Thread: What does "New Old Stock" mean to you

I've seen many different things referred to as "New Old Stock" - some I agree with and some I disagree with. I'm wondering what all you guys think.

To me, NOS means that an item is exactly as it was when it was purchased, and that it is a vintage item. I don't really consider the packaging, though. So, for example, a razor is only NOS if she has never been honed or used in any way.

The only possible exception my own definitiov is the NOS Friodurs that are floating around, because they may be new grinds from old blanks. I call them NOS even though I don't know if they are actually Old Stock per se.

That's what it means to me.

That is exactly how I would define it.

yup. a truck load (or one or two for that matter) of boxes that have just been recently discovered in the back of some corner shop in Solingen (or Eskilstuna for that matter) and have recently been put up on ebay (with a small portion going to those who have the contacts and ability to buy a a conservative wholesale amount) - that have never been taken out of the box and seen neither hone, running water or stubble (except of course for their mug shots on ebay or the classifieds, websites etc).

I've spent the money on one "NOS" razor and you can damn well bet it came in the original box and I was the first one opening the box. Any other ending to that story would have meant trouble.

Also, I think, NOS as in New Old Stock is redundant. If its "old stock" it isn't new. But, I think the term is kinda cute.

Old stock still in the box unopened or opened only to inspect the contents and unused.

As long as it has never been sold retail before it is NOS. The problem is establishing that fact. Many NOS items can be in sorry shape. When say DD went out of business and the remaining stock went into someones old humid basement and in 20 years or so from now many will be discovered and sold with rust spots and all. maybe they will be in their original sealed boxes and maybe they won't. Alot of NOS mdse is a real leap of faith on the buyers part.

NOS doesn't bother me as much as the abuse of the word 'Mint' used by to many sellers, mostly on ebay. But I agree with most what has been said and suggested about the use NOS.

+1 to all said above.
One thing that always bothers me is when a NOS razor has corrosion spots, like a few tiny dots here and there. I don't feel like that is NOS what do you guys think?

The key to all of this is the concept that NOS is NOT a physical condition but rather a retail term describing the circumstance. It has nothing to do with condition. Mint or new or perfect are physical conditions.

We see this alot with NOS watches. Often times a retailer will have a demonstrator which has been in a window for 2 years and people handle it and drop it and try it on and it can have all kinds of scratches and nicks but it's still NOS because it has never been sold before.