Condition Grades Decoded: Like New, Very Good, Good, Acceptable
OpenBoxFox Team
Author
Every open-box and refurbished listing carries a condition grade, and the grade tells you more about what you'll receive than the word "used" or "refurbished" does. Grades describe cosmetic state and completeness. The top tiers are usually indistinguishable from new, and the bottom tiers are honest about scuffs.
Why grades matter more than labels
Retailers are required to disclose that an item isn't new, so everything gets filed under broad labels like "Used" or "Refurbished." The grade underneath is where the useful information is. Across the roughly 870,000 in-stock US listings OpenBoxFox tracked in July 2026, they broke down like this:
- Amazon Warehouse open-box ("Used" plus a grade): about 254,000 Like New, 163,000 Very Good, 10,000 Good and 36,000 Acceptable, plus ungraded listings.
- Certified refurbished (Reebelo and others): about 12,000 Very Good, 3,500 Brand New (sealed), 2,600 Like New and 1,800 Good.
Amazon Warehouse (Amazon Resale) grades, decoded
| Grade | What Amazon promises | What to expect in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Used – Like New | Perfect working condition; all essential accessories included; packaging may be damaged | Usually a never-used return, and the safest open-box buy. Full breakdown here. |
| Used – Very Good | Fully functions; may have seen limited use; minor cosmetic imperfections; may be repackaged or missing some nonessential accessories | Light shelf or handling wear you'll stop noticing in a week. Often the best value for the money. |
| Used – Good | Fully functions; wear from moderate use and minor cosmetic damage such as a small scratch; may be missing valuable accessories, so it may not be usable until you buy them | Expect scratches you can see, and check the listing for missing parts. Fine for tools and garage gear; think twice for gifts. |
| Used – Acceptable | Serves its main function; clear signs of use (scratches, dents, worn corners); may be missing valuable accessories, components or spare parts | The deep-discount tier. Check which parts are missing before relying on it. |
| Used – As Is | Serves its main function; may have extensive wear; may be missing valuable parts; photos show the exact condition | Only when the photos and notes show exactly what you're getting. |
All five grades have two things in common: the item went through Amazon's quality check, and Amazon's 30-day return window applies. Each listing also has a short note on that specific item's condition, including anything missing. The grade prices in the cosmetics, and the return policy covers the risk that something doesn't work.
Refurbished grades (Reebelo, Amazon Renewed and others)
Refurbished marketplaces grade on cosmetics too, but every unit has also been tested, which open-box items aren't. Common tiers, best first:
| Grade | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brand New / Sealed | New in its original sealed box, sold through a refurbished marketplace | Effectively a new item at a used price; grab these when the price is right. |
| Premium / Excellent / Like New | Fully tested, minimal to no visible wear | On Amazon Renewed, Premium also means a higher battery floor (over 90% of original capacity). |
| Very Good | Fully tested, barely visible micro-scratches on the screen and light scratches on the body (Reebelo's definition) | The volume tier: about 12,000 live listings on OpenBoxFox in July 2026, averaging about $500. |
| Good | Fully tested, visible scratches and possible dents | Deepest refurb discounts; screens and bodies show use. |
Amazon Renewed uses four grades, Premium, Excellent, Good and Acceptable, and requires batteries to hold more than 80% of original capacity (more than 90% on Renewed Premium). Most Renewed items come with a 90-day guarantee. More on that in open box vs refurbished vs renewed.
How to choose a grade
- For a gift, or something you'll look at every day (a TV, a watch, kitchen counter gear), stick to Like New or Excellent.
- For things you buy for function (tools, cables, car parts, appliances that live in a cabinet), Very Good or Good gets you the cosmetic discount at no real cost.
- Buy Acceptable or Fair only when the listing is explicit about what's missing and the discount clears about 40%. Our open-box safety guide has the full checklist.
- For anything with a battery, prefer a refurbished grade (tested) over the equivalent open-box grade (inspected only).
Frequently asked questions
Are condition grades standardized across retailers?
No. "Very Good" at Amazon and "Very Good" at a refurb marketplace are graded by different processes: the refurb one was electronically tested, the Warehouse one visually inspected. Each retailer's grade definitions are short, so read them once.
Which grade is the best deal?
Usually the middle tiers. Like New carries a premium for the "basically new" promise, and Acceptable is cheap but variable. "Very Good" usually lands within a few percent of the lower grades' discount with far less cosmetic risk.
Can a graded item be defective?
Rarely, but yes. Grading catches most issues, not all, which is why the return window matters more than the grade. Test everything within the first week.
Grade counts from the OpenBoxFox live database, July 2026 snapshot (in-stock US listings). Amazon Renewed grade and battery terms checked against Amazon's help pages on October 7, 2026. OpenBoxFox earns affiliate commissions on some outbound links. See our affiliate disclosure.