Collector & Reseller Glossary

What the jargon actually means — and what it does to resale value. 3,211 terms across 12 categories.

444 terms starting with “S” · page 1 of 8

1. s-videoVideo Games
   This refers to a specific analog video signal standard, often used with older consoles and televisions, which provides a cleaner picture than composite video but is less advanced than component video. It transmits color
2. sales recordComics
   A documented history of an item's past transactions, including previous sale prices, dates, and the platforms where the sales occurred. For collectors and resellers, this is crucial because it provides concrete evidence
3. sales taxReselling
   This is a consumption tax levied by state and local governments on the sale of goods and services. For online resellers, understanding sales tax is crucial because you are legally responsible for collecting and remitting
4. sales velocityTrading Cards
   This metric refers to how quickly an item, in this case, a trading card, is moving through the market. It measures the rate at which units are being bought and sold over a specific period, such as daily or monthly. For r
5. sampleCoins & Currency
   A sample coin refers to a specimen or proof piece produced by a mint, often not intended for general circulation or mass retail. These pieces are typically struck in limited quantities, sometimes for promotional purposes
6. sample pairSneakers
   A sample pair refers to a shoe that was produced for promotional purposes, marketing materials, or internal testing by the brand, rather than for general retail sale. These items often feature unique elements, such as un
7. sample sneakerSneakers
   A sample sneaker refers to a pair of shoes that were produced for promotional purposes, internal testing, or as part of a limited run before the official retail release. These items are not typically intended for general
8. saturationVinyl & Music
   This term refers to the point in the market where there is an oversupply of a particular item, such as a specific album pressing or genre of vinyl. When saturation occurs, the market becomes flooded with similar products
9. sauconySneakers
   This refers to the brand Saucony, a well-established athletic footwear company known for producing running shoes, lifestyle sneakers, and performance gear. For resellers and collectors, the brand carries a diverse catalo
10. save stateVideo Games
    A save state is a feature in many video games that allows players to instantly capture and restore the exact progress of the game at a specific moment. Instead of manually saving a file, the system records the entire mem
11. save state fileVideo Games
    A save state file is a digital snapshot of a video game's progress at a precise moment in time. Instead of manually saving your game, this feature allows players to instantly revert to a specific point, effectively pausi
12. savestateVideo Games
    A savestate is a file that captures the exact progress, settings, and state of a video game at a specific moment. Essentially, it's a snapshot of your gameplay, allowing you to instantly resume from that point without ha
13. scalabilityReselling
    This concept refers to a business's ability to handle a growing volume of sales and inventory without a proportional increase in operational complexity or cost. For online resellers, scalability is crucial because it dic
14. scalpingSneakers
    This practice involves purchasing highly sought-after, limited-edition, or hyped items, such as popular sneakers, at retail price or less, with the express intent of reselling them later for a significantly higher profit
15. scan qualityComics
    This refers to the fidelity and clarity of a digital image used to represent a physical comic book. High scan quality means the image accurately captures the colors, line work, and paper texture of the original, minimizi
16. scanlineVideo Games
    A scanline is the visible horizontal line effect characteristic of older CRT television displays, sought after by collectors for its authentic retro gaming aesthetic.
