Insight New Old Stock Watches: What NOS Really Means And How Dealers Abuse the Term
In order for a watch to be legitimately considered New Old Stock it must, by definition, never have been sold at retail. If you’re buying something that’s labeled NOS, then you have to be the first individual consumer to have bought it. Period. If old stock is changing hands between retailers, or even being distributed from a warehouse to a retailer long after it was produced, it is still “stock.” It’s also “new” in the sense of not having been sold before, and it’s “old” because it’s sat around a while.
The problem with the phrase NOS is that many retailers of vintage watches are starting to use the term too loosely. I’ve seen the phrase “like NOS” over and over again lately to indicate the condition of a watch, and there’s no way a watch can be “like NOS.” It’s either never been sold retail or it has. Period.
When dealers use NOS to indicate condition, what they mean is that it’s mint – that is: in the original condition it was in when it left the factory or workshop. Mint comes from coin collecting, as in, “It hasn’t been touched since it left the mint.” So mint condition makes the most sense when indicating truly perfect all-original condition. (Though even mint has been lifted from its original context and is used by analogy for objects other than coins.)
If we’re to trust the plethora of online retailers, we need to know they use language correctly. I’ll accept mint or even 10/10 for condition, but don’t tell me the thing is “like NOS” or “could be NOS” or is a “closet classic” or some other misleading thing unless you know for a fact that the thing has never been sold at retail or actually sat in a closet.
Another aspect of NOS is that you typically get the packaging as well as original price tags. The watch should look exactly like it did when it was on sale, however long ago that may have been. But a full set doesn’t mean something is NOS. That’s just inaccurate.
When pondering why people would abuse the term NOS so flagrantly, I think it’s because NOS watches are incredibly cool to behold. A full set is a relatively rare and desirable thing, but to find NOS is to find a time capsule. NOS is the closest you’ll ever get to buying the vintage thing back when it was current.
And for reasons I can’t entirely grasp, a truly mint timepiece in its original packaging is a mind-blowing thing to behold. So much vibe. So much vintageness despite not being beat up at all. Finding perfectly preserved watches in perfectly preserved packaging is so much cooler than finding some deteriorating watch that happened to have been beat up in a pleasing enough way to get oohs and ahhs over its “patina” (another word very often misused).
So, dear readers, if you are a watch collector or enthusiast with a taste for all things vintage, please be wary of these emerging and nonsensical uses of NOS as a descriptor of condition. And if you are a dealer of vintage watches, please stop using NOS for anything other than a watch that has never been sold at retail. We owe it to each other to get clear and stay clear on this very basic idea.
Новые старые запасы — New old stock
Новые старые запасы (NOS ) относятся к товарам, предлагаемым для продажи, которые были произведены давно, но никогда не продавался в розницу. Такие товары больше не могут производиться, а новые старые запасы могут представлять собой единственный текущий рыночный источник определенного товара.
Хотя это не официально признанный термин бухгалтерского учета, он широко используется в отраслях аукционов и розничной торговли. Например, владельцы классических, старинных и старинных автомобилей ищут запчасти NOS, которые необходимы для поддержания их велосипедов, автомобилей, мотоциклов или грузовиков в рабочем состоянии или в исходном заводском состоянии. Эти владельцы ценят запчасти NOS.
Другой пример — предприятия, обслуживающие энтузиастов электронных ламп, которые определяют NOS как любой имеющийся в наличии товар, который некоторое время находится на складе или полке склада, в дополнение к имеющимся товарам, которые
Другое определение NOS — это новые оригинальные запасы, что означает, что они являются частями оригинального оборудования, оставшимися на складе для использования, которого никогда не было. Автомобильные дилеры и компании по производству запчастей часто продают такие малоподвижные товары со скидкой. Другие поставщики специальных запчастей затем продают эти запчасти NOS, стоимость которых может снизиться или вырасти в зависимости от их типа и желательности.
What Does New Old Stock (NOS) Mean on eBay?
You might have seen eBay listings containing the term “NOS” and wondered what “NOS” means. This acronym stands for “New Old Stock” and refers to new and unused merchandise that was manufactured and remains unsold.
These items may have been on store shelves and warehouses for a period of time without having been sold (often referred to as aged stock). As eBay doesn’t have a dedicated category for New Old Stock products, sellers typically list them as either new or pre-owned with a NOS prefix or suffix in the title.
However, NOS items listed as “pre-owned” must not have been opened or used at any point. You should always read the listing description carefully before purchasing items that are listed as New Old Stock before your purchase.
Which Items Are Typically Listed as New Old Stock (NOS)?
Sellers on eBay offer a variety of products listed as NOS. They are typically items that have newer versions or styles available such as watches, electronics, spare parts, and clothing.
