What does Like New in Box Mean?

EBay conditions are whatever the seller wants to put on the listing and whatever they can get away with. They're meaningless. It can be very frustrating, if not disappointing, buying stuff.
 
LNIB means that at most, you bought the knife, opened it to inspect it, then put it back in the box and put it away. This also means that if I purchase this knife, it had better be exactly as though I'd purchased new, as in, the "N" in "LNIB". I don't want to see any sharpening scuffs, or pocket lint trapped under the clip where it was put into a pocket. It shouldn't even have fingerprints on it.

In fact, the fact that so many people either don't actually know what "LNIB" means, or rather, simply put that in the descriptor hoping for a quick sale, and hoping to be able to smooth over any waves after the knife arrives, is why there are so many negative feedback posts left in the Feedback section. Dudes will use a knife, drag it behind a car, completely butcher the edge with an amateur-hour sharpening job, then take like, two pics of the knife from far away, put "LNIB!" and hope for the best. Then they get super defensive when they're rightfully called out in Feedback for it.

This, incidentally, is why I don't tend to use this phrase on the Exchange. I have sold knives that could be considered to be LNIB, but in those cases, I'll just state "This knife is in fantastic condition, and comes with the box and all paperwork." This is accompanied by a video showing you the exact knife, so you can see everything, along with an action check. I don't like surprises, and I don't like surprising others (negatively!).
 
Well I'm not sure what LNIB means to everyone, but I know for sure what it doesn't mean. It's not new.
 
calm said:
I often wonder how do companies that sell knives and also show them on Youtube videos, opening, closing them, putting them in and out of sheaths describe them afterwards - are they really as new as the ones that have not been opened at all? Given a choice I think most would like a totally untouched one, though if you ask the seller to "check it first" then you are basically asking them to play with your knife...
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This is a good post because it helps people (at least me) to be clear about what's important when buying second hand. To me, it will not make any difference, as compared to a knife whose factory box is not even opened, in terms of the price I am willing to pay if the seller opened and closed the knife some, sliced some print/phonebook paper and that's it. Yes - technically it is no longer new but I don't care; the seller should not say it's NIB though.

Perosnally I avoid using terms like NIB or LNIB because different people have different meanings of them, as shown by this thread. I just describe where the knife is purchased, whether and if yes how I have used, carried, sharpened, stropped, disassembled, or modified of it, and of course any issues that I've noticed, and include clear pictures of the knife.
 
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"LNIB" usually makes me suspicious.
Either a knife has been used, or it hasn't.
An honest person will convey how it's been used and let potential buyers determine what that's worth to us.
 
Danke42 said:
Schrodinger's knife
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GdVOPdI.jpg
 
I'm not sure I've ever stated LNIB. What I have said is, I've fondled it and cut some air with it.
 
I usually UNDER RATE my sale/trade knives anyway.

But…. If I’m not the original owner I don’t list it nib
 
Monofletch said:
I usually UNDER RATE my sale/trade knives anyway.

But…. If I’m not the original owner I don’t list it nib
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As do I. Truly a knife is not NIB unless it's direct from the manufacturer or distributor.

LNIB means never carried, cut with, or obsessively messed with.

Anything else, it's used, whether lightly or heavily, it's used.

IMO, but then again, my opinions should be fact lol.
 
For myself, I say LNIB, and then go into full detail to prevent any issues. For example, I clean and lube my knives. I use high quality tools that most often leave zero markings, in which case I would still call it LNIB.

I would do this because, except in extreme scenarios, cleaning and lubing does not detract from the knife’s condition.

If a knife has any mark, scratch, wear, or other item that DETRACTS from original condition I would cease to call it LNIB.

I would also refrain from call modded items “like new.”
 
Leo Greer said:
For myself, I say LNIB, and then go into full detail to prevent any issues. For example, I clean and lube my knives. I use high quality tools that most often leave zero markings, in which case I would still call it LNIB.

I would do this because, except in extreme scenarios, cleaning and lubing does not detract from the knife’s condition.

If a knife has any mark, scratch, wear, or other item that DETRACTS from original condition I would cease to call it LNIB.

I would also refrain from call modded items “like new.”
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LOL! Yeah that’s not LNIB.
 
Like the new car smell, but in a lightly fondled knife. Maybe one cut on paper and the hair shaved off your wrist. But a normal hairy wrist, not a Greek guy hairy.
 
KVT said:
LOL! Yeah that’s not LNIB.
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That’s fine.

It’s a subjective term. I define it so people can know what I’m saying.

You can say whatever you want, but if you don’t define exactly what you mean then it isn’t worth anything.

For example, what the heck is “excellent condition”?? Can the knife have scratches? Can it have wear? What defines a knife in excellent condition?

It’s a subjective term, so it has to be defined objectively in order to give it meaning.
 
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