If you’ve ever been scrolling through Marketplace, eBay, Instagram shops, or other buying/selling platforms and thought…

“What the heck does NWT mean?”

…you’re not alone.

Reselling has its own shorthand language. Sellers use acronyms to save space (especially in platforms with limited title characters), and experienced shoppers use them to quickly understand condition, pricing, and buying options.

This guide breaks down the most common reseller acronyms in plain English — so everyone (buyers and sellers) can speak the same language.

Why Reseller Acronyms Matter

For buyers:

Knowing the lingo helps you:

    •    understand an item’s condition

    •    spot better deals

    •    avoid misunderstandings before you purchase

For sellers:

Using the right terms helps you:

    •    save time in descriptions

    •    attract the right buyer faster

    •    increase trust by being clear and accurate

But here’s the truth: not everyone knows these terms, so clarity always wins

The Most Common Reseller Acronyms (And What They Mean)

✅ Condition Acronyms

NWT — New With Tags

The item is brand new and still has original tags attached. Example: “NWT Zara blouse, never worn.”

NWOT — New Without Tags

The item is brand new but the tags are missing or removed. Example: “NWOT dress, tried on but never worn.”

EUC — Excellent Used Condition

The item has been used but looks great — minimal signs of wear. Example: “EUC sneakers, worn twice.” I have also seen GUC which stands for Good Used Condition.

NOS — New Old Stock

This one confuses a lot of people! It means the item is older inventory that was never sold or used — often vintage or discontinued items. It may still have tags, packaging, or labels, but the key is: new, but from the past. Example: “NOS vintage Levi’s, deadstock 90s.”

✅ Tip for buyers: NOS doesn’t always mean “perfect.” Some NOS items show age-related wear (storage marks, slight yellowing, box wear).

📦 Packaging Acronyms You’ll See a Lot

These acronyms are super common:

NIB — New In Box. Brand new and still in the original box.

NIP — New In Package. Brand new and still sealed in packaging (often plastic packaging).

NRFB — Never Removed From Box. The item has literally never been taken out of its original box. These are popular in collectibles, toys, electronics, and giftable items.

💰 Pricing & Buying Acronyms

BIN — Buy It Now. This means the price listed is the “buy it immediately” price (no auction needed). Common on eBay, but people use it everywhere now.

OBO — Or Best Offer. The seller is open to offers. It doesn’t always mean they’ll accept low offers — it simply means they’re willing to negotiate.

DOND — Deal or No Deal. This means buyers make offers on items posted without a set price, and the seller responds with “Deal” (accepting) or “No Deal” (rejecting, often inviting a counteroffer) creating a fun, negotiation-style sale. This is typically found in social media groups, until an agreed upon price is reached and the item is marked “Sold”.

✅ Buyer tip: A respectful offer is usually within 10–20% of the asking price (unless the item has been sitting a long time).

🔎 Reseller Research + Strategy Acronyms

COG — Cost of Goods. This is the amount the seller paid for the item before selling it. Example: If someone bought a jacket for $8 at Value Village and sells it for $40, the COG is $8.

COMPS — Comparables. “Comps” are the sold prices of similar items, used to estimate value.

✅ Important: In reselling, the best comps are based on sold listings, not just what someone is asking for an item.

BOLO — Be On The Lookout. This is a reseller term for something worth grabbing if you see it — because it sells quickly or has higher value. Example: “BOLO for vintage Pyrex, certain patterns sell fast.”

Extra Acronyms You’ll See in Thrift + Vintage Circles

VTG — Vintage. Often used in listing titles to save space.

✅ Quick tip: “Vintage” doesn’t always mean the same thing to everyone, so sellers may want to add an approximate era:

    •    “Vintage 80s”

    •    “Vintage 90s”

    •    “Vintage (approx. 20+ years old)”

MCM — Mid-Century Modern. A design style popular from roughly the 1940s–1960s, with clean lines, warm wood tones, and retro vibes.

AOP — All Over Print. Common in T-shirt listings: it means the graphic covers most or all of the shirt (not just a small chest logo).

✅ Best practice for sellers: Use acronyms plus plain language, especially in your description.

Example: “NWOT (new without tags) — never worn, stored in a smoke-free home.”

✅ Best practice for buyers: If you’re unsure, just ask! A good seller won’t mind clarifying.

How to Use These Terms Without Confusing People

Sellers: use “acronym + meaning” at least once

Especially for Marketplace and casual shoppers.

Example:

    •    “EUC (excellent used condition)”

    •    “OBO (open to reasonable offers)”

    •    “NOS (new old stock, never used)”

Buyers: remember that condition words can be subjective

“EUC” to one person may still mean minor wear. The best thing you can do is:

    •    look closely at photos

    •    ask for measurements

    •    ask about flaws directly

Quick Reseller Lingo Cheat Sheet

Here’s the fast version:

    •    NWT = New With Tags

    •    NWOT = New Without Tags

    •    EUC = Excellent Used Condition

    •    NOS = New Old Stock

    •    NIB = New In Box (sometimes seen as BNIB = Brand New In Box)

    •    NIP = New In Package

    •    NRFB = Never Removed From Box

    •    BIN = Buy It Now

    •    OBO = Or Best Offer

    •    DOND = Deal or No Deal

    •    COG = Cost of Goods

    •    COMPS = Comparables (sold prices of similar items)

    •    BOLO = Be On The Lookout

    •    VTG = Vintage

    •    MCM = Mid-Century Modern

    •    AOP = All Over Print

Final Thought: The Best Listings Are Clear Listings

Reseller acronyms are useful, but the best buying and selling experiences happen when everyone understands what’s being offered.

If you’re a seller, clarity builds trust.

If you’re a buyer, knowing the lingo helps you shop smarter.

And if you’re new? Welcome to the club — we all had a “What the heck is BOLO??” moment at some point 😂 What acronyms are you seeing and what would you add to this list? Add in the comments below.

Angela G. Gentile

Credit / Source

This article was inspired by a reseller lingo post originally shared on Instagram by Don’t B Trippin It’s Jus Flippin. Full credit to the original creator for the acronym list and inspiration for this educational guide. I edited it with the help of ChatGPT.