Condition grades explained: from brand new to fair

"Good condition" means different things to different people. A shared scale lets buyers compare listings fairly and helps sellers set expectations before anyone travels to a meeting. AltF Marketplace uses four grades. Pick the one that matches the item honestly, then describe the details in your own words.

The item has never been used and is still sealed in its original packaging, or for clothing, unworn with the tags attached. Typical examples are a gift you did not need, a duplicate purchase or a sealed skincare product within its expiry date. If you opened the box to check the item, choose Like New instead and say so.

Used a few times at most, with no visible wear. A phone used for a few weeks with a screen protector from day one, a dress worn once to a wedding, a chair used briefly. Everything works, nothing is scratched, and ideally the box and accessories are included.

Used normally and looked after. There may be light signs of use, such as small scratches on the back of a phone, slight fading on a shirt or minor marks on furniture, but nothing that affects how it works or looks from a normal distance. Most second-hand items honestly belong here. Describe and photograph each mark.

It works as it should but shows clear wear: visible scratches or dents, worn fabric, a replaced part, or a battery that does not last as long as it did. This grade is for buyers who want something that works at a lower price. Be specific about every issue, because the buyer is relying on your description.

• A sealed perfume gift within its expiry date: Brand New (Unopened).
• A laptop used for one month for office work, no marks, box and charger included: Like New.
• Jeans worn for a season with slight fading and no tears: Gently Used.
• A study table with visible scratches and one stiff drawer that still works: Fair / Functional.

AltF Marketplace's grades are for items that work. If something does not work (a phone with a dead screen, a chair with a broken leg), say so clearly in the title and description, list it as Fair / Functional only if the main function still works, and price it as spares or for repair.

• Brand New (Unopened) items sell closest to the current new price, especially electronics with warranty left.
• Like New items sell at a modest discount to the new price.
• Gently Used is where most of the market is; price against similar used listings.
• Fair / Functional items sell to bargain hunters; price them clearly lower and say why.

If you are unsure between two grades, choose the lower one. A buyer who finds the item better than described is happy; one who finds it worse may walk away or argue about the price. Our resale price calculator uses the same four grades, so you can see how each one affects the estimate.