Grading devices is very important because Buyers keep their prices high when they trust that we’ll grade devices fairly. Here are a few tips:

  • Check first for water damage. If a device is water damaged, you don’t need to worry about anything else. You won’t be asked to give the device a cosmetic grade once you indicate that it has water damage.
  • Look at the phone from the side to ensure that it isn’t bent. If the device is bent, check the box indicating that the device is water damaged or bent.
  • Check the screen carefully. You’re looking for cracks, chips or deep scratches. A desk lamp is helpful when checking screens, as the reflection can be used to identify problems. If the screen is scratched badly enough that it would be annoying to use, you should check the questionnaire box indicating that the screen is severely scratched. If the screen is loose (when you press on it you can see it move relative to the body of the device) you should indicate that it’s broken. A loose screen is usually the result of a poor screen replacement and the Buyer will probably have to replace it again.
  • Check the body of the device for scratches and dents. Reference the Device Condition Matrix on the Resources page of your Cellbie account to determine which cosmetic grade to choose.
  • Although it’s technically possible to process a phone with multiple problems (e.g. cracked screen and broken back) as Unacceptable condition, please process these phones as Recycles using the Broken flow. Such devices are almost always beyond economical repair and do not justify Unacceptable pricing.

If you always follow these steps and stick to the guidelines in the Device Condition Matrix, you should expect great feedback from Cellbie Buyers!