SnapList AICondition grades explained: NWT, NWOT, excellent, good, fair
· SnapList AI team
Condition is the part of a listing buyers read most carefully, and it is where many disputes start. Every marketplace has its own wording, and sellers have their own shorthand on top. This post explains the common grades in plain terms, shows how a few marketplaces word theirs, and gives you a simple habit for choosing between two grades.
The meanings below are general selling advice, not marketplace rules. Each marketplace decides what its own labels mean, so check the help centre before you rely on a definition.
The shorthand you will see everywhere
NWT means new with tags. The item has never been worn or used and still has the original tags attached. NWOT means new without tags. The item looks unused, but the tags are gone, perhaps because it was tried on, gifted or stored loose. On Poshmark, NWT and NWOT are commonly used seller language. We are not going to describe the exact in-app dropdown there, so look at the condition options when you list.
Be honest about the difference. If you wore it once, it is not NWOT, however clean it looks.
The softer grades
Words like excellent, good and fair do not have one universal definition. A reasonable working guide:
- Excellent (or like new): used, but with no flaws you would need to point out beyond normal handling. Fabric, seams, soles and hardware all look as they should.
- Good: clearly used. Maybe light fading, slight pilling, or small signs of wear. Nothing that stops it being worn or used as intended.
- Fair (or satisfactory): visible wear or one or more notable flaws. Still usable, but the buyer should expect to see the problems in the photos and read about them in the description.
These are rules of thumb. What counts as light pilling to you might be a dealbreaker to a buyer, which is why the description matters as much as the grade.
How a few marketplaces word it
Marketplaces use different ladders, so the same jacket might get a different label depending where you list it. From each marketplace’s own wording:
| Marketplace | Condition options |
|---|---|
| eBay (clothing, since January 2025) | New with tags; New without tags; New with imperfections; Pre-owned - Excellent; Pre-owned - Good; Pre-owned - Fair |
| Vinted | New; Like new; Very good; Good; Satisfactory |
| Depop | Options run from brand new to used-fair, and sellers must disclose defects |
Notice what is shared. Each has a top tier for unused items and a ladder of used grades below. Notice what differs: eBay has a specific “New with imperfections” option, and Vinted splits the used range into Like new, Very good and Good. See the pages on eBay and Vinted for how SnapList AI formats listings for each, or read the marketplace’s own help pages for the full definitions.
One useful point from eBay: condition should be consistent across the title, the description and the item specifics. If your title says “like new” and your description mentions a stain, that is a mismatch buyers notice.
When you are unsure, choose the lower grade
Vinted advises choosing the lower grade when you are unsure, and it is a good habit on any marketplace. Here is why it works:
- A buyer who expected “good” and receives “very good” is pleasantly surprised.
- A buyer who expected “very good” and receives “good” is more likely to open a dispute or leave a poor review.
Say you are listing a denim jacket with a faint mark on one cuff and slightly worn buttons. You are torn between a top used grade and the one below. Choose the lower one, and write the cuff mark and the button wear into the description. You have lost nothing, and you have removed any surprise.
Grade is not a substitute for stating flaws
The grade is a headline. The flaws are the detail. Vinted states that flaws or defects must be stated in the description and shown in photos, and Depop says sellers must disclose defects. Even where a marketplace does not spell it out, it is the safest way to sell.
A good flaw note is specific and plain:
- Where it is: “left cuff, outer edge”.
- What it is: “faint grey mark, about the size of a pea” is better than “tiny mark”. If you give a size, measure it rather than guess.
- Whether it is permanent: only say a mark “should wash out” if you have tried washing it.
Then photograph every flaw you mention, close up, in good light. Mercari’s guidelines say listings must not contain false information, and understating damage is a quick way to end up there.
A simple grading routine
- Check for tags. If they are attached and the item is unused, you may be in NWT territory. If it looks unused but the tags are missing, that is a candidate for NWOT.
- Inspect in daylight, inside and out: seams, underarms, hems, zips, soles, lining.
- List every flaw you find, including small ones.
- Pick the grade, and if two fit, take the lower.
- Make sure the grade, the description and the photos tell the same story.
If you use a listing tool, keep the same discipline. SnapList AI’s condition and flaws step works from the condition you pick and the flaws you tick, and states each ticked flaw plainly. It cannot see what you did not tick, so the inspection is still yours.
Quick checklist
- Use NWT only for unused items with tags attached; NWOT for unused items without them.
- Remember that excellent, good and fair have no universal definition. Check the marketplace’s own wording.
- When unsure between two grades, choose the lower.
- Name every flaw in the description and show it in the photos.
- Keep the grade consistent across the title, description and any item specifics.
- Never describe an item as better than it is, even by a little.
More questions about how condition is handled? The FAQ covers the common ones.
Marketplace rules change. Check the current rules in the app or help centre before you rely on a limit. Last reviewed 29 October 2026.