FAQ: Online Acronyms and eBay Abbreviations

faqs

You may see these words (acronyms or initalisms) as you go from place to place on the web. Also, when shopping online, many sellers use these abbreviations to get their sales points across quickly.

  • OMG: you know
  • @@: Just lurking @md reading but not participating on a chat board
  • 404: Somebody who hasn’t got a clue; from the Internet error message _404 Not Found
  • ADDY: E-mail address
  • AKA: Also known as
  • AOL: America Online
  • ASAP: As soon as possible
  • ATM: At the moment
  • B2B: Business to business
  • B2C: Business to customer
  • B&W: Black and white
  • BBC: Bottom of back cover
  • BBIAB: Be back in a bit
  • BC: Back cover
  • BRB: Be right back
  • BTW: By the way
  • CC: Cut corner or carbon copy
  • CIB: Cartridge instructions/box (as in computer equipment)
  • CONUS: Continental United States (which means Alaska and Hawaii are out)
  • CYE: Check your e-mail
  • Digerati: People who are fluent in the digital world; fromterat lii
  • DOA: Dead on arrival (like when the item you bought doesn’t work out of the package)
  • DSL: High Speed Internet Connection through a special phone line
  • E-mail: Electronic mail sent from computer to computer through phone lines over the Internet
  • Emoticon: A specific group of characters used to form a facial expression in electronic communication; for example : ) is a smiley face
  • FAQ: A list of Frequently Asked Questions and answers
  • FB: Feedback
  • Flame: An angry message or feedback, often resulting in a “flame war,” a series of flames that escalates
  • FTP: Method for transferring files over the Internet
  • FVF: Final value fee that the seller pays in a sucessful online auction
  • FWIW: For what it’s worth
  • Gently Used: Item that has been used but shows little wear, accompanied by explanation of wear
  • HP: Home page
  • HTML: The language used to create Web pages; HyperText Markup Language
  • HTTP: The method used to transport HTML on the Web; HyperText Transfer Protocol
  • IE: Internet Explorer
  • IMAO: In my arrogant opinion
  • IMHO: In my humble opinion
  • IMO: In my opinion
  • INIT: Initials
  • ISP: A company that gives you access to the Internet; Internet Service Provider
  • JPG: Preferred file format for pictures on eBay (pronounced J-Peg)
  • Link: A photo or text on a Web page that, if clicked upon, takes you to another place on the Internet; also hyperlink
  • LMK: Let me know
  • LOL: Laughing out loud; see also ROFL
  • LTD: Limited edition
  • Mint: In perfect condition (a subjective term)
  • MIB: Mint in box
  • MIJ: Made in Japan
  • MIMB: Mint in mint box
  • MIMP: Mint in mint package
  • MIP: Mint in package
  • MNB: Mint no box
  • MOC: Mint on card
  • MOMC: Mint on mint card
  • MONMC: Mint on near mint card
  • MWBT: Mint with both tags
  • MWMT: Mint with mint tags
  • MYOB: Mind Your Own Business
  • NARU: Not a registered user (suspended user)
  • NBW: Never been worn
  • NC: No cover
  • NM: Near mint
  • NR: No Reserve price on auction – highest bid wins
  • NO RESERVE: See NR
  • NOS: New, old stock
  • NRFB: Never removed from box
  • NSFW: Not safe for work
  • OEM: Original equipment manufacturer
  • OOP: Out of print
  • OTOH: On the other hand
  • Patina: The shine on the item
  • PM: Priority Mail
  • Rare: The most overused word on eBay auctions; use it only if you mean it
  • ROFL: Rolling on floor laughing; see also LOL
  • ROI: Return on Investment
  • RSVP: Respond as soon as possible; French, Respondez s’il vous plait
  • S/O: Sold out
  • Sig: Signature
  • Snail Mail: United States Postal Service delivery
  • Spam: Unwanted or unrequested e-mail; on eBay, sending e-mail to bidders in another seller’s auctions is illegal
  • SYSOP: System operator
  • TBB: Teenie Beanie Babies
  • TIA: Thanks in advance
  • TM: Trademark
  • TNG: As in Star Trek, The Next Generation
  • TOS: Star Trek term, “The Original Series”
  • URL: The address that identifies a Web site; Uniform Resource Locator
  • USPS: United States Postal Service
  • VHTF: Very hard to find
  • WTMI: Way Too Much Information
  • WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get

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