Amazon condition guidelines: grade used items the way a careful buyer would

On Amazon, the condition drop-down is a promise

When you sell a used item on Amazon, you often aren't writing a listing from scratch. You attach your offer to a product page that already exists, so the buyer sees the same photos and description as every other seller. What sets your offer apart is the condition you choose and the short note you add. Pick a grade one step too high, and the buyer who receives a scuffed item thinks you misled them.

This guide goes through Amazon's condition guidelines, checked November 8, 2026 on Amazon's "What are Amazon condition guidelines?" seller article (published September 26, 2025), and turns them into a grading routine you can repeat.

The eight general conditions

Amazon's article names eight conditions in its general guidelines. Summarized:

For most resellers, Renewed and Rental aren't options, because both depend on a qualified supplier. Your real choices for thrifted or secondhand stock are the four Used grades and, occasionally, Collectible.

Amazon also notes that some products must be sold in New condition, and that categories such as Electronics, Software, Video Games and Consumer Electronics may need approval to list certain products. Watches need pre-approval before the condition rules even apply. Books have their own guidelines, covered in the used book grading guide.

What can't be sold in any condition

Amazon lists conditions that make an item unsellable, including when it is:

• Dirty, corroded, heavily stained or moldy.
• Damaged so it can't be used or is hard to use.
• Missing essential parts, such as a console with no controllers.
• In need of repair or service, even if it technically works.
• Fake, copied or not from the original manufacturer.
• A promotional or advance copy, or a sample.
• At or near its expiration date, or with the date altered or removed.
• Marked unsellable or marked for destruction.
• Prohibited in the Amazon store.

The "needs repair" line catches people. Amazon's own example is a vacuum that works but makes a horrible noise. If it needs service, it doesn't belong on Amazon in any used grade.

Step 1: Inspect before you grade

Amazon's tips start with a thorough inspection, beyond just eyeballing the item. Use the same order every time:

1. Function: power on, test every button, mode and accessory.
2. Completeness: compare contents with the manufacturer's list of what was in the box.
3. Cosmetics: check every surface under good light, including the underside.
4. Packaging: note whether it's original, damaged or replaced.
5. Recall: search the model on CPSC's recall site. Amazon's tips specifically say to check for recalls before listing.

The inspect and test manual has category-specific checks.

Step 2: Grade down when in doubt

In this chosen example, three pairs of used wireless headphones come from the same sale:

Pair B matches Amazon's own example for Good almost exactly: Bluetooth headphones that come with only a charging cable and no other accessories or packaging. When an item sits between two grades, choose the lower one. A buyer who gets better than expected leaves a happy review; one who gets worse may open a return.

Step 3: Write a condition note with measurements

Amazon advises offering a measurement for scratches and explaining where dings are. Compare:

• Vague: "Some wear."
• Useful: "Two light scratches on the right ear cup, each about 1 cm. Headband padding intact. Includes USB-C charging cable only; no box or carrying case."

Say what's included and what isn't. Missing accessories are the most common reason a buyer feels misled.

Step 4: Select the condition in Seller Central

Amazon's article gives the path: log in to Seller Central, select Catalog, then Add Products. If you're matching an existing product page, choose the condition from the drop-down in the search results. If you're creating a new page, set the condition on the Offer tab. To offer the same product in a second condition, go to Inventory, then Manage All Inventory, find the product and use the row options to select Add another condition.

Step 5: Pack to protect the grade

An item graded Like New that arrives with a crack is now Acceptable at best. Amazon's tips end with packaging: use suitable boxes and padding, and consider a specialty shipper for fragile or oversized pieces.

Common mistakes

• Grading by how an item looks from a distance instead of a full inspection.
• Calling an item Like New when accessories are missing.
• Listing anything that needs repair because it "still works".
• Skipping the recall search on electronics and baby gear.
• Writing no condition note and letting the grade alone carry the description.

Grade for the buyer who opens the box

The right Amazon condition is the one a careful buyer would choose after inspecting the item themselves. Inspect fully, grade down when unsure, and use the note to describe exactly what arrives.