Many of our items are one-offs, so you can't pick them up and look them over before you buy. That's why we grade every item honestly and describe it in detail.
We keep the grade simple: one of four, so you know where you stand at a glance. The detail sits underneath, with every imperfection we find and everything that comes with the item. The discovery can surprise you. The details shouldn't.
What grades does A2B use?
Every item has one of four grades. New is for items nobody has owned before. The three Pre-owned grades tell you how much use an item shows.
- GradeNew
- Brand new and unused.
- GradePre-owned - Excellent
- Previously owned, with little or no sign of use.
- GradePre-owned - Very Good
- Light signs of use, all listed below.
- GradePre-owned - Good
- Visible signs of use, all listed below.
"Listed below" means the Imperfections row in the Truth at a Glance box on each product page, so you can see exactly what we mean.
What does New mean?
Brand new and unused.
What can I expect?
- The item hasn't been owned or used before.
- It may be sealed, boxed or still have its original tags. The description tells you which.
- If a box or outer wrapping has a mark, crease or dent, we list it under Imperfections.
- If it comes without its original box, we say so.
What does Pre-owned - Excellent mean?
Previously owned, with little or no sign of use.
What can I expect?
- The item has had an owner before, but shows little or no sign of it.
- Some Excellent items have never been used or worn at all. We still grade them pre-owned because they have been owned before.
- Any small marks we find are listed under Imperfections, along with any wear to the box, tags or packaging.
What does Pre-owned - Very Good mean?
Light signs of use, all listed below.
What can I expect?
- Light signs of use, such as small surface marks, light scuffs or minor wear from handling or display.
- Each one is listed under Imperfections and, where it can be seen, shown in the photos.
- Overall, the item still presents well.
What does Pre-owned - Good mean?
Visible signs of use, all listed below.
What can I expect?
- Wear you can clearly see, such as creasing, rubbing, scratches, paint chips or worn edges.
- Occasionally a small part is missing or a feature no longer works. When that's the case, we say exactly what.
- Every imperfection we find is listed under Imperfections and shown in the photos.
How do I read Truth at a Glance?
On every product page, just above Add to Bag, you'll find a box called Truth at a Glance. It sums up the item in a few short rows:
Truth at a Glance (example)
- Condition
- Pre-owned - Very Good
- Imperfections
- Light scuffing to the base
Small mark on the left side - Includes
- Item and original box
- Condition
- The grade: New, Pre-owned - Excellent, Pre-owned - Very Good or Pre-owned - Good.
- Imperfections
- Every flaw we find, one per line. That includes marks on the item and wear to its box, tags or packaging.
- Includes
- What comes with it, such as the original box, tags, dust bag, stand, cables or paperwork. If something you might expect isn't included, we aim to say so.
Read the box together with the full description under The Details, further down the page, which tells the rest of the item's story.
What do A2B’s testing statuses mean?
Where functional testing is meaningful, an item’s product page may show a Testing status. Not every type of item needs functional testing.
- Fully tested — working as expected
- We checked the item’s relevant normal functions, and they worked as expected when tested.
- Partially tested — see testing notes
- Only some functions were tested. The item’s testing notes explain what was checked and what was not.
- Not tested
- No meaningful functional test was carried out. This does not automatically mean the item is faulty; its functional condition has not been verified.
Read the testing status and any testing notes alongside the Condition, Imperfections, Includes and full product description. These labels describe checks carried out at the time, not a guarantee of future performance.
Will I know about every flaw?
Every imperfection we find when we check an item goes in the Imperfections row, and we show it in the photos wherever it can be seen. We would rather tell you about a tiny mark than have it surprise you.
Older and pre-owned items can carry small signs of age that are hard to capture on camera, so please read the description and look through every photo. If you'd like a closer look at anything, ask us before you buy.
How do you grade vintage items that have never been used?
An item can be decades old and still be unworn and well kept. If it has been owned before, we grade it Pre-owned - Excellent rather than New, even when it still has its original tags or box.
The description says so plainly, for example "pre-owned but never used or worn", with the year where we know it. Any tags or box are listed under Includes, and any signs of age on them under Imperfections.
Are the photos of the actual item?
For pre-owned, vintage and one-off items, yes. We photograph the item you'll receive, and add close-ups where an imperfection needs to be seen. Occasionally we add a styled or illustrative image as well; when we do, rely on the photos of the item and the written details. Our Product Imagery & Digital Content page explains more.
What if I have a question, or something isn't right?
- Not sure about an item? Email support@shopwitha2b.com before you buy and we'll help with what we know.
- If an item arrives faulty, damaged or not as described, our Returns & Refunds Policy explains what to do.
- Delivery questions are answered in our Shipping Policy and FAQ.
Want to know more about us? Read Our Story, or browse everything we've found. You never know what you'll find.