17. scanlinesVideo Games
    These are the visible horizontal lines that mimic the look of old cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions. They are a visual artifact from older display technology, often associated with retro gaming aesthetics. For collector
18. scarceCoins & Currency
    This describes a coin that is infrequently found in the current market or in circulated collections. Scarcity is a primary driver of collectible value; if few examples exist, demand from serious collectors can drive pric
19. scarcity valueReselling
    This concept refers to the increased desirability and monetary worth of an item because of its limited availability or rarity in the market. When something is hard to find, collectors and resellers are often willing to p
20. sci-fi comicComics
    This refers to comic books featuring science fiction themes, which encompass futuristic technology, space travel, alien life, dystopian societies, and speculative scientific concepts. It is a broad genre, encompassing ev
21. scratchTrading Cards
    This refers to any visible abrasion, line, or mark on the surface of a trading card that compromises its pristine condition. Scratches are considered forms of surface wear and are detrimental to a card's grading potentia
22. scratchesTrading Cards
    This refers to any visible abrasions, nicks, or surface damage on a trading card. For collectors, even minor scratches can significantly detract from the card's aesthetic appeal and, consequently, its market value. Gradi
23. screen burnVideo Games
    This refers to a permanent image retention or discoloration that appears on a display screen, often from static elements like HUDs, logos, or health bars on video game consoles or monitors. It is not a defect in the game
24. scuffedSneakers
    This describes footwear that exhibits signs of wear, such as abrasions, scuffs, or surface marks from regular use. For resellers and collectors, the degree of scuffing is a critical factor in determining the item's condi
25. scuffingTrading Cards
    This refers to minor surface abrasions, scratches, or rubs on the card's surface, often caused by handling, poor storage, or rough play. For collectors, scuffing is a form of wear that detracts significantly from the car
26. sealVinyl & Music
    This refers to the protective inner sleeve or jacket that comes with a new vinyl record. It is a crucial component of the overall product presentation and condition. For collectors and resellers, the presence and integri
27. sealedTrading Cards
    This refers to trading cards that are still in their original, unopened packaging, such as booster packs, boxes, or complete sets. For collectors and resellers, the sealed status is paramount because it guarantees the co
28. sealed copyVideo Games
    A sealed copy refers to a video game that remains in its original, unopened packaging, including the plastic wrap or shrink-wrap over the case and manual. For collectors and resellers, this is a premium condition because
29. sealed gameVideo Games
    A game that has never been opened from its original manufacturer packaging is known as a sealed game. This means the shrink wrap is intact, the case is unopened, and all original factory seals are present. For collectors
30. sealed in boxSneakers
    This describes a pair of sneakers that have never been opened from their original manufacturer packaging. The box remains factory-sealed, meaning the plastic wrapping or tape is intact and shows no signs of tampering or
31. sealed in factory wrapVideo Games
    This describes a video game that has never been opened from its original packaging, retaining the factory plastic wrap or shrink wrap. For collectors and resellers, this is a premium condition because it guarantees the i
32. sealed in plasticVideo Games
    This describes a video game or collectible item that remains in its original, unopened packaging, often encased in a protective plastic wrap or blister pack. For resellers and collectors, this condition is paramount beca
33. sealed in plastic wrapVideo Games
    This describes a video game or collectible item that has never been opened from its original factory packaging, often encased in protective plastic film. For resellers and collectors, this condition is paramount because
34. sealed nintendo 64 consoleCondition
    A Nintendo 64 console that has never been opened from its original factory packaging. This signifies that the item is in brand-new, untouched condition.
35. sealed pokemon base set booster boxFormat
    A factory-sealed box containing multiple booster packs from the original Pokémon Base Set expansion. This is a highly sought-after item by vintage collectors.
36. sealed pokemon red cartridgeCondition
    This refers to a Nintendo Game Boy cartridge containing the Pokémon Red game that has remained in its original, unopened packaging.
