The grading standard
How liquidation grading works, New to Grade D
Graded by checklist, not by guess. The grade is computed from a fixed set of inspection answers, never chosen from a dropdown. A power-on is not a functional test, and here nothing pretends otherwise.
A lower grade is a different deal, not a worse one
Some of our best buyers hunt Grade C and D deliberately: repairers, parts resellers, project builders. Each grade is priced to reflect exactly what it is.
Sealed, unopened.
New / Overstock means sealed and unopened. An item that has been opened, even if unused and complete, is graded A at best. Box damage never downgrades a sealed item.
24-hour claim window for major functional defects on a consumer account, counted from pickup or confirmed delivery. Longer for accounts verified as resellers.
Opened, with no damage and no signs of use.
Nothing missing that affects use, and a missing accessory such as a cable is named in the listing. It works, or it could not be tested and looks new.
24-hour claim window for major functional defects on a consumer account, counted from pickup or confirmed delivery. Longer for accounts verified as resellers.
Cosmetic damage, or visible signs of use.
Damage that does not affect how it works, or marks that show it has been used. The listing says which.
24-hour claim window for major functional defects on a consumer account, counted from pickup or confirmed delivery. Longer for accounts verified as resellers.
Heavy use, or something that affects how it works.
Heavy signs of use, damage that affects use, or a missing part that affects use. Priced to reflect it.
Final sale. The condition is described in detail before bidding, and the price reflects it.
Does not work.
For parts, repair, or projects, and priced as that.
Final sale. The condition is described in detail before bidding, and the price reflects it.
What you can see before you bid
Every listing carries the same four things, whatever the grade.
The condition card
The grade, the condition of the box, how far it was tested, and anything missing. It is the second image on the lot.
How far it was tested
Visual, limited or full, stated on the card. A power-on is never written up as a full test.
The photos
The listing photo plus our own photos of the actual item, showing its condition. The first image is the listing image from the source; ours follow it.
Where it came from
A link to the source listing for the model, so you can read the specification for yourself.
From grade to decision
Knowing the grade is half of it
A grade tells you what the item is. What it is worth depends on how far it was tested and what the card says is missing.
How to price against a grade →The same grade, whoever is on the bench
The same rules run every week, on every item, which is why the same item gets the same grade whoever inspected it. The question at every step is whether it affects use.
- 1Sealed and unopened → New / Overstock. Stop there.
- 2Does not work → D
- 3Damage that affects use, or a missing part that affects use → C
- 4Heavy signs of use → C
- 5Cosmetic damage that does not affect use, or visible signs of use → B
- 6Opened, undamaged, unused, nothing missing that affects use → A
Five rules that are unusual, and deliberately on your side
These are the rules the rest of the industry leaves unwritten. We publish them because they are the reason our grades mean something.
A missing user manual never affects the grade
Manuals are online. A missing one is noted and nothing more.
Missing generic accessories never affect the grade
A missing generic USB cable does not downgrade an item. A missing proprietary charger does, because the item will not work without it.
Box damage never downgrades a sealed item
A dented corner or a torn box on a factory-sealed unit is cosmetic. If the tape test passes, it is New / Overstock regardless of how the box looks.
The card records what the inspector found
What was tested, how far, and what the inspector found.
What was actually tested is disclosed
An item that powers on but cannot be fully exercised is recorded as limited testing. We never imply a full test we did not perform.
We tell you how far we tested
A power-on is not a functional test, and we never let one read as the other. Every lot states which of these three applies.
Visual
Looked over and not powered on. A sealed item is judged from the package, which is never opened, and the card says so.
Limited
Powered on and checked as far as is practical, for example a coffee machine that powers on but is not run with real beans, and the card says so.
Full
The item was tested in normal operation.
The model you bid on is the model you receive
Where an item has look-alike versions, the model code is read off the unit and confirmed against the listing.
Specifications are often pulled automatically from UPCs. Minor differences in colour or packaging may occur.
Published against QC Standards Book v3, effective 2026-10-03. The same version prints on the condition card of every lot, so the standard you read here is the standard that graded the item.
Some things we simply will not sell
Recalled and counterfeit goods are pulled and never listed, and health and beauty items are handled so nothing unsafe reaches a buyer.