Refurbished Grades
Refurbished grades explained
Every refurbished, open-box and used item we sell is inspected, tested and graded before it's listed. The grade describes cosmetic condition only. Whatever the grade, the item is fully working, fully tested and covered by our 12-month warranty. This page explains each grade in the same words we use on our listings.
Grades at a glance
| Grade | What it means | Packaging | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand New | Factory sealed, unused. | Original retail box | Manufacturer's warranty |
| Open Box | As new. The box has been opened, typically a customer return or a display unit, but the item is unused. | Original box (may be tatty) or plain brown box | 12 months |
| Like New | Opened but as new. Fully working with no noticeable wear. | Tatty or non-original packaging | 12 months |
| Excellent Refurbished | Professionally restored and fully tested. May show very light cosmetic signs of previous use. | Original or Generic packaging | 12 months |
| Very Good Refurbished | Very good cosmetic condition, 100% functional. Light signs of handling such as faint scuffs or minor surface scratches. | Original or Generic packaging | 12 months |
| Good Refurbished | Performs perfectly but shows more visible signs of use: moderate scratches, scuffs or minor nicks. Our most affordable grade. | Original or Generic packaging | 12 months |
| Used: Very Good | Light signs of use only. Fully tested and working. | Original or Generic packaging | 12 months |
| Used: Good | Visible signs of use. Fully tested and working. | Original or Generic packaging | 12 months |
| Used: Acceptable | Well used with marked wear, but fully tested and working. | Original or Generic packaging | 12 months |
Open Box and Like New
These are unused items. Open Box stock is usually a retailer or customer return where the box was opened and the item never used; most are still in the original packaging, just tatty. Like New covers items that have been opened and handled but show no wear at all. Either way, expect a device that looks and works like new, at a lower price than sealed stock.
Excellent, Very Good and Good refurbished
Refurbished stock has been used before and has been through our refurbishment process: inspection, cleaning, testing of every function and, for computers, a fresh operating system install. The three grades differ only in how the outside looks:
- Excellent: you'll have to look closely to see any sign of use.
- Very Good: faint scuffs or minor surface scratches you may notice in the right light.
- Good: moderate scratches, scuffs or small nicks that are visible at a glance. Ideal if you want premium performance at the lowest price.
Each listing's condition note tells you about that specific unit, including anything that goes beyond the grade description, such as a missing accessory or a mark on the lid. If a listing says something specific, that description applies.
What's in the box
- Laptops always come with a compatible power adapter.
- UK models. Laptops have a UK keyboard layout and a UK power supply unless the listing says otherwise. Desktop PCs are UK models with a UK power supply.
- Packaging. Refurbished items ship in protective generic packaging rather than the original retail box. Open Box items usually keep their original box.
- Accessories. Where an original accessory pack is missing, the listing's condition note says so.
What we test
For laptops and desktops we check power and charging, the display, keyboard and trackpad, all ports, wireless and Bluetooth, camera and audio, storage health and battery condition. Monitors are tested for dead pixels, backlight uniformity and every input. Printers are test-printed. Anything that fails is repaired or removed from sale.
Faulty or "for parts" items
Occasionally we list items that don't fully work, for spares or repair. These are always clearly marked as faulty in the title and condition, are never graded as refurbished, and are sold as described.
Still not sure which grade to pick? Ask us: we tested the unit, so we can tell you exactly what it looks like.