Pre-owned Figure Grades Explained — How to Read A/B/C & Box Grades

Grade codes are the most confusing part of buying pre-owned figures from Japan. Here's what markings like "(Pre-owned ITEM:A-/BOX:B)" actually mean, based on the common Japanese market standard that most major Japanese pre-owned shops broadly share.

1. The figure (ITEM) and the box (BOX) are graded separately

Pre-owned listings grade the figure itself (ITEM) and its packaging (BOX) independently. For example, ITEM:A-/BOX:B means "the figure is near-mint, but the box has dents or wear." If you display your figures, you can safely compromise on box grade — it often knocks the price down a lot.

2. Grade table (Japanese market standard)

Grade	ITEM (figure) criteria	BOX criteria
A+	Like unopened. Virtually no traces of opening	Like-new box
A	Top condition with almost no wear	No noticeable damage
A-	Very slight signs of handling	Minor scuffs
B+	Light wear, tiny paint flaws	Light dents or scratches
B	Visible wear. Fine for display	Clear dents, corner damage
C	Possible damage or missing parts — read the listing	Tears, major damage
J (Junk)	Broken / for parts. Repair assumed	Missing or broken

3. Buying tips by grade

Buying to display → ITEM:A–B+ with BOX:B or lower is the best value; box damage alone often means 20–30% off.
Collecting or reselling → aim for A- or better on both ITEM and BOX. Box condition drives resale value.
Out-of-print / limited items → availability beats grade. Each pre-owned unit is one of a kind — hesitate and it's gone.
C / Junk → avoid unless you need parts or plan to repaint.

4. Things to know when importing pre-owned

One unit = one stock. The next listing of the same product will differ in condition and price.
Duties and VAT may apply depending on your country's de-minimis threshold.
Pre-owned items at Yosimarket carry a purple PRE-OWNED badge and are inspected before shipping.

FAQ

Is an A-grade pre-owned figure the same as new?

A-grade means top condition with almost no wear, but it has been opened, so it's distinct from sealed new stock. A- means very slight signs of handling.

Does a low box grade mean the figure is bad?

No. ITEM and BOX are graded separately. 'ITEM:A/BOX:B' means the figure itself is excellent while only the box shows dents or scuffs. For display purposes the box grade rarely matters.

Why are some pre-owned figures pricier than new?

Once out of print, market prices for popular figures exceed MSRP. 'Premium pre-owned' is common for sold-out hits.

Does Yosimarket inspect pre-owned items?

Yes. We source in Japan, verify condition, then ship. Check the PRE-OWNED badge and condition notes on each product page.

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