Refurbishment Process & Quality Grading Explained

Created: April 6, 2023 • Last updated: July 24, 2025

In This Article:

A Grade Device Examples
B Grade Device Examples
Devices That Don't Meet Our Standards
Device Grading FAQs

At Australian Computer Traders, we believe in complete transparency. When you shop with us, you know exactly what to expect. All our refurbished laptops and devices go through a strict refurbishment process and detailed quality grading system. When purchasing a device from us, you’ll receive a product that has been fully tested, professionally refurbished, backed by our 12-month warranty.

This page gives you an in-depth overview of how our devices are graded, as well as the differences between each grade, and what our refurbishment process includes.

Refurbishment Process Overview

Our step-by-step process ensures that you’re receiving a reliable, fully functional device that meets our high standards — whether you choose Grade A, or Grade B.

Every device at Australian Computer Traders is:

Professionally refurbished by qualified technicians
Fully tested for functionality and performance
Securely wiped to remove all previous data
Loaded with a fresh, fully licensed operating system
Supported by our 12-month warranty

What Do the Grades Mean?

We offer two grades to help you choose the right laptop for your needs and budget:

Grade A: Great condition – minor signs of wear, fully functional.
Grade B: Good condition – moderate cosmetic wear.

Every laptop, no matter the grade, is professionally refurbished and fully tested.

Device Grading

Category	Grade A	Grade B
Overall	Professionally refurbished, with minor signs of previous use	Professionally refurbished, with moderate signs of previous use
Physical	May have faint body discolouration Up to 2 minor scratches or marks on screen that are not visible when device is on. Up to 5 dents that are not visible from under 30 cm away. All key prints are clearly readable. Minor scuffs/scratches under 5 cm on the lid or bottom.	May have faint body discolouration Moderate marks to screen that are not visible when device is on. Up to 5 dents that are visible from under 30 cm away. All key prints are clearly readable, but have moderate signs of previous use. All key prints are clearly readable, but have moderate signs of previous use. Moderate scuffs/scratches on the lid or bottom.
Performance	Fully functional. Battery health is 80% +	Fully functional. Battery health between 50% and 79%

A Grade Laptop Examples

These are real examples of A Grade laptops – minor cosmetic wear, clean overall condition, and fully functional.

B Grade Laptop Examples

These are real examples of B Grade laptops – can have moderate cosmetic wear such as scratches, dents, or keyboard imprints in the LCD screen, but still fully functional and covered by our warranty.

B Grade – Faded/Dirty Microsoft Surface Keyboard

All Devices Must Meet the Following Criteria to Qualify as Refurbished:

✅ Fully functional with no cracks, all panels securely attached
✅ Hinges are fully functional, not stuck or loose
✅ Power, restart, hibernate, and sleep functions work correctly
✅ Screen has no major cracks (minor dead pixels acceptable per grading)
✅ Touch screen or digitiser works (if applicable)
✅ Full hardware test passed
✅ Charging port and USB/HDMI/Ethernet/Thunderbolt ports work
✅ Card readers, SIM readers, and CD/DVD drives (if applicable) are functional
✅ Keyboard is fully functional with no stuck keys
✅ Trackpad and mouse are fully functional
✅ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity work
✅ Touch ID, Face ID, or fingerprint recognition works (if applicable)
✅ Activation lock removed (Windows, iCloud, MDM, etc.)
✅ Device is not BIOS locked
✅ Functional microphone, speakers, camera, and indicator lights
✅ Hard drive securely wiped and checked for bad sectors
✅ System restore partition or fresh OS installation provided
✅ Battery holds charge within the acceptable grading standard
✅ Device launches as new with no previous user accounts
✅ Device is not blacklisted
✅ Device is ready for use in the correct geographical region

Examples of Devices That Would Not Pass Our Grading Process

Below are real examples of issues that do not meet our strict quality standards. Devices with these defects are excluded from our inventory to ensure only high-quality products are sold to our customers.

Devices that fail our quality check often show:

Physical damage such as broken hinges or missing parts
Severe screen damage or keyboard faults
Swollen or unsafe batteries
Software issues like remote management locks

These items are never sold to customers and are either recycled or dismantled for parts.

Refurbishment Process & Grading FAQ's

What’s the difference between Grade A, and Grade B?

Grade A laptops are in good cosmetic condition with minimal wear.
Grade B laptops show signs of previous use, like scratches, dents, keyboard wear, LCD screen imprints, and have battery health below 80%.

Will the battery work properly?

Yes, the battery in each laptop is tested to meet the grading standard.

Grade A: 80%+ battery life
Grade B: 50–79% battery life

Do you provide photos of individual laptops?

While we cannot provide photos of each individual device, the product images on our Refurbishment Process webpage accurately represent each device grade. As each device is unique, minor wear may vary but will always fall within the advertised grade standard.

What does refurbished mean?

Refurbished devices have been carefully tested, repaired (if needed), and cleaned by qualified technicians to ensure they’re fully functional. Unlike second-hand items sold privately, our refurbished devices come with a 12-month warranty and have been professionally graded for cosmetic condition.

Do you ever sell devices that don’t pass your grading process?

No. All devices must pass our quality checks before being listed for sale.