Grade A vs Grade B vs Grade C — used office chair condition grades explained
When we quote you for a buyback, the price assumes Grade A condition. Most reputable used-chair buyers in the UK use the same A-B-C system. Here's what each grade means and how it affects what we pay.
Grade A — looks new, works new
Grade A means the chair is fully functional, all adjustments work smoothly, and there's no visible wear beyond very minor scuffs. Mesh / fabric / leather is intact. Castors fit and roll. Arms move as designed. Mechanism doesn't feel tired.
Most office chairs under five years old, used in a normal corporate environment, are Grade A. The realistic UK average is that 60–70% of an office's chairs at decommission time are Grade A.
Grade B — light wear, all working
Grade B is fully functional but visibly used. Light scuffs on the base, minor sag in the mesh, a slight wobble in one armrest, a tilt that's stiff. Nothing broken — just lived-in.
We refurb Grade B chairs to Grade A spec where economic — replacement castors, new arm pads, occasional pellicle mesh swap — and resell. Buyback for Grade B is roughly 20–30% under our Grade A rate.
Grade C — significant wear or broken components
Grade C is where one or more functions are non-working: a seized lift, a torn pellicle, a snapped armrest, missing tilt mechanism. The chair is still recognisable but isn't sellable as-is.
Most buyers stop at Grade B. We don't — we strip Grade C chairs for parts, which keeps the second-hand parts market alive and means we can refurb other chairs cheaply. Buyback for Grade C is typically £40–£80 depending on what's salvageable.
Should you refurb before selling?
No. We do this at scale and have parts cost down to a fraction of retail. Trying to upgrade Grade B chairs to Grade A on your own time costs more than the price difference. Just send them as they are.
The exception: if a chair has obvious quick-fixes you're already capable of (replacing a missing armrest pad with a spare you have lying around, refitting castors), it's worth doing. Anything that requires sourcing parts — leave it to us.
What's the chair worth?
Use the homepage calculator. The numbers shown assume Grade A. We'll confirm the grade against photos before final quote — and the firm quote is what gets paid. No surprises on collection day.
Get a quote on yours
Use the homepage calculator. Indicative quote in 30 seconds. Firm quote within the hour.