What does “Open Box” mean on Amazon?.Amazon is a bustling marketplace teeming with a variety of merchandise, from brand new to refurbished. Among these seemingly endless sentences, one term often stands out: “open box.” If you’ve ever wondered, “What does an open box mean on Amazon?” you are not alone!
The Open Box Deal
“Open box” refers to items returned by customers, which are then sold at discounted prices through the Amazon warehouse.But why are they being returned? Reasons can range from the fact that the buyer changed his mind about buying a product with minor cosmetic damage received at the factory. 
However, before these items are resold, Amazon carefully checks their condition, checking for signs of wear and making sure they are in perfect working order. If the item passes this test and its original packaging is intact, it is classified as an “open box” item. In other words, the box may have been opened, but that’s pretty much all that’s happened.
Categories of Open Box Items: “Used – Like New” and “Very Good”
Amazon categorizes the condition of its best open-packed items as “Used – Like New” or “Very Good”. Items labeled “used as new” have either been opened but not used, or used only lightly and without signs of wear. These items usually come with their original packaging and accessories, and appear to be brand new as the label suggests. 
On the other hand, “very good” items may have some traces of use. They may have minor damage such as cosmetic blemishes or dents, missing non-essential accessories or instruction manual. However, these products are still in good working order.The specific condition of the opened package product can be found in the product description on the product listing page. This detailed description will help you understand the exact condition of the item, the reason for the return, and what you will receive in the box when the courier rings at your door.
Understanding the Rest of Amazon’s Grading System
Amazon has a fairly comprehensive rating system to help you make an informed decision when purchasing open-packaged items. In addition to “used – like new” and “very good”, you can also find other terms such as “used – good” and “used – acceptable”. 
The used-good category refers to items with more visible signs of wear, but still working perfectly. So, if aesthetics aren’t all that important to you, this could mean a bargain.Meanwhile, “Used-Acceptable” is the lowest rating Amazon offers, indicating that the item has been well used and may have significant cosmetic damage, but remains in working order. Before buying a product of this class, you will have to think carefully about how much the discount you receive means to you.
How “Open Box” Differs from “Refurbished”
While open packaging and remanufactured products offer savings, they are not the same thing. Often labeled as “refurbished” or “refurbished”, refurbished products are items returned to the manufacturer or third party retailer due to a defect or damage. Sometimes these items are traded. For example, Apple refurbishes devices you sell to new ones.In any case, they are repaired, tested for functionality and packaged for sale. Refurbished items are guaranteed to be in good working order even if they have been subjected to more extensive use or damage. They often have a limited warranty, although the duration and coverage may differ from the new product warranty. 
Unlike “open box” products, refurbished products must function like new despite any cosmetic imperfections. This refurbishment to near-original condition justifies the higher price of remanufactured items compared to items of the same model that have been opened in packaging.Notably, components such as lithium batteries are often replaced with new and other “consumable” parts. It is worth looking into the specific restoration process for the item you are considering, but it can have significant benefits over some open-packed items that have been used sparingly.
Amazon’s Return Policy for Open Box Items
Amazon’s return policy applies to open packaged items such as new or refurbished. If you are unsatisfied with your opened package (maybe your Amazon laptop has more dents than expected, or your phone doesn’t look “like new” as described), you can return it in accordance with our standard return policy. To start your return, go to the Your Orders page of your Amazon account. Amazon’s return process is generally hassle-free, which reduces the risk of trying open packaged items.
The Manufacturer’s Warranty for Open Box Items
Although Amazon’s return policy applies to open packaged items, this may not apply to the manufacturer’s warranty. A manufacturer’s warranty is often tied to the original purchase and is non-transferable. Therefore, the warranty may be voided for products in open packaging. If a manufacturer’s warranty is critical to your purchase, it’s worth considering this before you go shopping for an open-packed item.
Open Box Items Across Different Platforms
Amazon isn’t the only retailer offering open deals. Similar deals can be found at Best Buy, Walmart and eBay. Best Buy, for example, uses labels such as “Excellent Open Package” and “Satisfactory Open Package” to give customers an idea of the condition of a product. Understanding these ratings across platforms can help you make an informed choice when purchasing open-pack products. 
It is very important to read what each rating means for each platform. The fact that two marketplaces use similar language to describe the condition of an item when opened does not mean that they use the same standards for labeling it.
The Assurance of Quality
Ensuring the quality of Amazon open-packaged products is a meticulous process. Amazon sellers, especially those who participate in the Amazon Warehouse Deals program, adhere to a strict grading system before listing items for sale. This rigorous quality control process ensures that open-packaged items meet Amazon standards. If an item fails these checks, it will not be sold as an open package item. 
However, a lot of products that don’t meet the standards on paper make it through the program. Ultimately, the assessment is made by people, and no matter how clear the criteria are, there is always some degree of subjectivity. What you consider a minor aesthetic defect may become an obstacle for someone.
The Variety of Open Box Items
The range of open-packed products available on Amazon is varied. From smartphones like the Apple iPhone to Amazon’s own Kindle devices, from laptops to vacuum cleaners, the open box category covers a wide range of products.As long as it is durable (i.e. not a consumable), it can be sold as an open-packed item, at least in principle.
The Best Types of Open Box Items
While you can find a wide range of products listed as open package items, some categories tend to be more common or make more sense for open package purchases. Electronics, especially laptops and smartphones from brands like Apple, often top the list of open-packed offerings.These high-selling, high-priced products are often returned due to minor defects or buyer remorse, making them prime candidates for open-box deals. This can help you save hundreds of dollars on items that wear just as well as when the shrink wrap was first removed. 
Similarly, household appliances such as vacuum cleaners are usually sold in open packages. Customers may return these items due to damaged packaging, after choosing a different model, or after realizing that the item is not suitable for their home. However, products of this type usually remain in perfect working order.Amazon products like the Kindle are also often available. Given Amazon’s direct control over these items, it can ensure that these open-packaged items meet high quality standards. It also makes it easy to replace missing accessories.
The Savvy Shopping Approach
When shopping for open-packaged products, comparison is vital. Don’t rush to save, but take your time. For example, a “used-like-new” vacuum cleaner might seem like a good deal on Amazon, but you can find the same brand-new item at Walmart for just a few dollars more. 
Always check the UPC (Universal Product Code) to make sure you are comparing the same model on different platforms. Sometimes an open box deal can represent an older model, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but improvements or bug fixes might be worth paying a little more.
Ensuring a Smooth Open-Box Purchase Experience
After purchasing a product in an open package, it is extremely important to inspect it immediately upon arrival. Make sure the product matches the description on the listing page and check for any missing accessories.Amazon sells many open-pack items directly through the Amazon warehouse, but some are offered by third-party sellers. This means that they may have slightly different standards and policies. A seller with a high rating and positive feedback is more likely to accurately describe an item in an open box and respond promptly to any questions. For this reason, you should carefully study the ratings and reviews of a particular third-party seller before choosing an open-box offer from them.
The Bottom Line
Amazon’s open box category offers savvy shoppers the opportunity to purchase items in new or very good condition for a fraction of the original cost. While these items may have minor defects or be missing some accessories, they have been confirmed to be in good working order.While buying an open package can be more risky than buying new, the benefits can outweigh the disadvantages if you don’t mind a slight imperfection or lack of guidance. To reduce waste and provide cost-effective shopping solutions, the open box initiative offers great value and benefits for price-conscious or environmentally conscious consumers.
What does “Open Box” mean on Amazon?
What does “Open Box” mean on Amazon?