Overview

Amazon enforces specific condition guidelines for sellers listing books on its marketplace. These rules go beyond the platform's general condition standards and outline exactly what qualifies a book as New, Like New, Very Good, Good, or Acceptable. Getting the condition grade right is essential for avoiding customer complaints, returns, and potential account health issues.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Five condition tiers exist for books — New, Like New, Very Good, Good, and Acceptable, each with progressively more lenient standards for cosmetic wear and missing components.
• New books must be completely untouched — Any markings, stickers, or labels on a book disqualify it from being listed as New condition.
• Remainder marks are permitted in some conditions — Books with remainder marks on outside edges can be listed as Very Good or lower, but should be noted in listing comments.
• Bundled media may be missing in used conditions — If a book originally came with a CD, DVD, or other media, used condition listings can omit this without penalty.
• Certain books cannot be sold at all — Books with missing pages, unreadable text, or advance reading copies of in-print or unreleased titles are prohibited from sale in any condition.
• Listing comments matter — Sellers should use the comments field to disclose specific defects, especially for Good and Acceptable condition books.

Condition Tier Breakdown

New condition is the strictest tier. A book listed as New must be a brand-new copy with the cover and all original protective wrapping fully intact. Books that have markings of any kind on the cover or pages cannot qualify. This includes books stamped as "review copy," "advance copy," or those with any promotional labels or stickers attached. If the shrink wrap has been opened or the book shows any sign of handling, it must be downgraded to a used condition.

Like New condition allows for minor cosmetic imperfections. The book may have small marks, light wear, minor cuts, bends, or crushes on the cover, spine, pages, or dust cover. However, the cover must remain intact and pages must be clean — free from notes, highlighting, or other reader markings. Remainder marks on outside edges are permitted. Bundled media such as companion CDs may be missing.