Guidelines

In this article:

Open box

• Open Box products refer to items whose packaging has been opened, but which have never been used. These products should be in excellent, like-new condition, and fully functional. Typically, they were returned within the seller’s standard return period for reasons unrelated to faults or damage.

• Whenever possible, Open Box products should include the original manufacturer’s packaging, either resealed or repackaged by the seller. If this is not the case, it must be clearly stated in the product description. Open Box items offered on this store must carry a warranty of 365 days, either from the manufacturer or the seller.

Refurbished

• Refurbished products are pre-owned items that have been repaired, restored, and tested to ensure they function like new. These products may have required servicing due to normal wear over time or performance issues covered under the original warranty. All refurbished items available on this store must meet industry standards for complete functionality before being offered for resale.

• Refurbished products must include a warranty of either 90 or 365 days, provided by the manufacturer or seller, based on the condition specified.

• The term “Product Condition” describes the cosmetic and physical state of a refurbished product. Sellers are required to classify products accurately according to strict grading criteria outlined below.

Refurbished Product Grade Comparison

Grade A+ (Excellent)

• Refurbished by manufacturer or authorized technician
• Technical condition: Excellent, very low chance of technical issues
• Touchscreen: Fully functional
• External buttons: Fully functional
• Battery: At least 85% of original capacity
• Cosmetic scratches: Minimal micro-scratches in non-visible areas, none in visible/high-use areas
• Cosmetic scuffs: Very few, only in non-visible areas
• Dents: None
• Other imperfections: None
• Keyboard: All keys work, may include new keys
• Non-touch display: No cracks or dead pixels, may have slight light spots
• Parts used: Original manufacturer parts only
• External case: Only original manufacturer materials

Grade A (Good)

• Refurbished by qualified third-party refurbisher
• Technical condition: Very good, minor risk of issues
• Touchscreen: Fully functional
• External buttons: Fully functional
• Battery: Minimum 2 hours on full charge (laptops)
• Cosmetic scratches: Some micro-scratches in non-visible areas, few in visible/high-use areas
• Cosmetic scuffs: Light scuffs in non-visible zones, minor in visible areas
• Dents: No larger than a dime (approx. 1% of surface)
• Other imperfections: Small paint chips, slight shine on palm rest
• Keyboard: All keys functional, may include replacement keys
• Non-touch display: No cracks or dead pixels, possible mild light spots
• Parts used: Original or equivalent high-quality third-party parts
• External case: May include high-quality vinyl wrap without peeling

Grade B (Fair)

• Refurbished by qualified third-party refurbisher
• Technical condition: Good, average durability, higher chance of issues on devices older than 3 years
• Touchscreen: Fully functional
• External buttons: Fully functional
• Battery: Minimum 1 hour on full charge (laptops)
• Cosmetic scratches: Visible scratches anywhere on the device
• Cosmetic scuffs: Multiple scuffs visible across the device
• Dents: No larger than a quarter (approx. 2% of surface)
• Other imperfections: Small paint chips, noticeable shine on palm rest
• Keyboard: All keys work, but some key legends may be worn
• Non-touch display: No cracks or dead pixels, possible light spots, minor scuffs
• Parts used: Original or equivalent high-quality third-party parts
• External case: May be repainted or vinyl-wrapped with some visible wear

Minimum Quality Standards

Open Box & Refurbished Requirements

• All products must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, inside and out, to remove any dust, dirt, stains, fingerprints, glue residue, or other marks not from the original manufacturer. For more details, see the Hygiene section below.
• Product settings must be restored to factory defaults, with any passwords or security locks removed to ensure the customer has full access.
• Firmware and software can be updated to the latest versions if permitted by the manufacturer, and products must still be capable of receiving future firmware updates.
• The product’s serial number must remain intact and match the identification on the original new product.
• Products that were originally demonstration or display models, but have been restored to working order, must be listed and sold as refurbished.

