Reseller guide
Liquidation return inspection worksheet
Print one item sheet per unit and keep its bench card nearby. Record what you see, parts, checks and unknowns for your listing. The inspection guide explains the steps. These cards help you inspect and do limited checks under the exact model's instructions; they don't prove safety or give repair steps. Guidance checked October 1, 2026.
Only test what you can test safely
#Never test swollen or damaged batteries, damaged cords, gas appliances or anything recalled. Stop if the item's ID, required parts, instructions or safe method are unclear. Ask the maker or qualified service staff. Keep unsafe or recalled goods out of sale-ready stock and follow the recall notice's remedy or disposal steps. CPSC resale guidance covers category hazards; use the maker's instructions for your actual item.
Item sheet
#| Item and where it came from | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Item reference | |
| Product type / actual maker and model | |
| Serial (a unit's own ID), batch or production date, if relevant | |
| Pallet / purchase reference and supplier | |
| Date received / date inspected / checked by | |
| Manual or manufacturer guidance used |
| What it looks like | Observations |
|---|---|
| Packaging and seals as received | |
| Does the item match its carton? | |
| Wear, residue, stains, cracks or other damage | |
| Cord, plug, battery or other safety concern | |
| Photo references |
| Parts expected from the exact model's instructions | Parts present and condition | Missing or mismatched |
|---|---|---|
| Checks performed: function and method | Date / conditions / equipment | Actual observation |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Fill in |
|---|---|
| Circle one: Tested — works / Untested / Not working | |
| Partial-check line, if applicable: Powers on; other functions untested | |
| Specific known failure, if any | |
| Recall check done: CPSC search terms and product identifiers | |
| CPSC search date / matching notice or no match found | |
| Manufacturer recall check / date | |
| Remedy status or reason recall check is incomplete | |
| Device data-erasure method / completion / account-release status | |
| What is still unknown | |
| Next action / hold location | |
| Words for the listing: condition, parts, checks, defects and limits | |
| Channel / condition definition checked / date |
Choose Tested — works only when suitable function checks support the working claim. Keep a partial check under Untested and write its limits, such as “Powers on; other functions untested.” A known failure supports Not working with the failure described. Inspection alone can't prove function. For goods with no power source, write the actual inspection or moving-part check; don't force a working claim.
Search CPSC recalls with the actual product's ID details before any function check. A dated search with no match isn't proof of safety. If you can't identify the item, record the incomplete check and hold it. As of October 2026, the CPSC resellers guide bans selling recalled products unless repaired as the recall directs. Follow the specific notice's remedy and maker's directions, disclose the completed remedy, and don't test it yourself.
Bench card: small kitchen appliances
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Actual model, signs of food residue, housing, cord and plug; compare lids, bowls, inserts and bases with the manual. Keep it unplugged during inspection. Do an ordinary function check only when the exact model's instructions and safe setup are available. |
| Never test this yourself | Damaged cords or plugs, cracked electrical housings, recalled appliances or gas appliances. Don't bypass switches or guards, put electrical parts in water or deliberately run a kettle dry. This manufacturer kettle manual explains those electrical and boil-dry limits for its covered product. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker using model and affected date or serial range. Hold uncertain matches. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: function checked ______; observation ______; parts missing ______; other functions untested ______. A power-on observation alone stays Untested. |
Bench card: corded tools
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Model, plug and cord, housing, required guards, switches and attachments while unplugged. Find the exact operating manual before you consider any powered check. Record inspection separately from function. |
| Never test this yourself | Damaged cords, missing guards, modified switches, recalled tools or exposed internal electrical parts. Don't try cutting or another powered check without the required setup and skills. CPSC resale guidance covers power-tool hazards and inspection concerns. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker's notices by the tool's actual model and production ID details. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: cord and housing inspected ______; safe functions checked ______; result ______; remaining functions untested ______. Use Not working only for a known failure. |
Bench card: battery tools and batteries
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Tool, pack and charger ID details; whether the maker says they work together; visible battery damage, swelling, leaks and terminal condition. Record each part separately. A tool's response can't prove runtime or how much charge the battery holds. |
| Never test this yourself | Swollen, cracked, leaking, damaged or recalled packs; damaged charger cords; improvised chargers or modified packs. Don't open a pack or bridge terminals. The DEWALT battery and charger manual requires matching equipment and bans charging damaged packs. Follow your own model's instructions. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker for the tool, battery and charger separately, including relevant production ranges. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: tool observation ______; battery observation ______; charger observation ______; runtime and remaining functions untested ______. Keep partial checks under Untested. |
Bench card: small electronics
