Overview

Amazon requires cell‑phone and accessory sellers to follow a set of condition rules that go beyond the marketplace’s standard product standards. These rules, effective immediately, dictate how used or renewed devices must be prepared before they are shipped to buyers. Non‑compliance can trigger returns, negative feedback, or even account suspensions, making the guidelines critical for anyone selling mobile hardware on Amazon.

Key Points

• Extra preparation for used and renewed phones — A used Samsung Galaxy S23 listed as “Used – Very Good” must be stripped of all personal accounts, SIM cards, and data before it leaves the seller’s warehouse.
• Account removal is mandatory — Any Google, Apple, or carrier account linked to the device must be fully deleted; for example, a seller must sign out of a Google account on a Pixel 7 and clear the activation lock.
• SIM cards must be taken out — Sellers are required to physically extract any SIM card; a reseller of a locked iPhone 13 must remove the SIM before packaging.
• Factory reset is required — The phone’s internal storage must be wiped and restored to factory settings; a refurbished OnePlus 10 must be reset via the “Erase all data” option in the settings menu.
• General condition standards still apply — In addition to the phone‑specific steps, the listing must meet Amazon’s overall condition categories, such as accurately describing a “Used – Like New” device as free of scratches and fully functional.

How Device Preparation Works

1. Remove all linked accounts — The seller signs out of every service (Google, iCloud, Samsung) and disables any activation locks; for instance, they use the “Find My iPhone” removal process to ensure the iPhone 12 can be set up by a new owner without prompts.
2. Extract the SIM card — The device is opened or the SIM tray is accessed to pull out any inserted SIM; a seller handling a used Motorola Razr will place the removed SIM in a secure container to avoid accidental data exposure.
3. Perform a factory reset — The phone is powered on, the reset menu is navigated, and all user data is erased; a refurbished Google Pixel 6 is reset by selecting “Factory reset” in the system settings, confirming the wipe, and then rebooting to the welcome screen.