Refurbished Products Only

• Refurbished items must go through a proper refurbishment process performed by qualified technicians to ensure they work properly and look as close to new as possible. Simply wiping data or cleaning the exterior does not qualify as refurbishment.
• The refurbishment process must include a complete inspection of the product for functionality, missing parts, damage, or cosmetic flaws, followed by restoring the product’s appearance to a near-new condition.
• If the product is graded as Excellent or Good, it must not have any noticeable dents, scratches, or other damage visible on reasonable inspection.
• For products with screens, the display must meet the manufacturer’s specifications for dead or stuck pixels, and must also meet original standards for color and brightness.
• Any vendor logos or product labels must remain visible, even on replacement parts. All parts must comply with trademark and intellectual property laws.
• Repairs and refurbishments must use legally permitted parts. Where available, original manufacturer (OEM) parts should be used. If OEM parts are unavailable, equivalent or higher-quality third-party parts may be used, provided they do not infringe on third-party rights.
• Batteries must hold at least 85 percent of their original designed capacity.

Accessories

Open Box

• The product must include all original manufacturer (OEM) accessories that came in the original packaging.

Refurbished

• All refurbished products must include essential accessories that are necessary for the product to function, such as a charging adapter for a laptop, user manuals, and guides. If the factory-new version of the product includes an essential accessory, then the refurbished version must also include it, for example, a charging cable or adapter.
• Accessories, especially chargers and wall adapters, must meet Canadian standards, laws, and regulations, including language requirements and safety certifications like CSA or cUL. An OEM-equivalent third-party cable or wall charger may be provided, as long as this is clearly described to customers in the product description. OEM accessories are recommended whenever possible.
• OEM accessories should be in like-new condition or refurbished to a like-new state, following the same product requirements listed earlier.
• Accessories that are not essential, such as keyboards or mice bundled with laptops, personal computers, or tablets, can be generic but must match the quality of original manufacturer items and must be clearly noted in the product description.
• It is not required to include SIM cards or headphones with cell phones, but if these are missing it must be clearly stated in the product description. SIM cards, if included, must come with a SIM card removal tool. Any included headphones must be new and unused.
• If any non-essential accessories normally included with a brand new product will not be provided with the refurbished product, this must be clearly indicated in the product description.

Manuals and User Guides

• Ideally, all non-brand-new products should include the original manuals and user guides. You should not copy or reproduce these manuals or guides unless you have permission from the copyright holder. If the original manuals are not available, you may provide a link to the original manufacturer’s website with the exact URL where the manuals can be found. It is not acceptable to require the customer to search for them on their own.

• Any required safety notices, regulatory information, license agreements, or limitation of liability documents are considered essential and must be provided, either in printed form or through a direct link to the manufacturer’s website.

Data Wipes & End User Data

• Sellers must remove all tags, SKU numbers, and barcodes added by previous retail sellers, except those from the original manufacturer. Any personal or customer-related information on the product or its packaging must be removed, including but not limited to sales receipts, addresses, phone numbers, images, documents, credit card numbers, and other data that can identify an individual (referred to as “Customer Information”). Additionally, sellers must disconnect and remove any prior device pairings or connections, such as Bluetooth speakers or headphones, smart assistants like Google Home, Alexa, or Siri, and any vehicle or similar device pairings.
• For any products that include memory or storage, sellers must permanently remove all files, personal data, and other information, including names, biometric data, cloud account details, login credentials, and similar data. Only the original manufacturer-installed software or firmware may remain, provided it does not contain any personal data. Data must be securely deleted in a way that prevents recovery, following at minimum the current NIST standards (NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1) and any applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
• Personal computers, laptops, and tablets must be cleared of all personal data and any third-party software not included with the original product, with all passwords and encryption removed, and restored to the original operating system or a legally licensed updated version obtained from the original manufacturer or an authorized distributor, along with any required certificates of authenticity.
  
  
  

Battery

• For Open Box products, the battery must perform at 95% or better of its original capacity.

• Refurbished phones and tablets are required to maintain at least 85% of their original battery performance, which can be confirmed through the device’s built-in battery health information. Customers may submit a defective claim within the return period if the battery does not meet these standards. Apple iPhone batteries must not show a “Service” status. Refurbished laptops must be tested to ensure they provide a minimum of two hours of normal use on a full charge.
  
