// THE RUBRIC
How we grade
“Graded honestly” shouldn't mean “trust us.” This is the actual rubric we grade against, and exactly what “tested” does — and doesn't — cover.
Sealed, or open-box with unused contents.
Factory condition. If a seal is broken or a box shows shelf wear, the listing says so.
Used, but you would have to look hard to tell.
No marks visible at arm’s length. May show faint handling signs under close inspection.
Light, honest wear from normal use.
Small scuffs or light scratches you can find when you look for them. Nothing that affects use. Screens free of scratches you’d notice during play unless the listing calls one out.
Clearly used — wear you’ll notice, function intact.
Visible scratches, worn texture, yellowing on old plastics, or scuffed corners. Anything beyond typical wear for the item’s age (cracks, deep gouges, screen marks) gets named in the listing and shown in the photos.
Heavy cosmetic wear. Works, but it’s been through it.
Expect notable cosmetic flaws — deep scratches, cracked corners, worn labels, strong yellowing. Functional issues, if any, are listed explicitly; otherwise it does its job.
Parts / repair / untested. Sold as-is, final sale.
We could not verify it works, or we know it doesn’t. The listing states what we know and what we couldn’t check. Priced for repairers and parts-hunters — never buy Salvex expecting a working item.
What “tested” actually means
Tested = the checks listed on that listing. Product pages show a “Tested & verified” list pulled from what we actually did — powers on, reads games, buttons respond, screen checked, and so on. If a check isn't listed, don't assume it happened.
It is not a lab certification. Decades-old electronics can develop faults we can't predict — aging capacitors, weakening disc lasers, drifting analog sticks. We catch what bench testing catches; we can't promise what a component will do next year. That's what the 30-day return window on tested items is for.
Batteries are consumables. Unless a listing states a battery was replaced or measured, assume any vintage battery holds less charge than it did new — some far less. Original console clock/save batteries may be dead; that's normal for the age and doesn't affect the grade.
Grade ≠ completeness
The grade describes condition only. Whether something is CIB (complete in box), loose, or missing parts is called out separately — look for the CIB badge and the “What's included” list on each listing.
The photo is the item
Every photo is of the exact unit you receive — no stock images. Zoom in. If a flaw matters to you and you can't see it clearly, email us and we'll shoot more angles before you buy.
Japan imports
JP-market items are labeled with a JP Import badge. Whether imports play on your setup varies by console — our region-free guide covers every platform honestly.
Modified hardware
Modded consoles are always disclosed, with the specific modification described on the listing. No games, ROMs, or copyrighted data are ever included — details in our modded hardware policy.
The honest limit of all of this: grading used electronics involves judgment, and we're a small operation, not a certification lab. The rubric above is what we hold ourselves to; the photos let you check our work; and if something arrives not matching its listing, tell us — making it right is the whole brand.