p>I say we ban repetetively redundant postings. I've seen this one before, and even earlier than that. Ha ha ha.</p>

<p>Why not go all the way and ban misrepresentation in general?</p>

<p>Mint to me would be brand new in the box and never used and showing no signs of aging. <br>

Then there would be as near mint as can be expected for a thirty year old camera etc etc...<br>

"Minty" is just scary. <br>

I just sold a couple very nice lenses described as in excellent used condition. Glass flawless etc... <br>

Just sayin.</p>

<p>...</p>

<p><strong>don't </strong><strong>blame you for wanting to ban minty.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>seller tend to fanciful descriptions.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>" used but in good working condition" is an honest statement.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>a warning " in great condition- BUT I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CAMERAS" (beware)<br /></strong><br>

<strong>means run quickly in any direction away away.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>"small cosmetic marks" can mean little OR I polished the lens with a silk necktie.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>You have to read thru there words and consider what the seller intended.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>The most honest seller may say " minty or rare. but that may be their way of talking.<br /></strong><br>

<strong>personally I think rare is overused<br /></strong><br>

<strong> </strong><br>

<strong>y<br /></strong></p>

<p>Random item on shopgoodwill: an AE-1 with "issues cosmetically" which if you read on include that it does not wind, the battery door is broken, and "the dial with all the numbers is missing" meaning the rewind is gone and the shaft is about to fall into the camera. One goodwill store in particular appends a superlative in the title of every one of their auction listings such as "great", no matter what condition.</p>

<p>You're not safe buying off auctions anywhere, unless a dealer backs it. You have to read the full descriptions, and they often aren't correct. Most at shopgoodwill say untested, and I still see them go for more than KEH charges for a working one, though sanity is slightly more in evidence than last year. The site finally <em>didn't</em> manage to sell a dead MD-12. </p>

<p>My favorite is "rare" as in "rare Pentax K1000."</p>

<p>How about the guy that's been selling cameras for over 5 years on Evilbay, yet all of his listing descriptions say, "I don't know much about cameras, so I'm not sure if this works or not".....</p>

<p>Since I'm strictly a shooter,not a collector. I always move on to the next ad anyway, if the camera is at all pleasant to look at. Minty's polar opposite of course would be "beater" or "good user". Hell I've shot many cameras that were sold "as is" ,or "parts only". These usually just need a battery.<br>

So I automatically do not play into "mint", minty, like new, etc". As pointed out above, in the pre-internet days in SHUTTERBUG this term was commonly used.</p>

<p>My favourite over-used term is, 'attention collectors' for anything over ten years old.</p>