Test before you trust

The most valuable habit in refurbishing is also the simplest: never assume an item works. A lot's description is a starting point, not a guarantee. Before you trust it, and certainly before you list it, you test it.

Test in a sensible order. Start with power: does it turn on and hold a charge? Then the essentials for its type: the buttons and ports, the screen, the sound, the camera. For a phone or laptop, check the battery health and the storage. For anything mains-powered, inspect it carefully before you ever plug it in.

Safety comes before profit, always. If an item runs on mains electricity and you are not competent to confirm it is electrically safe, do not sell it as working. And treat lithium batteries with respect: a swollen, hissing, or damaged battery is dangerous: do not charge it, sell it, or post it. Recycle it properly.

RedGem gives you a head start. It infers condition from the listing and flags likely faults, but your own test is what confirms reality. Grade the item on what you actually found, not on what you hoped.

Open a deal with a vague or cautious condition, and note the first three things you would test if it arrived on your bench.