How we grade, and why we resolve disagreements downward

Cosmetic grading is where most refurbishers quietly lose their customers' trust. Not through fraud — through optimism.

The four grades

Premium is indistinguishable from new. Excellent shows very light signs of use you would not notice in daily handling. Good has light scratches on the frame or back, visible up close. Fair is clearly used, with visible scuffs — but the screen is always flawless, on every grade.

Two technicians, independently

Every device is graded twice, by people who cannot see each other's score. Roughly one device in seven produces a disagreement, almost always between adjacent grades.

The rule

When two technicians disagree, we take the lower grade. Always. It costs us margin on every one of those devices, and it is the single most important policy we have. You should be pleasantly surprised when the box arrives, never disappointed.

See the full grading scale.