How does Jiils decide what grade my device gets?

Every device is inspected in person against a written checklist — screen condition, battery health, port function, cosmetic wear, accessories. The grade reflects the worst single criterion: a phone with a perfect screen but a hairline crack on the back is Fair, not Excellent. We don't average; we apply the floor.

Are these the same grades you use when buying and when selling?

Yes. Same five grades, same definitions, same checklist. A device we'd grade Excellent when buying it from you is the same Excellent we list it as in the shop. No rebranding the same wear into different language depending on which side of the deal you're on.

What if my device falls between two grades?

We round down. Between Excellent and Good? It's Good. The principle is: the grade should never be a positive surprise away from the device, only a neutral or slightly positive one. If you'd describe it as 'pretty much Excellent' it'll be listed as Good with photos that show why.

Can I see photos before I commit to buying or selling?

Buyer side: every catalogue listing has 4–8 photos taken on a white background, including any wear we noted. Seller side: we send you back the photos we'd publish before you accept the offer, so there are no surprises if it goes on sale.

How do you test before listing?

For phones and tablets: full hardware test (screen touch, cameras front + back, speakers, mics, all buttons, charging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SIM, battery health). For laptops: ports, keyboard, trackpad, webcam, speakers, battery cycle count, screen pixel sweep. For DJ and pro audio: full signal chain through a club-grade monitor pair. Anything failing the test gets the fault disclosed in the listing.

How we grade

Condition grades, in plain English.

We use the same five grades whether we’re buying your device or selling it on. No marketing fluff, no hidden checklist — here’s exactly what each grade means.

TL;DR

MintIndistinguishable from new. Original packaging if mentioned. Zero cosmetic wear, full battery health, every accessory present.
ExcellentLight use, looks unused from arm's length. Possible micro-scratches under direct light only.
GoodVisible signs of normal use — small marks, light scuffs on corners or back. Screen perfect, all functions work.
FairHeavier cosmetic wear — scratches, dings, possibly a small cosmetic crack. Functions intact, just shows its age.
FaultyHas a known fault — cracked screen, dead battery, broken port, water damage. We still buy these for parts and repair.

Mint

Indistinguishable from new. Original packaging if mentioned. Zero cosmetic wear, full battery health, every accessory present.

What it means

·No scratches, marks, dents or scuffs anywhere on the device
·Battery health 95% or above (Apple devices)
·All original accessories included — charger, cable, box, manuals
·Device functions exactly as a new unit would
·Often kept under a screen protector since unboxing

Real examples

·iPhone with under 100 cycles, screen protector since day one
·MacBook used twice for travel, otherwise sealed
·DJ controller still in original packaging

Effect on price: Top of the price band — typically 5–10% above Excellent.

Excellent

Light use, looks unused from arm's length. Possible micro-scratches under direct light only.

What it means

·Faint micro-scratches on screen or back, only visible at the right angle
·No dents, no chips, no scuffs on edges or corners
·Battery health 90% or above
·Original accessories or equivalent included
·Fully functional, no quirks

Real examples

·MacBook used daily for 12 months in a sleeve
·iPhone with case on since day one
·Camera body with under 5,000 shutter actuations

Effect on price: The reference grade — most catalogue listings sit here.

Good

Visible signs of normal use — small marks, light scuffs on corners or back. Screen perfect, all functions work.

What it means

·Minor scuffs on bezels, corners or back panel
·No cracks, no deep scratches on the screen
·Battery health 85% or above
·All buttons, ports, cameras and speakers fully functional
·Accessories may be third-party replacements but match in spec

Real examples

·Two-year-old laptop used daily, kept clean but with edge wear
·Phone showing typical pocket marks on the frame
·DJ mixer with light fader wear from weekly use

Effect on price: Roughly 10–20% below Excellent.

Fair

Heavier cosmetic wear — scratches, dings, possibly a small cosmetic crack. Functions intact, just shows its age.

What it means

·Visible scratches across surfaces, possibly small dents
·Possible hairline crack on glass back or bezel — never on the screen
·Battery health 80%+ for phones; degraded but functional for laptops
·All core functions work; non-essential features (haptics, fingerprint sensor) may have quirks
·Accessories may be missing or non-original

Real examples

·Three-to-four-year-old phone, well used, hairline crack on back glass
·Tradesperson's laptop with case dings from site work
·Camera body with brassing and grip wear

Effect on price: 25–40% below Excellent. Honest pricing — we don't disguise wear in the photos.

Faulty

Has a known fault — cracked screen, dead battery, broken port, water damage. We still buy these for parts and repair.

What it means

·Specific named fault disclosed up front (e.g. cracked LCD, dead Face ID, dead battery)
·May have multiple cosmetic issues alongside the functional one
·We may still buy if the rest of the device has resale or parts value
·We don't resell faulty units as working — they're either repaired or part-harvested at a licensed facility

Real examples

·iPhone with cracked screen and dead Face ID
·Laptop with dead battery and worn keys
·Console with disc-drive failure but working HDMI

Effect on price: Quoted case-by-case. Disclose the fault — we'll come back with a real number, not a placeholder.

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TL;DR

MintIndistinguishable from new. Original packaging if mentioned. Zero cosmetic wear, full battery health, every accessory present.

ExcellentLight use, looks unused from arm's length. Possible micro-scratches under direct light only.

GoodVisible signs of normal use — small marks, light scuffs on corners or back. Screen perfect, all functions work.

FairHeavier cosmetic wear — scratches, dings, possibly a small cosmetic crack. Functions intact, just shows its age.

FaultyHas a known fault — cracked screen, dead battery, broken port, water damage. We still buy these for parts and repair.

Condition grades, in plain English.

TL;DR

Mint

What it means

Real examples

Excellent

What it means

Real examples

Good

What it means

Real examples

Fair

What it means

Real examples

Faulty

What it means

Real examples

Got a question that isn’t covered here?

Loading Jiils

Condition grades, in plain English.

TL;DR

Mint

What it means

Real examples

Excellent

What it means

Real examples

Good

What it means

Real examples

Fair

What it means

Real examples

Faulty

What it means

Real examples

Got a question that isn’t covered here?