Tech Trade Hub: Universal Hardware Grading Scale

To ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for all B2B buyers and sellers, all hardware listed on this platform must strictly adhere to the grading scale below.

Vendors found over-grading items will automatically lose buyer disputes and may face account suspension.

Grade A: Pristine / Like New

• Systems (Laptops): 100% fully functional. Flawless screen (no dead pixels/marks). Casing has no visible scratches or dents; maximum 1-2 micro-blemishes. Zero keyboard wear.
• Storage (HDD/SSD): 100% SMART Health status with zero bad sectors and very low power-on hours/terabytes written (TBW).
• Batteries: Minimum 90% battery health capacity; very low cycle count.
• Motherboards & Internal Parts: Pristine condition. No previous board-level repairs, no bent pins, and all ports/connectors are perfectly intact.

Grade A-: Excellent

• Systems: 100% functional. Flawless screen. Very light, superficial casing scratches. Imperceptible keyboard wear.
• Storage: 100% SMART Health status; standard power-on hours.
• Batteries: 85% to 89% battery health capacity.
• Motherboards & Internal Parts: 100% functional. May show very minor handling marks, but all ports, pins, and connectors are fully intact.

Grade B+: Very Good

• Systems: 100% functional. Flawless screen. Noticeable but standard casing scratches/scuffs. Light keyboard shine.
• Storage: 100% SMART Health status; moderate to high power-on hours, but zero bad sectors.
• Batteries: 80% to 84% battery health capacity.
• Plastics & Chassis: Loose plastics have standard scuffs but all internal mounting clips and brass screw inserts are 100% intact.

Grade B: Good / Standard Trade

• Systems: 100% functional. Maximum 1 minor screen mark. Heavier casing scratching/dings. Definite keyboard shine.
• Batteries: 70% to 79% battery health capacity.
• Screens (Loose Panels): Fully functional, maximum 1 minor surface scratch. No dead pixels or pressure marks. Mounting tabs fully intact.
• Keyboards (Loose): Fully tested, visible shine on keys, but no missing keys and ribbon cable is pristine.

Grade B-: Fair

• Systems: 100% functional. Maximum 2 screen marks. Heavy casing scuffs, possible hairline cracks in non-structural plastics, missing rubber feet. Heavy keyboard wear/fade.
• Batteries: 60% to 69% battery health capacity.
• Screens (Loose Panels): Maximum 2 surface scratches or minor pressure marks. No dead pixels.
• Plastics & Chassis: Heavy scuffing. May have 1 or 2 broken internal mounting clips, but the part still mounts securely.

Grade C: Poor / Minor Faults

• Systems: Possesses exactly one minor functioning issue (e.g., dead battery, one dead USB, non-working webcam, up to 3 dead keys). Screen may have pressure marks/dead pixels. Heavy cosmetic damage or structural cracks.
• Storage: SMART status shows “Warning” or “Caution” (e.g., reallocated sectors). Must be explicitly detailed in the listing.
• Batteries: Below 60% health, or OS displays “Service Recommended” warning. Not swollen.
• Motherboards: Boots and functions, but has a specific fault (e.g., dead audio jack, one dead RAM slot, or a previously repaired trace).
• Keyboards (Loose): Missing up to 3 keycaps, or heavily worn lettering, but underlying switches function.

Grade D: Spares & Repairs

• Systems: Not functioning correctly (no power, motherboard failure, liquid damage, or BIOS/MDM locked). Smashed screens or destroyed chassis.
• Storage: Dead, clicking, or unreadable drives.
• Batteries: Swollen, leaking, or completely dead batteries.
• Motherboards: Dead, liquid damaged, severe physical damage, or locked with BIOS/Computrace passwords.
• Components: Torn ribbon cables, shattered plastics, or bare screens with cracked glass/bleeding LCDs.