What are refurbished IT grades?
Customers choose to buy refurbished IT for several reasons including saving money, getting access to better tech for less, and making a positive impact on the environment. To help potential buyers understand exactly what they’re purchasing and its condition, we have a standardised refurbished grade system which is applied to all desktops, laptops and all-in-ones and is supported by our comprehensive quality standard, ourQ20 Promise.
Refurbished grades let you know the quality of a refurbished product from a cosmetic standpoint, and reflect whether a laptop, desktop, iMac or iPad has marks, scuffs or scratches, or other signs of use, and to what degree.
Grading is a widely used across the industry to accurately communicate what to expect from a specific product. Grading provides consumer confidence and separates ‘as new’ tech from tech that may have scratches and signs of wear and tear, so that you can make an informed choice.
It’s important to note that all our machines are high quality, thoroughly tested by our expert workshop engineers and are fully functional – the grades only relate to the cosmetic condition, and we highlight this to match your expectations with the item you’re looking to buy. Following the standard assignment of lettered grades, we sell refurbished IT that is either assigned a Grade A or Grade B status.
Our refurbished grading system
Refurbished Grade A
This is the highest possible grade and reflects that the product is in excellent or very good condition and can be reasonably considered to be ‘like new’ or similar. Some Grade A items may have minor cosmetic marks or light scratches, or shiny areas from use on the keyboard or mouse / trackpad. These products will show little sign of previous use and no significant marks.
Our criteria for Grade A are:
Top Cover, Palm Rests and Track Pads:to be re-skinned if required.
Keyboard:all letters, symbols and numbers are all visible (some shine is allowed)
Screens:light scratches or marks may be visible when the screen is off, but will not be visible when turned on. No clusters of dead pixels or pressure marks in the centre of the screen will be present.
Body of Laptop:will show signs of use and will include but not exceed the following:
Small dents
Corners will show minor signs of use
No visible cracks
Slightly larger scratches will be refurbished with restoration paint
Base and rear will show signs of use
Refurbished Grade B
Grade B products will be in a reasonable condition with marks and scratches noticeably visible to the user, including shiny keys and surfaces around the keyboard. They are refurbished products with signs of previous use, but the functionality remains the same as Grade A products. Overall, Grade B products will have a lower price than Grade A to reflect their cosmetic condition.
Our criteria for Grade B are moderate signs of use, which will include:
Body:may have dents, scratches, and cracks
Screens:will have marks and scratches that will be visible whilst in use.
System:will be fully functional
Badges and Logos:may be missing
Which grade is right for you?
This is completely dependent on personal preference, but it can come down to a few factors that are worth considering:
How will you use the device?
Where will you use the device?
Is it for yourself, multiple people, or a gift?
If you are buying a computer for work or study and frequently travel, taking it into a range of offices and locations where it’s likely to see the effects of wear and tear quite swiftly, then Grade B would save you some upfront cost. On the other hand, if you’re purchasing for home use and are unlikely to take it on long trips on a regular basis, you may enjoy the seamless cosmetic quality of Grade A. Likewise, if you’re buying it for a gift and want it to look as new as possible.
Additional peace of mind: our Q20 Promise
Alongside the assurance on cosmetic condition from our grading system, we follow our strict Q20 Promise for all machines we sell. The Q20 Promise is our thorough testing process that all our machines complete before they are released for sale. This includes cosmetic and physical checks, diagnostic software tests and BIOS checks.
Our Q20 Promise is backed up by our 12-month warranty and ensures you’re getting the best quality refurbished IT and can buy in confidence. For more details about our Q20 Promise,read our article.
Get in Touch Today
Speak to our team on +44 (0) 1428 707900 to discuss your IT needs and take the first step towards a sustainable IT purchasing process.
