Grading Standards: A / B / C / D

Grade A (Pristine / Excellent): No visible cosmetic wear. Screen free of scratches. Housing intact. Fully functional in all respects. Battery typically above 85% original capacity. Closest to "like new" appearance.

Grade B (Good / Very Good): Minor cosmetic imperfections visible only on close inspection - light micro-scratches on the housing, no screen damage. Fully functional. Battery typically above 80%.

Grade C (Fair / Acceptable): Moderate cosmetic wear visible in normal use - scratches on body, possible small scuffs. May have minor screen marks visible at certain angles. Fully functional.

Grade D (Poor / Parts): Heavy cosmetic damage - significant scratches, dents, possible cracked housing. May have functional limitations. Often sold for parts or at deep discount to cost-conscious buyers.

Price differentials between grades for the same model typically range from 15% (A vs B) to 50%+ (A vs D). Note: platform-specific grading definitions (Backarket, Amazon, Refurbed, Swappa) may differ from this generic scale.

In practice, the A/B/C/D framework describes a spectrum of physical states but does not specify a single objective standard. Two sellers applying an A/B/C/D scale independently will often produce different grading outcomes for the same device, because the criteria for each tier are interpreted differently. Platform-specific rubrics attempt to resolve this with detailed scoring criteria and photographic references, but inter-seller grading variance persists. This variance is one of the reasons that return rates and dispute rates remain meaningful operational KPIs in recommerce, and why autograding tools are gaining adoption as a way to impose consistency at scale.