Abstract: A system and method for determining whether an article is new or used; and if used, the extent of usage. A smart tag, or smart tag, integrates into the article. The smart tag has integrated therein, data, which related to the article. A tag reader communicates a query to the smart tag to obtain the data. A non-volatile memory contains the item manufacturer, a serial number, and an item identity. A one-time-activation circuit determines if the article is ‘NEW’ or ‘USED’. A sensing element contains a ‘wakeup’ process to respond to a query, or, to monitor and log usage. Usage is categorized to a density, a sequence, an interval, and an amplitude algorithm of movement as being representative of the scale of usage. This data stores in the non-volatile memory. A tag reader, or tag reader queries the smart tag to access the logged data.