37. sealed productTrading Cards
    This refers to trading cards or related merchandise that are still in their original, unopened packaging, such as booster boxes, packs, or sealed product displays. For resellers and collectors, the sealed state is paramo
38. sealed stateSneakers
    This refers to the original, unopened condition of a pair of sneakers, meaning the box and shoes have never been removed from their factory packaging. For collectors and resellers, this is the gold standard, as it guaran
39. sealed toyToys
    This refers to a toy that remains in its original, unopened packaging, often in a factory-sealed state. For collectors and resellers, the seal is paramount because it verifies the item's authenticity and condition, ensur
40. sealed variantToys
    This refers to a specific version of a toy or collectible that remains factory-sealed, often within its original packaging, but possesses unique characteristics like a different colorway, exclusive accessory, or limited
41. sealed variant packagingToys
    This refers to a specific version of a toy or collectible that comes in its original, unopened packaging, and that packaging itself has a unique or limited design element. This could be a special insert, a unique color s
42. sealed vintage toyToys
    This refers to an older toy that remains in its original, unopened packaging. The "vintage" aspect implies the toy is from a past era, often decades old, and the "sealed" condition is crucial because it guarantees the it
43. sealed vinylVinyl & Music
    This refers to vinyl records that are still in their original, factory-sealed shrink wrap. The seal indicates that the record has never been removed from its protective packaging, meaning it is in a pristine, unused cond
44. sealerSneakers
    A sealer is a protective coating applied to sneakers, typically a spray or liquid designed to shield the materials from environmental damage. This includes preventing water absorption, repelling dirt, and guarding agains
45. seals intactToys
    Seal intact means a toy or collectible has never been opened, with all original factory seals, plastic wraps, and tamper-evident stickers perfectly undisturbed.
46. seam glueVinyl & Music
    This refers to the adhesive used to join the two halves of a vinyl record, typically during pressing or in specialized repair scenarios. For collectors and resellers, the presence or absence of visible seam glue is a cri
47. seam integrityComics
    This refers to the condition of the binding along the spine of a comic book. It assesses how cleanly and securely the pages are joined together. A comic with excellent seam integrity means the spine is tight, the pages a
48. seam splitVinyl & Music
    Seam splits are visible, structural cracks or separations along the outer groove edge of a vinyl record, indicating material failure that significantly reduces collector grade and resale value.
49. seam wearComics
    This refers to visible damage along the edges where the comic book pages or covers were bound together. It manifests as fraying, splitting, or distortion of the paper along the spine or fold lines. For collectors, seam w
50. search engine optimizationReselling
    This refers to the practice of optimizing online listings, product descriptions, and store content so that they rank higher in search engine results, like Google or eBay's internal search. For resellers and collectors, e
51. search engine optimization (seo)Reselling
    This refers to the practice of optimizing online listings, product descriptions, and store pages so that they rank higher in search engine results, like Google or eBay's internal search. For resellers, effective SEO is c
52. search impressionReselling
    This refers to the number of times a listing or product appears in search results on a marketplace platform, even if a buyer doesn't click on it. It's a key metric for understanding your visibility within the platform's
53. search rankingReselling
    This refers to the position of your listing or product within the search results on a marketplace like eBay or Etsy. When a buyer searches for a specific item, the platform's algorithm determines which listings appear fi
54. search volumeReselling
    This metric indicates how frequently people are actively searching for a specific item or keyword on major search engines like Google. For resellers and collectors, high search volume suggests a broad, existing market de
55. seasonal demandReselling
    This refers to the predictable fluctuations in consumer interest and purchasing behavior tied to specific times of the year. Certain items, like holiday decorations, swimwear, or back-to-school supplies, experience signi
56. seasonalitySneakers
    This refers to the predictable ebb and flow of demand for certain items based on the time of year. For sneakers, this might mean certain athletic styles peak during summer sports seasons or that specific fashion drops ar
57. second pressingVinyl & Music
    A second pressing refers to a subsequent run of vinyl records manufactured after the initial pressing of an album. These are not simply reissues; they are often new physical copies made from the original master tapes or
58. second printVideo Games
    A second print refers to a subsequent manufacturing run of a video game, often after the initial, first production batch. These later runs can sometimes feature minor variations in packaging, artwork, or even internal co
59. second printingComics
    This refers to a subsequent edition of a comic book that was produced after the original print run. Publishers often release second printings to meet sustained demand for popular titles, sometimes years after the initial
60. second runToys
    A second run refers to a subsequent production batch of a toy or collectible after the initial, often highly sought-after, release. These items are not considered first editions, but they are still official merchandise f