Buying refurbished means doing something for the planet and accepting that your new Mac had a previous life 🌍
The grade is an aesthetic mark that we give to the appearance of your Mac. We have 4 grades ranging from "Fair condition" to "Perfect condition" including traces of use more or less visible or even imperceptible depending on the condition.
To give you the best possible guidance, here is the description we use when grading a Mac:
Fair condition - C: The Good Condition grade includes devices with more visible cosmetic signs of use. This may include:
- visible scratches or marks on the casing
- worn or slightly dented corners
- noticeable sticker marks
The screen may also have visible marks, but these remain purely cosmetic and do not affect functionality. This grade is perfect for customers who prioritize value over appearance, while still enjoying a fully reliable refurbished Mac.
Good condition - B: A Mac in Very Good Condition still looks very clean but may show slightly more visible signs of use. This may include:
- a faint sticker mark
- a small dent or minor casing deformation
- a more noticeable scratch
These marks remain limited and isolated and do not affect the overall appearance of the device. The screen may show very light marks, but they will not be visible when the display is on.
- Very good condition - A: Devices graded Excellent Condition are the closest to a “like new” appearance. They may show:
- very light micro‑scratches
- barely visible marks from normal use
However, this grade does not include dents, casing deformation, sticker marks, or noticeable cosmetic damage.
Unfortunately, your advisor will not be able to show you photos of a particular model, as different models of the same grade may show different signs of wear (due to their previous life, of course 🙂 ).
However, to help you visualise the process more clearly, our Resources page features photos illustrating each aesthetic grade, giving you an accurate idea of the various possible conditions.