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Actual model, housing, correct power supply, ports, included cables and visible battery concerns. If safe, record each function checked. Check setup/account access separately from a power-on response; don't open previous users' files. Keep devices with personal data or unresolved accounts on hold. Follow the exact maker's erasure steps and any purchase-contract wipe rules; Apple's pre-resale guidance applies to iPhone and iPad. Record erasure method and completion separately; seek qualified help if you can't confirm them. |
| Never test this yourself | Swollen or damaged batteries, damaged cords, recalled devices or exposed circuitry. Don't bypass an account lock. Apple's Activation Lock guidance explains that erasing data can leave the lock in place. Use the maker's valid release process. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker for the device and separate power accessories. |
| Honest result line | If only power was checked: Powers on; other functions untested. Otherwise record each supported result and limit ______. Account/setup status ______. Cosmetic condition ______; accessories ______. |
Bench card: toys with batteries or small parts
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Product ID, age markings, expected pieces, cracks, loose parts, battery-compartment cover and its securing hardware. Check the toy's instructions before a limited sound, light or movement check. |
| Never test this yourself | Recalled toys, damaged batteries or toys with unresolved choking or accessible-battery hazards. Don't bridge battery contacts, recharge disposable cells or modify the compartment. These Mattel battery instructions require the recommended battery type and secured cover for the covered toy. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker by product number and relevant date code. Hold children's products you can't identify. See CPSC resale guidance for children's-product concerns. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: pieces present ______; sound/light/movement checked ______; observation ______; other functions untested ______. A missing safety part means hold, even if a light turns on. |
Bench card: soft goods and apparel
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Actual size and fiber/care labels, seams, zippers, closures, stains, odor and signs of use. Unfold enough to inspect the whole item. Keep counts and sizes attached to each unit. Follow the care label for any permitted cleaning. |
| Never test this yourself | Recalled goods, contaminated material or children's clothing with unresolved safety concerns. Don't do flame tests or claim that washing proves the item meets safety rules. CPSC resale guidance covers clothing hazards. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker using the garment's ID details, especially for children's garments. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: fabric and seams inspected ______; closures checked ______; defects ______; cleaning performed ______. Describe inspection and use evidence without treating attached tags as proof of unused condition. |
Bench card: furniture and decor
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | Actual model, all cartons, panels and hardware against assembly instructions; inspect joints, glass, finish and required stability fittings. Keep incomplete panels safely supported. Use the electrical checks for electrical decor too. |
| Never test this yourself | Recalled furniture, damaged structural parts, missing safety fittings, gas decor or damaged lamp cords. Don't sit on an incomplete assembly or improvise weight or tip-over trials. CPSC furniture guidance covers furniture safety concerns. |
| Recall check | Search CPSC and the maker by product number and date range; check every item in a mixed set. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: panels and hardware inspected ______; missing parts ______; assembly status ______; mechanical functions checked ______. If incomplete: Not assembled; suitability for use unestablished. |
Bench card: sealed health and beauty
#| Prompt | Bench notes |
|---|---|
| What to check | External factory seals, product ID, batch details, printed expiry date and storage instructions; look for leaks or tampering. Ask the maker about unresolved shelf-life or storage questions. Check the purchase contract and channel's category rules. |
| Never test this yourself | Don't open, sample, apply or ingest the product to judge safety. Hold damaged seals, unknown contents, expired drug products and unresolved contamination concerns. FDA explains that cosmetic shelf life depends on the product and storage; you can't prove freshness from the lack of a printed date. |
| Recall check | Record a CPSC search where it applies, plus FDA recalls and maker notices for cosmetics, drugs and other goods under FDA rules. Match batch ID details. |
| Honest result line | Fill in: External packaging inspected; not opened or sampled. Seal observation ______; printed date ______; storage history ______. Never use Tested — works for a cosmetic or consumable based on its seal. |
The result labels don't choose a marketplace condition for you. Compare your notes with your channel's current category rules before listing. These inspection notes are not legal, tax or financial advice.
Sources
#- Resellers guide to selling safer products - CPSC, 2021, version 1.0 (checked October 1, 2026).
- Recalls and product safety warnings - CPSC, updated database (checked October 1, 2026).
- Kettle use-and-care instructions - Hamilton Beach Brands / Proctor Silex, date not shown (checked October 1, 2026).
- Li-ion battery pack safety instructions - DEWALT, December 2016 (checked October 1, 2026).
- Activation Lock for iPhone and iPad - Apple, April 29, 2026 (checked October 1, 2026).
- What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple, May 29, 2026 (checked October 1, 2026).
- Toy battery and operating instructions, B3056 - Mattel / Fisher-Price, 2003 (checked October 1, 2026).
- Cosmetic shelf life and expiration dating - FDA, date not shown in retrieved text (checked October 1, 2026).
- Recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts - FDA, updated database (checked October 1, 2026).
Updated
More guides
- Receiving and storing liquidation inventory
Plan pallet delivery, unloading equipment and sorting space, document arrival problems, and keep liquidation items connected to their storage records.