What does “minor wear” mean?
Also: Slight wear · Light wear · Minor signs of wear · Moderate wear · Heavy wear
Minor wear means a used garment shows light, normal signs of use, such as slight fading, softened fabric or a little pilling in friction spots, with no holes, stains or repairs. You have to look for it to see it. On the GradeThread scale minor wear sits at a 6 to 7, and moderate wear at about a 5.
How it's used in a listing
A ThredUp or eBay listing that says “minor wear on fabric” should mean pilling you notice up close at the underarms or cuffs. If you can see it from across the room, the honest word is moderate.
How it maps to the grade scale
The wear words form a ladder. Slight wear is a 7 (Very Good). Minor wear is a 6 to 7 (Good to Very Good): visible up close, nothing broken. Moderate wear is about a 5 (Fair): fading, pilling or shine you see at arm's length. Heavy wear is a 3 to 4 (Poor): thin fabric, frayed edges or damage.
| Term | Means | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| NWT | New with tags | 10 |
| NWOT | New without tags | 9 |
| EUC | Excellent used condition | 8 |
| VGUC | Very good used condition | 7 |
| GUC | Good used condition | 6 |
| Fair | Noticeable wear or a disclosed flaw | 5 |
| Poor | Heavy wear or damage | 3 to 4 |
See where every condition sits on the GradeThread condition grading scale.
Minor wear — frequently asked
- What is the difference between minor wear and moderate wear?
- Distance. Minor wear shows up when you look closely: light pilling, a slightly faded wash, softened cuffs. Moderate wear is visible from arm's length: obvious fading, pilling across the body, shine on the seat or elbows. On the GradeThread scale minor wear is a 6 to 7 and moderate wear is about a 5.
- Is minor wear the same as a flaw?
- No. Wear is the even, expected aging of a garment that has been worn and washed. A flaw is one specific defect, like a stain, hole or broken zipper, and it should be named and photographed in the listing. An item can have minor wear and no flaws.
- What does “minor signs of wear” mean on a listing?
- It is the same as minor wear: the item has been used and it shows a little, but nothing is damaged. Ask for close photos of the underarms, collar, cuffs and seat, which is where the wear shows first.
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