New Grading System

Free Geek Toronto grades refurbished computers based on cosmetic condition, functionality, and battery health. Every device is tested against a standardized checklist before grading. If you have questions about our grading criteria, please contact us.

Standardized Testing Checklist

Every device, regardless of grade, is tested before listing. Any item that fails a test is either repaired or the failure is disclosed, and the item is graded accordingly.

  • Ports — All USB, HDMI, audio, SD, and other ports tested
  • Keyboard & Touchpad — All keys functional, touchpad tracks accurately
  • Webcam & Microphone — Tested for video and audio output
  • Wi-Fi & Bluetooth — Connected and verified
  • Thermal Performance — No throttling under sustained load
  • Storage Health — S.M.A.R.T. data checked; no failing sectors
  • RAM — Fully tested for errors
  • Battery — Health percentage recorded and disclosed in every listing

Grades

Grade S Open Box / Like New Best for: Buyers who want the closest possible experience to buying new
Cosmetics Pristine; no signs of previous use
Functionality Perfect; passes all checklist items
Casing No scratches, dents, or wear of any kind
Screen Perfect; no scratches, blemishes, or dead pixels
Keyboard / Touchpad No signs of use
Ports All fully functional
Battery Health 95–100%
Warranty 90-day limited hardware warranty; 7-day return policy
Typical source: Unused overstock, unopened returns, or units with all components replaced to new.
Grade A+ Excellent Best for: Buyers who want a premium experience and near-new aesthetics
Cosmetics Excellent; no obvious issues
Functionality Excellent; no issues with daily tasks or streaming
Casing Very good; may have minor cosmetic imperfections or light plastic wear; no damage to hinges, latches, or moving parts
Screen Perfect; no scratches or dead pixels
Keyboard / Touchpad Excellent; little to no signs of use
Ports All fully functional
Battery Health 90–95%
Warranty 90-day limited hardware warranty; 7-day return policy
Grade A Very Good Best for: Reliable performance and a clean look, with modest savings over A+
Cosmetics Very good; no obvious issues
Functionality Excellent; no issues with daily tasks or streaming
Casing Very good; may have minor cosmetic imperfections or light plastic wear; no damage to hinges, latches, or moving parts
Screen Very good; no scratches or dead pixels
Keyboard / Touchpad Very good; moderate signs of use
Ports All fully functional
Battery Health 80–90%
Warranty 90-day limited hardware warranty; 7-day return policy
Grade B Good Best for: Reliable everyday use at a lower price; performance over appearance
Cosmetics Fair; visible signs of use
Functionality Good; fully functional for all daily tasks
Casing Fair; expect scratches and/or scuff marks; no damage to hinges, latches, or moving parts
Screen Good; may have minor blemishes; no dead pixels
Keyboard / Touchpad Fair; visible signs of wear on keys, touchpad, or palm rest
Ports All fully functional
Battery Health 65–80%
Warranty 90-day limited hardware warranty; 7-day return policy
Grade C Fair Best for: Tight budgets; light use — browsing, email, documents, video calls
Cosmetics Worn; significant signs of use
Functionality Functional for everyday tasks; may struggle with resource-intensive software (video editing, gaming, large spreadsheets)
Casing Worn; scratches, scuffs, and dents present; minor cosmetic damage to hinge covers or trim (does not affect functionality)
Screen Functional; may have scratches or blemishes up to 1"; no dead pixels
Keyboard / Touchpad Worn; visible wear on keys, touchpad, and/or palm rest
Ports All ports fully functional
Battery Health 50–65%
Warranty 90-day limited hardware warranty; 7-day return policy
Any additional issues beyond the above will be explicitly listed in the product description.
Grade D Discounted / As Described Best for: Experienced users, very tight budgets, plug-in use, or parts
Cosmetics Heavily worn; may include cracks, significant dents, or missing trim
Functionality Functional with known limitations — all specific issues listed in the product description
Casing Heavily worn; may have cracks or missing pieces that do not affect core operation
Screen Usable; may include dead pixels in corner or edge areas, scratches, or pressure marks — specifics disclosed in listing
Keyboard / Touchpad Heavily worn; all keys functional unless otherwise noted
Ports One or more ports may not function — specific non-functioning ports disclosed in listing
Battery Health Below 50% or non-charging
Warranty 90-day limited hardware warranty on non-disclosed components only; battery not covered; 7-day return policy
Important: Every Grade D listing will explicitly name each known issue. Buyers should read the full product description before purchasing. The price reflects the disclosed condition.

Grade Comparison at a Glance

Feature S A+ A B C D
Cosmetics Pristine Excellent Very Good Fair Worn Heavy Wear
All Ports Functional ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ⚠ Disclosed
No Dead Pixels ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ⚠ Disclosed
Battery Health 95–100% 90–95% 80–90% 65–80% 50–65% <50%
Battery Warranted ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✗ No
Hardware Warranty 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days 90 days*
Return Policy 7 days 7 days 7 days 7 days 7 days 7 days
Best For Like-new Premium Everyday Budget Light use Parts

* Grade D warranty covers non-disclosed components only. Battery not covered.

Our Grading Philosophy

Free Geek Toronto has graded refurbished computers since 2009. Unlike many resellers, we separate cosmetic condition from functional condition — a device should never surprise you with a broken port or a dead pixel just because you bought a lower grade. Every known issue at every grade is either fixed before sale, or explicitly disclosed and priced accordingly.

Our goal is simple: you know exactly what you're getting before you buy it.