Grading & Condition
Condition grading is the foundation of recommerce pricing. A device's grade determines its market value, margin potential, and how buyers perceive it. Consistent, accurate grading separates professional recommerce operations from commodity resellers.
Key concepts
12 termsAesthetic Grading
Aesthetic grading (also called cosmetic grading) is the assessment of a used device's visual condition - including scratches, dents, screen marks, and housing wear - independent of its functional performance.
Read definition →Condition-Based Pricing
Condition-based pricing is a model in which the resale or buyback value of a used device is determined by its assessed physical and functional grade, resulting in differentiated prices for the same model across different condition tiers.
Read definition →Functional Grading
Functional grading is the assessment of whether a used or refurbished device performs as expected across core hardware and software checks, independent of cosmetic appearance.
Read definition →Grading Standards: A / B / C / D
The A/B/C/D grading scale is the most widely used classification system for assessing the condition of used and refurbished consumer electronics, where Grade A indicates pristine or near-pristine condition and Grade D indicates heavy cosmetic or functional damage.
Read definition →Autograding
Autograding is the automated assessment of a used device's cosmetic condition using AI image recognition, producing a standardised grade without human involvement.
Read definition →Functional diagnostics
Functional diagnostics is the automated testing of a device's internal components - battery, camera, sensors, microphone, and connectivity - to determine whether it works as intended, independent of physical appearance.
Read definition →Cosmetic grading
Cosmetic grading is the classification of a used device's physical appearance into a standardised tier based on visible wear including scratches, dents, and screen condition.
Read definition →Grading return rate
Grading return rate is the percentage of sold devices returned by buyers due to a mismatch between stated condition and actual condition on arrival.
Read definition →Dispute rate
Dispute rate is the percentage of completed trade-in transactions that escalate to formal disagreement over assessed value, typically when intake quote assumptions differ from grade on receipt.
Read definition →Battery health
Battery health is the percentage of original maximum charge capacity remaining in a used device, measured as a function of charge cycles completed and electrochemical degradation over time.
Read definition →Like New / Open Box
Like New or Open Box is a condition tier applied to devices that have been opened or briefly used but show no visible cosmetic wear, occupying a distinct pricing position between sealed new and standard Grade A refurbished.
Read definition →Overgrading
Overgrading is the practice of assigning a condition grade higher than the actual cosmetic or functional state of a device, whether through inconsistent standards or deliberate misrepresentation.
Read definition →Related use cases
See how grading & condition concepts apply across different recommerce business models.
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