Direct answer
Treat a grade as the seller's defined cosmetic code. Record sale condition, functional results, battery readings and lock status separately; the letter alone does not establish that a handset is ready for resale.
Key takeaways
- A and B are not industry law. They are the seller's code.
- Battery health and screen marks should be separate notes.
- Function-check failures belong in the fail rule, not in the grade letter.
Grade letters travel between markets. The inspection behind them does not. If you buy on the letter alone, you bought a story.
Ask for the rubric
Ask the supplier to define used, open-box and new separately, including prior use, packaging and any testing represented. Do not derive those conditions from A/B letters. Copy this comparison sheet for each unit:
| Field | Supplier definition / agreed limit | Observed result |
|---|---|---|
| Sale condition | Used / open-box / new definition: ___ | ___ |
| Cosmetic grade | Letter; screen/body defect limits: ___ | Grade and defect locations: ___ |
| Function | Required tests: ___ | Pass / fail / pending; test reference: ___ |
| Battery | Agreed metric and limit, if any: ___ | Model, method/tool, reading, date or “not tested”: ___ |
| Locks | Required status: ___ | Blacklist and account-lock results separately, or pending: ___ |
If a definition or test is missing, keep that field unresolved.
Separate cosmetics from function
A clean shell and a failed camera can coexist. Record the cosmetic grade and camera failure separately, then apply the agreed acceptance rule; do not redefine every seller’s A grade as a functional guarantee.
An example grade line
Hypothetical editorial record: “Used; supplier cosmetic B; hairline on lower glass; camera fail; battery not tested; account lock pending; hold for assessment.” This describes no actual inspected handset and assigns no universal battery threshold.
After the phones arrive
Use the per-IMEI intake diagnostic workflow to verify identifiers and record functional and lock results against the agreed list. Keep the grade sheet attached to those results.
Frequently asked questions
Is grade A the same as new?
A cosmetic letter does not establish whether a unit is new, open-box or used. Ask the supplier to define each sale condition and record it separately from the cosmetic grade.
Can I treat 90 percent battery as a standard?
Use a percentage threshold only if agreed for that model and measurement method. Record the date and source of the reading, or not tested; do not infer battery condition from a cosmetic grade.