  

Hygiene

• All products must be clean and hygienic before sale.
• Small appliances, especially those used for food preparation or storage, must be refurbished to an as-new hygienic condition.
• Any parts that come into contact with food, liquids, or other biological substances must be thoroughly cleaned, sterilized, and disinfected, using only non-toxic products approved by Health Canada.
• All products must comply with applicable federal or provincial regulations as well as any National Sanitation Foundation standards.
• Previously used headphones must be equipped with brand new, unused OEM earpieces for hygiene reasons, and headbands must be either sterilized or replaced so they show no signs of prior wear.

Packaging

• Where possible, reconditioned products should be shipped in their original packaging, provided it is safe, undamaged, hygienic, and complete. If the original packaging is not suitable, the product must be packaged in a new cardboard box. Envelopes, including padded ones, are not permitted.
• All packaging must be hygienic, clean, free of contaminants, and unstained.
• Packaging must not display any marks or branding from competing retailers or marketplaces.
• Products and accessories must be individually packaged in a way that prevents damage, friction, or breakage during shipping.
• Packaging must meet any applicable carrier or industry standards, including but not limited to the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) or the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA).
• All Transport Canada and IATA regulations, as well as any carrier requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods, must be followed. This includes proper packaging, labeling, identification, classification, documentation, and other related requirements. Examples include lithium batteries, compressed air, or flammable items.
• Loose parts or moving components such as hinges, doors, trays, or print heads must be taped or otherwise secured to prevent damage during transit, in a way equivalent to the original manufacturer’s packaging.
• Any liquids, powders, or other materials that could potentially leak or spill must be sealed inside a plastic bag or similar container, such as printer cartridges. Appliances or other items that may have been filled with water or other liquids must be thoroughly cleaned and completely dried before shipping to ensure no remaining liquid is present.

Legal Requirements

• All non-brand new products, like all products offered for sale, must comply with all regulatory and legal requirements, including but not limited to standards for the sale of refurbished or resold items.
• Products must have certification through CSA, cUL, or an equivalent recognized Canadian safety certification.
• Products must be legally permitted for sale in Canada and meet all Canadian localization standards, including radio interference regulations, bilingual packaging requirements if sold in Quebec, and compatibility with Canadian networks where applicable.
• Products must be legally approved for use in Canada, such as cell phones certified for Canadian use. Items that are incompatible with Canadian systems, such as products relying on non-110-120V power supplies, cannot be sold.

Warranty

• All refurbished and open box products must include warranty terms, which must be honored and administered either by the manufacturer, the original refurbisher, or directly by the seller. The party responsible for providing the warranty must be accurately disclosed on the product description page.
• The warranty terms must match those offered by the original manufacturer and must cover any defects during the warranty period, except for defects caused solely by insufficient maintenance, improper installation, or misuse by the customer. Customers have the right to return a defective product and receive a replacement product without being charged shipping or handling fees. Sellers are required to provide a prepaid return shipping label upon notification of a defect.
• The minimum warranty coverage period depends on the product condition. For open box products, the minimum warranty is 365 days from the date of receipt or the equivalent warranty offered for a new product. Refurbished products graded as Excellent (Grade A+, Certified Refurbished) also require a minimum of 365 days of coverage from the date of receipt or the equivalent new product warranty. Refurbished products graded as Good (Grade A) must have at least 90 days of coverage from the date of receipt. Refurbished products graded as Fair (Grade B) and previously played items must also include a minimum of 90 days of warranty coverage from the date of receipt.
• Warranty information must be included in each package and displayed on the product description page, along with contact details for warranty support. Products that are sealed and contain valid warranty terms and details from the manufacturer or recognized refurbisher do not require additional documentation from the seller.

Quality Controls and Audit

• All sellers must perform self-audits to confirm that their reconditioned product inventory meets the required minimum quality standards and follows accurate grading guidelines before listing on Technifix.
• Technifix may monitor customer complaints and reserves the right to conduct audits, which could result in the removal of any seller who fails to meet these requirements.
• Although formal certification is not currently mandatory, following ISO 9001 policies and guidelines is recommended to help identify and reduce product quality issues and operational defects in a timely manner.

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