# When does something stop being new? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 23, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375 "2015-11-23T18:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/1 "2015-11-23T18:35:22Z")
My father sometimes refers to bridges that were built before I was born (I’m 21)as being “new”. Unless something had the word “new” in the name I wouldn’t call it that for more than a year. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/2 "2015-11-23T18:41:34Z")
I usually hear the term newer rather than new when referring to things like bridges or buildings. I could live with calling a 10 year old bridge new. Maybe the first 10% of somethings lifespan could be referred to as new. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/3 "2015-11-23T18:52:39Z")
I’d say something is “new” until it is “used” (or “pre-owned” :rolleyes: ). But you know me. ---
**Author:** ![Murf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Murf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murf)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/4 "2015-11-23T18:55:22Z")
I would say its all relative to what it is and how long it will last. Say you have something like a monument that will last hundreds of years. In 10 or 20 years it would still be fairly new. On the other hand think about a new computer that may be considered obsolete and old in a very short time as new technology comes along. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/5 "2015-11-23T19:52:19Z")
A recent thread looking for [the oldest “new” thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=773811) found some that are still called new after over a thousand years. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/6 "2015-11-23T19:57:28Z")
IIRC correctly in Sweden the time period is 5 years. After a commodity has been out for 5 years it is no longer OK to market it as “new”. The only reason I happen to know this was that one of the political parties called the Moderates here started marketing themselves as New Moderates, and then some pedantic politicians attacked them on that slogan 6 years later. Yes. What we need in Sweden is definitely more nitpicking, more pedants and more focus on trivial issues… :smack: Anyway, at least that provides an answer for you. Things stop being new after 5 years, at least in Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/7 "2015-11-23T20:09:15Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > My father sometimes refers to bridges that were built before I was born (I’m 21)as being “new”. Unless something had the word “new” in the name I wouldn’t call it that for more than a year. If a farmer has a barn and builds another, the second barn will be the new barn as long as they both stand. You are confusing two uses of the word new. New can mean freshly made or purchased. New can also indicate somethings relationship to another item of similar name or type. You might as well ask when the new testament becomes just the testament. You don’t say what the context is of your father’s remarks but if there are several bridges over a river referring to one as the “new” bridge would certainly be a useful qualifier. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/8 "2015-11-23T20:32:02Z")
Actually that will be the new barn as long as it stands, even if the original barn is long gone. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/9 "2015-11-23T20:34:14Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Actually that will be the new barn as long as it stands, even if the original barn is long gone. Until a new_er_ one is built. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/10 "2015-11-23T21:02:04Z")
Until some careless idiot dings it in the parking lot. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/11 "2015-11-23T23:03:59Z")
Six months. That’s how long you can advertise a product as new before the FTC stops you. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/12 "2015-11-23T23:46:51Z")
Immediately before I learn about it. The number of “new” things that I’ve encountered that are old news to everyone else is astounding. Like this “doge” thing for instance. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/13 "2015-11-24T00:15:17Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Six months. > > That’s how long you can advertise a product as new before the FTC stops you. I was going to ask for a cite, but then remembered that [Google exists](https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-faqs-guide-small-business): [QUOTE=Federal Trade Commission] “New” Claims When can a company advertise a product as “new”? The answer depends on how the ad uses the word “new.” For example, under the rules governing the identification of textiles, fabric cannot be advertised as “new” if it has been reclaimed or respun. The rules governing advertising claims for tires prohibit the use of the word “new” to describe retreads. However, when no specific regulation applies, each case must be considered within the context of the ad. At least one FTC advisory opinion has suggested a six-month limit on the use of the word when advertising the introduction of a “new” product not previously on the market. [/QUOTE] Not quite a blanket rule, but a good bit of guidance anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/14 "2015-11-24T00:41:52Z")
New Jersey? Nah, we’ve had that thing for ages! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/15 "2015-11-24T01:37:27Z")
[New College](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_College,_Oxford) in Oxford was fouynded in 1379, so you can be over 600 years old and still “New”. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/16 "2015-11-24T01:54:09Z")
\*\*Pabitel \*\*really hit it. Except in the context of a “new” product, “new” as a referent really means “successor”. New Jersey is a successor locale named for Jersey in Britain. The OP’s dad’s “new” bridge is the successor for the bridge which was there previously. The farmer’s “new” barn is the successor to his earlier barn. Etc. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2015, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-something-stop-being-new/738375/17 "2015-11-24T07:11:02Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > New Jersey? Nah, we’ve had that thing for ages! Not to mention New York and New Mexico. Golly, these states have some nerve.