Before you travel

Request wrapped and unwrapped photos, a manifest if one exists, total weight, unit count, and the condition grade in writing.

On site: the fifteen-minute pass

Walk the pallet and check all four sides. Pull from the middle, not the top. Test three powered items at random. Look for missing accessories, broken seals, and mismatched box labels. Check for odor and moisture damage.

Score before you negotiate

Rate sellable-as-is, needs work, and trash as percentages. If sellable-as-is is under 50% on a returns pallet, your offer should drop sharply.

Document everything

Photograph the lot before loading. It protects both sides if there's a dispute about condition later.