Condition Grades
Last updated: October 7, 2026
Every computer we sell has a condition: New, Open-box or Refurbished. Refurbished items also get a grade: Excellent, Good or Fair, which describes how they look. Both are shown on the product page, so you know exactly what you're getting before you buy.
1. Condition
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| New | Unused stock, sealed or never set up. Includes everything the manufacturer ships in the box. |
| Open-box | The packaging was opened, usually because of a return, a cancelled order or a display unit. Used little or not at all. Inspected, tested and reset to factory settings. |
| Refurbished | Previously used, leased or returned, then professionally inspected, tested, repaired where needed, cleaned and data-wiped. Graded Excellent, Good or Fair by appearance. |
2. Refurbished grades
Refurbished products get one of three grades. The grade describes appearance only. Every grade goes through the same functional testing.
| Excellent | Good | Fair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall look | Looks nearly new. Any light marks are faint and in places you'd have to look closely to find. | Small, light signs of normal use, such as scuffs or fine scratches. No cracks, dents or chips. | Visible wear anywhere on the body, such as deeper scratches, scuffs, small dents or chips. Fully working, at the lowest price. |
| Screen | No scratches or blemishes. | No marks in the viewing area when the screen is on. | Light marks may be visible when the screen is off. None that affect viewing when on. |
| Keyboard and trackpad | No visible wear. | Light shine or wear on some keys. | Noticeable wear on keys or palm rest. |
| Accessories | All essential accessories included (original or a compatible replacement). | Essential accessories included. Non-essential extras may be missing. | A working charger is always included. Other extras may be missing. |
| Packaging | Original box or a suitable replacement. | May come in generic packaging. | Generic packaging. |
What each listing tells you
- Condition and grade, as defined above
- Material cosmetic defects specific to the unit, such as a mark on the lid or a worn key, and anything missing
- Battery condition, where we were able to measure it
- Keyboard layout, for example English (US), Canadian bilingual or French
- What's in the box, including whether the charger is original or a compatible replacement
- Photos: unless the listing says they show the actual unit, photos show a representative unit of the same model and grade
If something on a unit doesn't match its listing, it's covered by our Returns & Refunds Policy.
3. What we check on every open-box and refurbished unit
- Powers on, boots and runs the installed operating system
- Screen: no dead-pixel clusters, backlight bleed that affects use, or lines
- Every key on the keyboard, the trackpad and its buttons
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, speakers, microphone, webcam and all ports
- Battery charges and holds a charge. Where we can measure it, battery health is shown on the listing.
- Storage and memory tested for errors
- Checked for BIOS passwords, activation locks and organization management (MDM)
- Previous owner's data erased and a clean operating system installed
- Cleaned inside and out
4. Warranty and returns by condition
Every product comes with our 90-day IdealofTech warranty, explained in our Warranty Policy, and can be returned within 30 days under our Returns & Refunds Policy. None of this limits your rights under the consumer protection laws of your province or territory.
Questions about a specific unit?
Ask us before you buy. We're happy to send extra photos or details. Contact us.