Terms and conditions for a refurbished electronics seller

Refurbished electronics are sold on a grading system the seller defines and judged by a customer who may have expected new. The terms have to define the grades, describe batteries, accessories and software accurately, separate the seller's own warranty from the rights the customer has anyway, deal with the data on devices coming in and going out, and run returns and trade-ins. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Refurbished phone, tablet, laptop and consumer electronics sellers, trade-in businesses and device recyclers in England and Wales selling to consumers online, with grading, testing and their own warranty.

What matters in refurbished electronics terms

Condition grades and what they promise

The terms should define each grade by cosmetic condition and functional testing, say that all devices are tested to work as described, that cosmetic marks within the grade are not defects, and that images are representative of the grade rather than the exact unit. Under section 9 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 second-hand goods must be of satisfactory quality judged against their description, age and price, so the grade is the description and it must be accurate.

Batteries, accessories and software

Batteries are consumables in used devices, and the terms should state the battery health the grade guarantees, if any, and that battery life declines with use. Accessories may be third-party replacements rather than original, and the terms should say so; any charger supplied must meet the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. Software and updates depend on the manufacturer, and the terms should say that the seller does not guarantee future updates or the availability of services on older devices.

The seller's warranty and the consumer's rights

A seller's warranty is a promise in addition to the consumer's rights, not instead of them, and the terms should say so: the consumer has the short-term right to reject faulty goods and then repair or replacement under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which cannot be excluded, and the seller's warranty adds a stated period during which defects are repaired or the device replaced, excluding accidental damage, liquid damage, unauthorised repairs and battery wear beyond the stated level.

Data on devices, in and out

Devices sold are wiped and reset before despatch, and the terms should say so and that any account lock must be removed by the previous owner. Devices traded in or sent for repair must have the customer's data removed and accounts signed out before sending, and the terms should say that the seller wipes devices received, is not responsible for data left on them, and will not return data. Under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 the seller handles any personal data it encounters as the terms describe, and devices it cannot resell are disposed of under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013.

Returns, trade-ins and payment

A consumer may cancel within fourteen days of delivery under regulation 30 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 and return the device in the condition sent with its accessories, and the terms should provide for a deduction where the device has been damaged or activated in a way that reduces its value. Trade-ins are valued on the condition described by the customer, revalued on inspection with the customer able to accept the revised offer or have the device returned, and paid as the terms state. Prices include all mandatory charges, and the privacy notice governs customer data.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Buying online forms the engagement on payment. The scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I email you within four working hours to get started. If you would rather ask something first, email me.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

A customer says the phone is grade A but has a scratch. Are they right?

If the grade definition in the terms allows light marks and the scratch is within it, the phone matches its description. If the grade promised no visible marks, it does not, and the consumer's rights apply.

The customer's own data was still on a traded-in laptop. Are we liable?

If the terms required the customer to remove data before sending and say the seller wipes devices on receipt and is not responsible for data left on them, the seller's obligation is to wipe, which it did. Do not read or keep what you find.

Our warranty is six months. Does that limit the customer's rights?

It does not. The consumer's statutory rights run alongside the warranty and cannot be shortened by it. The terms should say the warranty is in addition to those rights.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495
• Terms and conditions for a phone and computer repair shop
• Terms and conditions for a vintage and second-hand clothing seller

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.