Like New vs Very Good Which Grade to Pick
For the majority of Amazon Warehouse purchases in the UK, the real decision comes down to two grades:
Used – Like New and
Used – Very Good.
Both are premium condition grades. Both come with meaningful discounts. Both are functionally indistinguishable from new. The question is which one to pick on any given listing — and the answer isn't always the obvious one.
The quick version
- Like New = basically new, smallest discount (~15–25% off)
- Very Good = minor cosmetic wear, bigger discount (~25–35% off)
If you had to pick one grade to buy blind, it'd be Very Good. The discount is meaningfully larger, the cosmetic difference is usually minimal, and Amazon's grading is conservative enough that Very Good items often arrive looking closer to Like New anyway.
But "which grade is usually best" and "which grade is right for this specific product" are different questions.
When Like New is the right call
Pay the extra for Like New when:
- Presentation matters — gifts, items that live on display, premium tech you want pristine
- The price gap is small — if Like New is only £5–10 more, just take the better condition
- You're nervous about Warehouse in general and want the lowest-risk option
- The product has a short resale life cycle (latest-gen smartphones, newest laptops)
- Every accessory matters — Like New reliably includes everything; lower grades sometimes don't
When Very Good is clearly the better play
Go with Very Good when:
- The discount is meaningfully bigger — £50+ on a £300 product changes the calculus
- The product is going to get used, not admired — gaming kit, kitchen appliances, tools
- Cosmetic wear is invisible in normal use (the back of a monitor, the underside of a laptop)
- The condition note looks clean — "minor scratches on casing" is nothing; "packaging damaged, item unused" is a win
- You're building savings over many purchases — the 10% gap compounds fast
For a full cross-grade comparison,
Amazon Warehouse Condition Grades Ranked by Value has the data.
The gap that rarely shows up in real life
Here's the thing most shoppers don't realise until they've bought both:
the visual difference between a Like New and a Very Good item is usually tiny. Amazon's grading sits on the cautious side, and "minor cosmetic signs of use" on a Very Good listing frequently means a single faint scratch on the underside that you'd never notice in daily use.
The grade difference exists on paper more clearly than it does on your doorstep. For more on how Amazon's grading actually works,
How Amazon Grades Used Items Explained goes into it.
Category-by-category rule of thumb
To save the mental gymnastics, here's a quick category guide:
- Gaming peripherals (headsets, keyboards, mice) — Very Good, almost always
- Laptops — Like New if it's a gift or daily driver, Very Good if it's a secondary/work machine
- Monitors — Very Good, wear is typically on the stand or back
- Kitchen appliances — Very Good, sits on a counter and gets used hard
- Smartphones — Like New, for warranty and resale reasons
- Power tools — Very Good or even Good, cosmetic wear is irrelevant
- Audio gear (over-ear headphones) — Like New for earpad cleanliness
- Smart home kit — Very Good, usually indistinguishable from new once installed
The decision framework
When you're staring at two listings and can't decide, ask:
1.
What's the price gap? If under 10% of the new price, Like New. If over 15%, Very Good.
2.
Will anyone see this? If yes, Like New. If no, Very Good.
3.
Does the condition note look clean? If yes, Very Good is safe. If it mentions specific wear, reconsider.
4.
How much are you saving in £ terms? £5 is meh. £50 is real money. £200 changes your month.
For live UK listings side-by-side across both grades,
Comparizon lets you filter by condition and sort by biggest saving in one place.
Save some SERIOUS money, with
Comparizon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Like New worth paying more than Very Good?
Sometimes. For gifts, display items, or premium tech, yes. For everyday use where minor wear doesn't matter, Very Good is usually better value.
How big is the price gap between Like New and Very Good?
Usually around 10% of the new price. On a £300 product, that's roughly £30 difference.
Do Like New items always look pristine?
Very close to it. Minor packaging differences are common but the product itself is nearly always indistinguishable from new.
Is Very Good ever better quality than Like New?
Not officially, but Amazon's conservative grading means a Very Good item occasionally arrives looking identical to Like New.
Which grade has the better warranty?
Both are identical in terms of warranty protection — the Amazon 30-day returns policy plus any remaining manufacturer warranty.
Can I mix and match across purchases?
Absolutely. Most UK Warehouse shoppers build a feel for which grade suits which category over time, then buy accordingly.
Related Reading
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