How does SASOM define a "Pre-owned" Smartphone?

SASOM defines a Pre-owned smartphone as a device that has been previously activated, owned, or used, and may show signs of wear consistent with its age, model, materials, and usage history.

A Pre-owned smartphone:

May show signs of normal wear and tear resulting from age and use.
May or may not include the original box, charging cable, adapter, SIM tool, documentation, or other factory-issued accessories, depending on what the seller has specified in the listing.
May have undergone servicing, repair, or replacement of genuine manufacturer parts throughout its lifetime, where such history is disclosed by the seller.
Must be free of any account or activation lock (iCloud Activation Lock / Find My, Google Factory Reset Protection, Samsung Account, Mi Account, or equivalent), and signed out of all accounts.
Must have a clean IMEI — not blacklisted, not reported lost or stolen, and not subject to an outstanding installment, financing, or carrier contract.
Must have all primary functions in working order, including power and charging, display and touch response, cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, cameras, speakers, microphones, buttons, sensors, and biometric authentication.
Must have battery health at or above SASOM’s minimum that matches the figure declared by the seller in the listing.
Must not have severe damage affecting structural integrity, safety, or primary functionality, such as a cracked display or back glass, a bent frame, a triggered liquid contact indicator, or a non-functioning component.

Pre-owned Condition Levels

Every pre-owned smartphone undergoes a full functional test and a system information check. Inspection points: display, frame, back, camera lenses, ports and buttons, battery health and charge cycle count, parts and service history, network and blacklist status, activation lock status, and IMEI matching.

The grade describes external condition only. A device in any grade must have all functions operating normally; battery health is declared separately by the seller as a numeric value.

✳ Grade A+ — Like new, with almost no signs of use. All functions operate normally.

Display: no marks visible under normal viewing conditions; no burn-in or dead pixels.
Frame and back: almost no marks; edges remain sharp.

✳ Grade A — Light signs of use. All functions operate normally.

Display: light scratches visible under normal viewing conditions.
Frame and back: light scratches or scuffs.

✳ Grade B — Visible signs of use. All functions operate normally.

Display: clearly visible scratches; may show faint burn-in that does not affect normal use.
Frame and back: clearly visible scratches, scuffs, or dents.

A functional defect is never part of the grade. A device that does not operate normally is handled under the Detailed Inspection Criteria as Notify Buyer or Fail, not by lowering its grade.

Notes Regarding Pre-owned Smartphones

Smartphones in any pre-owned grade may exhibit signs of wear such as hairline scratches, surface scratches, color fading, minor dents, or servicing marks. These are normal characteristics of pre-owned devices and are not considered defects unless they fall within SASOM’s Fail criteria.
A battery is a consumable component. The stated battery health reflects the reading at the time of inspection only and is not a warranty of future battery performance.
Condition grades (A+ / A / B) describe external condition only and represent an overall assessment and may vary depending on the model, material, age, usage history, and service history of each device.
All products are evaluated based on the product photos, description, condition level, equipment, documents, and information disclosed by the seller in the listing.
Buyers are responsible for carefully reviewing all photos, descriptions, condition levels, equipment, documents, and seller disclosures before placing an order.
By confirming a purchase, the buyer acknowledges and accepts the product description, condition level, equipment, documents, and disclosures provided in the listing.

Precautions Regarding Smartphones

SASOM performs an initial quality, functionality, and authenticity verification as a marketplace intermediary. SASOM does not provide manufacturer warranties and cannot guarantee future software support, security updates, network compatibility, battery longevity, or future repair costs.
Even after inspection, a Pre-owned smartphone may be subject to limitations arising from age, usage history, servicing history, replacement parts, modifications, or repairs performed before the device entered the marketplace.
Any remaining manufacturer warranty is determined by the brand and may not be transferable. Buyers should contact the brand’s official service center directly.
Genuine replacement parts installed during authorized servicing may be accepted under SASOM’s inspection standards. If non-genuine parts are detected, or if replacement parts affect the authenticity or safety of the device, the device will automatically fail inspection.
Sellers are responsible for backing up and erasing all personal data, signing out of all accounts, and removing any activation lock before shipping the device to SASOM.
Region, model code, and supported network bands vary between markets. Buyers are responsible for confirming compatibility with their network before purchasing.
Devices are shipped with battery charge limited in accordance with transport regulations for lithium batteries.
For conditions that cannot be clearly determined under SASOM’s inspection standards, the final decision is at the sole discretion of SASOM’s inspection team or an appointed specialist.

Inspection Result Classification

Fail — The device does not pass inspection and the transaction cannot proceed.
Notify Buyer — Information, equipment, documents, or condition differ from what the seller declared, but the transaction may proceed if the buyer accepts.
Pass — The device meets SASOM’s inspection standard and the transaction proceeds.

Buyer Notification Policy

SASOM notifies the buyer with supporting details and photographs.
The buyer may Accept the product or Cancel the transaction within 24 hours of the notification.
If no response is received within that period, the buyer is deemed to have accepted the inspection result and the transaction proceeds automatically.

Detailed Inspection Criteria

One set. A Pre-owned device is always opened and used, so a single inspection set applies. Unlike Brand New, the outcome depends on what the seller declared in the listing — wear is expected, and the test is whether reality matches the listing. Ownership, authenticity, and safety findings result in a Fail regardless of disclosure.

1. Device Identity & Status

Pre-ownedSmartphone_Device Identity & Status EN.png