How Refurbished Grading Works in Europe
Grade A, Grade B, "Excellent", "Premium" — the labels mean different things at every seller. Here's how to read them.
The first thing to know
There is no EU-wide legal definition of refurbished grades. Each seller invents their own scale. A "Grade A" at one refurbisher can be cosmetically worse than a "Good" at another. The label is marketing — the description and photos are what matter.
The common scales
Most reputable EU refurbishers use one of these three systems:
The 3-tier scale (most common)
| Tier | Typical names | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Premium, Excellent, Grade A+, Like New | No visible signs of use from arm's length. Battery health usually ≥ 90%. |
| Mid | Very Good, Grade A, Good | Minor cosmetic marks. Battery health typically 85–95%. |
| Entry | Fair, Acceptable, Grade B | Visible scratches or scuffs. Fully functional. Battery health usually ≥ 80%. |
The 5-tier scale (Back Market style)
Adds "Stallone" / "Excellent" between the top two, and may split "Fair" into "Correct" and "Acceptable." More precision, more chance of being confused.
The letter scale (A / B / C)
Often used by Apple-focused refurbishers. A = essentially new, B = noticeable wear, C = significant wear, fully working.
What the grade does NOT tell you
- Battery health on phones, tablets and laptops — this should always be stated as a percentage, separately from the cosmetic grade.
- Whether non-original parts were used — screens, batteries, charging ports are frequently replaced; some sellers disclose this, many don't.
- Whether the device is iCloud-locked or carrier-locked — separate verification needed.
- Whether accessories are included — usually a charger, often not the original.
What "refurbished" should mean
A proper refurbishment process includes:
- Functional test of every component (display, cameras, sensors, ports, microphones, speakers, wireless)
- Battery health check with the original diagnostic tools
- Full data wipe to the factory state
- Cosmetic cleaning, repolishing where appropriate
- Replacement of any part that fails the functional test
- Final quality control before resale
Sellers that skip step 1 are simply "used resellers." The price should reflect that.
Battery health — the only number that matters on phones
Apple, Samsung and Google all expose battery health as a percentage. Insist on seeing it:
- ≥ 90% — basically new. Premium price justified.
- 85–89% — Excellent or Very Good grade typical pricing.
- 80–84% — Good / Grade B. Expect a meaningful discount.
- < 80% — should come with a brand-new battery installed, or be sold as "Fair" with a clear disclosure.
Cosmetic photos: what to ask for
Always request:
- Front of the device on a plain background, screen off
- Back of the device on a plain background
- Close-up of any disclosed scratch or dent
- The battery health screen for phones, tablets and laptops
A seller who refuses or only sends stock photos is hiding something.
The grade you should actually buy
For most categories, the mid-tier grade ("Very Good", "Good", "Grade A") offers the best value. The top tier is often only 10% better-looking for 25% more money. The entry tier saves real cash but you'll be living with visible wear every day.
Pay attention to the description and warranty, not the marketing label on the listing page.