What Does Used Like New Mean? Amazon vs eBay, Word by Word

"Used – Like New" means an item that has been opened, and maybe tried once, but works perfectly and shows no real wear. On that one grade, Amazon and eBay say nearly the same thing. The trouble starts one step down. "Very Good", "Good" and "Acceptable" do not mean the same thing on the two sites, and eBay's "New – Open box" label is allowed to cover a factory second with defects.

"Like New" is the one condition word the big sites agree on. Every grade below it needs a second look.

We read both companies' own definitions: Amazon's seller guide to its condition rules (dated 26 September 2025) and eBay's official list of item conditions for sellers (the current version, read in October 2026). Here is what each word really promises, side by side.

What does "Used – Like New" mean on Amazon?

Amazon's guide describes Like New (which it also calls Open Box) as an item someone bought, opened, perhaps tested once, and decided against. It must be in perfect working order and complete. The one thing it may lack is the original shrink wrap.

Two details are easy to miss:

• "Like New" is still "Used." Once the seal is broken, it is no longer New, even if nobody ever switched it on.
• Books play by looser rules. Amazon lets a Like New book carry small marks or bends on the cover, spine or pages, as long as the dust jacket is there and nothing is written in or torn.

Amazon also has a separate grade, Renewed, that sits apart from the Used ladder. A Renewed item has to be inspected and tested by a supplier Amazon has approved, and show no cosmetic flaws you can see from 12 inches away. That is a stricter, measured promise than any of the Used grades. Our earlier article on open box vs refurbished vs used explains why "refurbished" is a separate claim from "used" in the first place.

What does "Like New" mean on eBay?

eBay's definition is close: the item has been opened, lightly used if at all, with no visible wear and nothing flawed or missing. eBay adds that the seller's listing should describe any imperfections. So on both sites, Like New is a strong word, and a seller who uses it for a scuffed item is going against the site's own definition.

The word to watch on eBay is a different one: "New – Open box" (eBay's code name for it is "New other"). eBay defines it as brand new and unused, with no wear, but the packaging may be opened or missing. Then comes the line most buyers never read: the item may be a factory second or have defects.

That means a listing labelled "New" can, within eBay's own definition, be a product the factory set aside as imperfect. It has not been used, but that is not the same as flawless. Read the description and look at the photos of the actual unit before you count on it.

Is "Very Good" or "Good" the same on both sites?

No, and this is where the words drift apart. Here is each grade as the two companies define it, in our plain-English summary:

Three things stand out once they sit next to each other:

1. "Good" can mean a crack on eBay. eBay's definition of Good allows outside cracks. Amazon's Good talks about minor cosmetic damage. On a laptop lid or a phone back, that difference matters.
2. "Good" on Amazon can mean fewer accessories. Amazon's own example of Good is a pair of headphones that comes with only its charging cable, without its other accessories or box. If the extras matter to you, Good is the grade where they start to go missing.
3. Only eBay promises the instructions at Very Good. Amazon's Very Good says nothing about them.

Some categories use their own words for the same step. On eBay, clothing uses "Pre-owned – Good" or "Pre-owned – Fair", and eBay describes Fair as having significant visible flaws, heavy wear, or missing or damaged parts. That is a much lower bar than the word "fair" suggests.

What does "Acceptable" mean, and is it worth buying?

Acceptable is the lowest grade that still promises the item works. Amazon's example is a calculator with real cosmetic damage to its case. eBay's version allows obvious or significant wear and lets the box and instructions be missing.

Acceptable can be a good buy for things you use, not things you display: a work drill, a garage radio, a kitchen scale, a textbook you will write in anyway. It is usually a poor buy for gifts, for anything with a screen you look at all day, or for anything where a missing part could be a safety part. Amazon's own list of things that cannot be sold in any condition includes items missing essential parts and items that need repair, which tells you what "working" is supposed to rule out.

Whatever the grade, check the model number for recalls before you pay. Amazon's guide reminds its own sellers to do the same. Our recall check guide shows how in a few minutes.

How do you check what you are really getting?

A condition word is a summary. These six checks turn it into facts:

1. Read the grade's full definition, not just the word. "Good" on one site is not "Good" on the next, as the table shows.
2. Look for photos of the actual unit. A maker's stock photo shows the model, not the scratches on yours.
3. Read the notes for what is missing. Charger, remote, manual, batteries, mounting screws, lids. Missing parts are a common gap between the grade and the box you open.
4. Check whether it was tested. "Works" and "untested" are different promises. If the listing does not say it was tested, do not assume it was.
5. Find the return or report window before you buy. Know how long you have to raise a problem if the item does not match its listing.
6. Ask the seller. A one-line question ("Does it include the remote? Any cracks?") gets you a written answer you can point to later.

How do condition grades work at DealsDMV?

DealsDMV uses eBay's condition vocabulary plus a few grades of its own, such as Customer returns and Pre-loved, so the words above carry over. Each listing pairs its grade with photos and notes, and those three together describe what you are buying. If a listing does not say an item was tested, it is not promised to work. You can ask about any item's condition from the question box on its page before you buy. The full list of grades, and how to report an item that does not match its listing, is on our Help & FAQ page.

If you shop in Maryland, DC or Virginia, browse Buy Now for fixed prices or Auctions to bid, and read each listing's grade and notes first.

The bottom line

"Used – Like New" is the safest condition word online: on both Amazon and eBay it means opened, complete, working and without visible wear. Below it, the same word can mean different things on different sites, "Good" can include cracks, and a "New – Open box" item can be a factory second. Read the definition, look at the real photos, check what is missing, and ask before you pay.

Know someone who shops open-box and used deals? Send them this so they read the label the same way you now do.