Whether you're an experienced collector or just starting out, understanding condition is essential when buying, selling, or trading — it helps you know exactly what you're getting. There are a few shared terms that do a lot of heavy lifting in the toy world, but if you're not familiar, those words (and abbreviations) can feel like pure nonsense.
This guide is here to decode the lingo — helping you understand the condition terms used by collectors so you can buy, sell, and chat with confidence. Before long, you’ll be dropping MOCs and NRFPs in the chat like a pro. 💃
Happy collecting!
Common Collector Terms
These are the broader terms you might see across the web or at toy shows. They occasionally creep into our listings too:
Mint on Card (MOC) – Figure is sealed and attached to its original card backing, with no bends, tears, or damage. Both figure and packaging are in pristine shape.
Mint in Sealed Box (MISB) – Sealed in the original box and untouched. The figure has never been opened or removed.
Mint in Box (MIB) – The figure has been removed but is still in perfect condition, with original packaging included and well-kept.
Carded – Still sealed to its original backing card. The figure is untouched, though the card might show some wear.
Complete in Box (CIB) – Comes with all original parts, accessories, and packaging. Great for collectors who value full sets.
Loose Complete – No packaging, but includes all accessories and is in strong display or play condition.
Loose Incomplete – No packaging and missing one or more accessories, but the figure itself is still in good shape.
Factory Sealed – Untouched from the moment it left the factory. Packaging is fully intact.
Never Removed from Box (NRFB) – The box has never been opened, though it might show light storage wear. The figure inside is untouched.
Never Removed from Packaging (NRFP) – Similar to NRFB, but can refer to both box and card-backed figures. The figure remains sealed inside.
Graded – Professionally assessed and encased by a grading company, typically with a numerical score.
Unpunched – The peg hole on the card backing hasn't been punched — it was never hung on a store hook.
C-10 Condition – Perfect — no flaws. The highest possible condition grade.
C-9 Condition – Near perfect, with only extremely minor flaws.
Shelf Wear – Minor packaging wear from display or handling — small scuffs, edge wear, or creases.
Bubble – The clear plastic shell housing the figure. Collectors check for cracks, dents, or yellowing.
Yellowed Bubble – The plastic bubble has turned yellow due to age or light exposure — common in older figures.
Box Wear – Signs of wear on the box — anything from light scuffs to more serious dents or tears.
Re-sealed – The packaging was opened and later resealed. Not factory sealed, but figure is still protected.
Custom – A modified figure or accessory — repainted, reassembled, or creatively reimagined.
Played With – Used and likely shows wear — scuffs, loose joints, or missing paint, but still displayable.
Broken – Damaged with missing or snapped parts. May need repair to display.
Repaired – The figure has been fixed after damage — repairs may be visible or subtle.
Restored – Refurbished to look closer to original — could include repainting or replacing parts.
Variant – An alternate version of a figure — different colour, sculpt, accessories, or packaging.
Prototype – A pre-production figure — often hand-painted or uniquely moulded. Typically rare and imperfect.
What Terms Are Used on Interlude?
At Interlude, we've streamlined things. While the terms above are widely used across the action figure space, we've chosen a simpler set of descriptors that work across the full range of collectables we sell. You'll find our own condition system just below — with separate notes for item condition and packaging, so you always know exactly what you're getting.
Condition
We use the following terms to describe the condition of the item and any accessories. Packaging details are described separately so you know exactly what to expect.
New – Straight from the source. We haven't opened it — you get the honours.
Mint (M) – Looks fresh and flawless with no signs of wear. Stunner One Hunner.
Near Mint (NM) – In excellent shape with minimal handling and hard-to-spot signs of a past life.
Very Good (VG) – Light signs of use — small scuffs, tiny paint rubs, or slight wear. Still a cracker.
Good (G) – Visible wear like paint loss, marks, or loosened joints. A great pose could make it punch above its weight.
Fair (F) – Better from afar. Heavily worn or cosmetically rough, but still has life. A good starting point when collecting a set.
Spares (S) – Damaged or incomplete. Best used for parts, repairs, or getting creative.
If there's anything specific you should know — like a missing accessory or loose joint — we'll mention it in the product notes.
Packaging
Rip it open, keep it sealed? We try to describe the packaging when listing an item so you know what to expect from your collectable.
Loose – Birthday suit. No original packaging — just the item.
Sealed – Factory sealed and untouched. Typically means the box is in great condition.
Unopened – Still sealed, but packaging may have shelf wear like dings or scuffs.
Opened – Original packaging is included, but has been opened or unsealed. The item may have been removed at some point for display.
Box Only – Just the box — no figure or parts inside. Could be used to combine with your loose figure.
Condition Is in the Eye of the Collector
Every figure gets a proper once-over. We check joints, paint, packaging, and accessories, and describe everything as clearly as we can. We aim to standardise condition across the Interlude site and always take a figure's age into account. That said, condition is still subjective — so if you're ever in doubt, take a good look at the photos and feel free to reach out for more info.
Still Coming to Terms?
We're here to help. If you ever need a hand understanding an item's condition or you're looking to buy from us and want more photos before purchasing, just drop us a message — no jargon necessary.