As top designer brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel continue to raise retail prices, more consumers will flock to resale sites to find the best designer deals. Meeting consumer demand means resale businesses need a transparent partner to source from, since tears, scratches, and cracking can make or break a sale.

While necessary, verifying the condition of pre-owned luxury is a time consuming aspect of sourcing. Buying can become a balancing act with certain platforms that require you to dig for details or zoom in on photos. With sparse details or photos that don’t show all the angles, there may be surprises. This can become problematic, especially with non-refundable merchandise. The key to streamlining the process is to have an authenticated resource with a standardized system for ranking the product condition.

LePrix is that resource, as a platform that shows each item classified by condition, complete with photos and descriptions. This guide will walk you through what condition grades are and how LePrix’s process can help you find the right inventory for your store.

What’s a condition grade In general, many sites rank items and their condition with descriptions such as new, good, fair or poor. There may or may not be additional detail such as ‘zipper broken’, or the detail is hard to find, which makes stocking inventory more complex if you have to contact the seller. When you need to scale the stock selection process, a platform like LePrix’s that vets every item, is the solution.

LePrix’s condition guide

We rank the condition of merchandise using ‘grades’ from our merchants and detailed descriptions. These grades range from N-C and are based on the general appearance, age, and state of each item. Since the grades can vary from supplier to supplier, we offer a selection of images with expanded descriptions.

On the LePrix platform, condition grades are useful to expedite merchandise searches, since you can filter by the condition you’d like to find. This is helpful for those that prefer not to purchase a heavily used Neverfull or a Fendi Baguette that desperately needs repair.

Examine the photos

Photographs are important, so we offer a variety of shots so you can easily examine the details and look for small imperfections from scratches to popped stitches or other indications of an item’s overall condition.

Read the product descriptions

In case a photo is missing something, our detailed descriptions call out the fabric, dimensions, inner and exterior pockets, handle drop, metal fittings, accessories, scratches, tears, and more.

Other considerations

Other considerations that may not be seen with the naked eye are also called out, from odors to stickiness. Odors may range from musty to perfumy, and other details such as stickiness or dry rot are included so buyers can make the most informed decision.

Condition grading system

Below are the condition grades that LePrix uses, which range from N to C, along with what they mean.

• N - New. Unused.
• S - Like new. May have been handled as a display piece, but near mint condition. x- SA - Somewhere between like new and lightly used
• A - Lightly used. May show slight signs of wear such as light patina, scuffing or scratching on the base corners and hardware.
• AB - Somewhere between lightly used and used condition.
• B - Used and wear is consistent with normal use, but still in good condition. No heavy signs of damage.
• BC - Somewhere between used and well used condition.
• C - Well used. Still functional but may require some refurbishment or repair.

We also feature internal and external grades, which you may see listed on auction items, and shown next to the condition grade letter.

• S - Almost no defects. Very good condition.
• 1+ - Very minor defects can be seen.
• 1 - Minor and medium-sized damage can be seen.
• 2+ - Slight defects and deterioration can be seen.
• 2 - Some defects can be seen, and it affects the overall appearance.
• 3 - Very used and major defects can be seen.

Condition examples

The screenshot below shows how to read the product pages, where to locate the condition grades, how to use the photos to assess each item, and more.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common condition codes, along with examples of each and what they mean.

N: The item is new or unused. Often, these items may come with some additional accessories such as the dustbag, box, etc.

S: The item is near mint condition and like new. It may have been handled as a display piece, but only used a few times.

A: Lightly used. May show slight signs of wear. May have light discoloration, light scuffing, or scratching. Note: Conditions below the “A” range are the most flexible and subjective in terms of wear and will require additional attention.

B: The item is clearly used and has wear consistent with normal use, but otherwise in good condition with no heavy signs of damage.

C: The item is well used and has noticeable signs of wear and tear but is still functional. The item may require some refurbishment or repair.

Photography can make or break a pre-owned sale

We take very detailed pictures and focus on the following so you can easily see the product, any imperfections, and if it’s right for your store.

Base corners will often show the most scuffing and creasing since they come into contact with other surfaces.

Handle bases can often indicate the state of the leather, since dryness and cracking can make the item prone to breakage.

The tops of handles and straps may show dryness. This is where the bag is touched most, so be mindful of discoloration. Some darkening is normal, but extra dark straps could indicate the item was very well loved and might show additional signs of overall wear and tear.

The top trim and fabric surrounding zippers are also touched often, so there may be signs of cracking, creasing, or discoloration.

Zipper pulls and straps with buckles need to be checked to make sure they’re in good working condition and they’re not cracked, broken, or missing.

Now that you’re up to speed on how to classify merchandise conditions, you’re ready to build your store inventory. If you’re looking for a trusted, authenticated resource, contact LePrix today!