Every device is powered on and tested by a person at our location in New Prague, MN. Here is what we check and what happens if something does not match the quote.
Last updated: November 13, 2026
Some buyback operations grade by category and weight, or scan a serial number and generate a number. We do not work that way. Your device is powered on, taken through to the operating system, and evaluated by someone who knows the category, and everything found is documented before an offer is finalized.
That documentation is checked against what you reported when you submitted your order. If the two match, your original offer stands. Once inspection is done and you accept your offer, payment goes out within one business day.
Not every check applies to every category, but this is the standard pass a device goes through.
We confirm the device is what was quoted, including the exact model, generation, and configuration. Model numbers are frequently misread, so this is the first thing we verify.
The device is powered on and taken through to the operating system. A device that does not boot is graded differently to one that does, so this is never assumed.
Checked for dead or stuck pixels, discoloration, backlight problems, scratches, and cracks under direct light, which shows marks that are invisible on a desk.
Where the device has a battery, we read its actual health rather than estimating from age. Below 70 percent of original capacity it is no longer considered fully functional.
USB, video out, audio, charging ports, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth are tested. Faults here are easy to miss at home and change what a device is worth.
Keyboard, trackpad, buttons, touchscreens, and controllers are exercised, since a single dead key or drifting stick affects the grade.
We confirm the original drive and memory are present and working. Removed or swapped components change the offer.
We check for activation locks, firmware or BIOS passwords, and device management enrollment. A locked device cannot be resold, so this has to be cleared.
Chassis, hinges, lid, and casing are assessed against the grade you selected, under consistent lighting rather than by memory.
If inspection finds a different model, a different condition, or a fault that was not reported, we message you with what we found before anything is settled. Where the device still has value we send a revised offer, and you decide.
Most revised offers come down to a handful of avoidable things.
Get an instant, no-obligation quote and see what your device is worth.
Get your quote
