I purchased an iPhone 14 Plus (256 GB) listed as Pristine. The ordering process was smooth and delivery was fast. Technically, the phone worked perfectly and the battery health was excellent.

However, upon inspection I noticed a visible chip on the camera ring. According to the grading explanation referenced in the company’s own promotional material, marks on a device classified as Pristine should not be visible from around 30 cm. I raised the issue immediately and provided several photographs, including images taken from the requested distance to show the mark.

Despite this, customer support maintained that the device still met their Pristine grading standard and refused my request for a partial refund. I had clearly stated that I was otherwise happy to keep the phone and was only asking for a small adjustment to reflect the cosmetic condition. The only solution offered was to return the device.

Another point worth noting is that the customer must pay for return shipping upfront, even when the dispute relates to cosmetic grading. While the company may reimburse postage if a technical fault is found, grading disagreements appear to be treated differently.

Customer support was polite, but the grading standards seem open to interpretation, and the policies around resolving these situations are quite rigid. Buyers should therefore be aware that a device sold as Pristine may still have visible cosmetic imperfections depending on how the company applies its grading criteria.