For instance, a watch that is listed on eBay with a NOS suffix indicates that it’s been unused (in brand new condition) and still in its original packaging, but it’s been stocked for a while.
Other examples include clothing pieces that are ‘New Old Stock’, signifying that they are unworn garments (brand new), complete with original retail tags, but may have been manufactured during the last season.
Why Do Sellers List NOS Items?
Sellers typically list items as New Old Stock to indicate that they are selling aged stock that is still brand new and has not been used. Some sellers have stock that has not been sold, as they may not be in high demand (typically for vintage or collector’s items).
- Appreciated in Value – NOS items can appreciate in value if they are no longer being manufactured and sold in retail outlets. The same also applies to limited edition and collector’s items as they were manufactured for only a limited period.
- Resale For Profit – Some eBay sellers purchase or bid on NOS items from other sellers with the intention of selling them at a higher price. These sellers typically look out for NOS items that are undervalued.
- Business Model – Many eBay sellers specialize in selling vintage items and collectibles. This business model can lead to great profit because many people are always looking for vintage items due to their uniqueness and limited availability.
- Reducing Inventory – Products such as clothing pieces can be seasonal and may be harder to sell once they are out of season. Some sellers mark items as NOS with a discount to free up inventory space for newer items.
Why Purchase New Old Stock (NOS) Items?
Buyers may seek out New Old Stock items for various reasons. Some of these reasons include the following.
- Higher Demand – People who own vintage or antique products, such as cars or watches, are willing to go to great lengths to keep them functioning and properly maintained. Many buyers often purchase NOS parts as these items are the best possible replacement parts for the car or watch.
- Limited Edition – Some items are considered NOS because they are no longer being produced, such as collectible cards, comics, etc. This makes them “limited edition” items, even if they weren’t labeled as such when they were originally manufactured.
- New Condition – NOS items are essentially in new condition. Since New Old Stock listings are unopened and unused, these items tend to be in mint condition and are preferred over used items.
What Should I Look For When Purchasing Items Listed as NOS?
It is vital to confirm a few things before going ahead and purchasing a ‘New Old Stock’ listing on eBay. You should always carefully read through the item description the seller has created, as this will tell you about the item and its condition.
You should also scrutinize the photos the seller has uploaded or ask them for additional photos to make a thorough assessment. Some other factors to consider in determining if the NOS listing is genuine as mentioned below.
Is the Price Too Good To Be True?
If the NOS item has been listed at a price that is much lower than expected, it could be a cause for concern. There’s a good chance the item isn’t actually New Old Stock and the seller is trying to advertise it as such in hopes of securing a sale.
In the event that the price seems too good to be true, contact the seller and ask them why they are selling the item at that price. If their reasons seem legitimate to you and feel trustworthy, it could be a great deal.
Otherwise, if the seller doesn’t seem trustworthy, it may be better to be safe than sorry and pass on the opportunity.
What Is the Condition of the Item?
Some eBay items may be listed as NOS, but are described as “used”. It’s possible for items such as watches to have been manufactured but never sold. However, to be considered a NOS item, it must be a new old stock and never used nor worn.
In this situation, the watch may never have been worn by anyone, but you should still take the time to scrutinize the photos on the eBay listing and determine why the seller has described the item as “used” in the listing description.
If you have doubts about the item’s condition, consider asking the seller for more photos or videos. If the seller seems hesitant to do so, they may be hiding the truth about the item and its condition.
Are There Any Damages?
It’s possible for a NOS item to be damaged despite it being new and unused. This is because an item that has been around for many years could have developed scratches or scuff marks from being handled or moved around.
This item technically isn’t used, but it is damaged. For this reason, you should always check if the seller has described any damages in the listing description.
You should also check all of the photos in the listing to determine if the damages appear to be from routine handling or if the item has been damaged from wear and tear.
Is It Readily Available in Retail Stores?
Many sellers may take creative liberties with the term “NOS”, especially since there is no guideline on how old the item needs to be considered in order to be categorized as NOS.
For this reason, some sellers may take items from store shelves that are days “old” and list them as NOS to justify selling them at high prices. For this reason, you should check to see if the NOS item you are about to purchase is available in retail outlets.
Is There an Authenticity Guarantee?
Some eBay listings contain a tag advertising that the item is authentic. This means that the item gets verified by an authenticator before it gets delivered, this helps to ensure that the item received is indeed authentic.
How to Find New Old Stock (NOS) Items
eBay doesn’t consider New Old Stock items to be an official classification. As a result, you won’t find any “New Old Stock” or “NOS” filters on eBay. However, you can still spot the “New Old Stock” or “NOS” terms in the listing’s title and description.
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