How to Read a "Used" Listing: A Buyer’s Guide to Grading Secondhand Medical Parts

The problem with "good condition"

Ask five suppliers what "used, good condition" means and you will get five answers. Without a published standard, you are betting your repair schedule on someone's opinion. That is why we grade every part against written criteria and publish them on every listing.

What a grade should actually tell you

Grade	What it should mean	What you should expect
A — Tested · Excellent	Functionally tested; cosmetics near-new; no visible wear beyond light handling marks	Fits and works like the original; safe to put into service immediately
B — Tested · Good	Functionally tested; light scuffs or wear that do not affect fit or function	Works fully; cosmetic marks you can see in the photos
C — Tested · Functional	Functionally tested; visible wear, discoloration or cosmetic damage	Works; buy it because the price is right, not because it looks nice

The key word in all three rows is tested. A grade without a test behind it is just a photo filter.

What "tested" should include

• Type-relevant function checks: leak test for anything with a channel, video output for camera heads, continuity for cables and boards, light output for guides.
• Fitment check: does it actually mount on the stated model? A part that "should fit" is not a fitment check.
• A written record: which tests were run, and the result of each. We attach the test record for the specific unit on request.

Seven questions to ask any supplier

1. Where does the part come from — decommissioned equipment, or reclaimed from unknown sources?
2. Was it functionally tested, and which checks were run?
3. Can you send photos of the actual item, not a stock image?
4. What exactly does your grade A / B / C mean — in writing?
5. What is the return window if it does not fit or fails on arrival?
6. How is it packed for international shipping?
7. Will the invoice say "used parts for equipment maintenance" with fair declared value?

Red flags

• "Like new" with no grade definition and no test description.
• Stock photos, or the same photo across multiple listings.
• No return policy, or returns only for "wrong item" — not for "failed on arrival".
• Prices dramatically below market with no explanation (usually: untested, or mixed-source).

Compare any listing against these seven questions. Ours are all answered publicly — see our grading standards, and if anything is unclear, ask us before you order. A supplier who dodges the questions in writing is telling you something.

Related: Endoscope parts that fail most often · Our returns & warranty terms