“Untested” is not an eBay condition. It is a description. When you list an item you haven’t been able to test, you still have to choose one of eBay’s preset conditions, and in most electronics and camera categories the honest choice is For parts or not working, with “untested” explained in the title and description.
Choosing Used instead makes a promise about the item that you haven’t checked. Here is what eBay Australia’s conditions mean and how to list untested stock without inviting disputes.
What eBay Australia’s conditions mean
eBay Australia’s item condition page sets out preset conditions that vary by category. For categories including cameras and electronics, it defines:
| Condition | eBay Australia’s definition (summarised) |
|---|---|
| Used | Used previously and may show cosmetic wear, but fully operational and functions as intended |
| For parts or not working | Does not function as intended and is not fully operational, including items needing repair or missing essential components |
The key words are in the Used definition. Choosing Used for an electronic item tells the buyer it works. If you don’t know that, the condition is not accurate.
Conditions differ by category. Clothing uses grades such as Pre-owned - Excellent, Good and Fair. Some category groups, including books and movies, music and video games, don’t list a For parts or not working option at all. Always check the choices your item’s category offers.
Untested vs For parts: which to choose
Use this as a guide for electronics, cameras and similar categories:
| Situation | Condition | What to add |
|---|---|---|
| Tested, every function works | Used | What you tested and how |
| Partly tested, everything you checked works | Used, if you are confident it functions as intended; otherwise For parts or not working | Exactly what was and wasn’t tested |
| Not tested at all | For parts or not working | ”Untested” in the title and a clear reason |
| Known fault or missing essential part | For parts or not working | The fault or missing part, with photos |
If you can’t test an item, say why: no charger, no matching battery, no compatible console. A specific reason reads as honest; a vague “untested” on an item that’s easy to test can make buyers suspicious.
How to write an untested listing
In the title
Put the key fact where buyers see it. For example:
Canon EOS 600D DSLR Camera Body with 18-55mm Lens - Untested, For Parts
In the description
Be specific about what you know and don’t know:
- What you checked. “Shutter fires when cocked; lens zoom moves freely.”
- What you couldn’t check. “Not powered on: no battery or charger available.”
- What’s included. “Camera body, 18–55 mm lens, strap. No battery, charger or memory card.”
- Visible condition. “Light scuffs on the base plate; screen has a small scratch (photo 6).”
- The expectation. “Sold as untested for parts or repair.”
Avoid phrases that undercut the condition, such as “should work fine” or “was working when last used”. If you think it works, test it and list it as Used.
In the photos
Show the item from every side, including labels, ports, battery compartments and any damage. Photos are your record of what was disclosed. Our guide to how many photos an eBay listing needs has a shot list for electronics and cameras.
Quick tests worth doing first
Testing turns a For parts item into a Used item, which usually sells for more. A few cheap checks:
- Gaming controllers: charge, pair, and check every button and both sticks for drift.
- Cameras: insert a charged battery, take a photo, check the screen, zoom and autofocus.
- Consoles: power on, load the home screen and run a game from the disc drive if it has one.
- Phones and tablets: power on, check the screen for dead pixels, test charging and confirm it isn’t locked to an account.
- Small appliances: run through each setting for a few minutes.
If a borrowed charger or a spare battery would let you test a batch of similar items, it often pays for itself.
How condition affects price
Items listed For parts or not working usually sell for less than tested, working equivalents. Price an untested item against comparable untested or for-parts sales, not working ones. In eBay’s sold-listings search, use the condition filter to compare like with like. Our eBay sold listings guide explains the process.
Returns and disputes
A clear For parts or not working listing sets the buyer’s expectations, but a no-returns policy isn’t complete protection. Under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee, a buyer can still open an item-not-as-described case if the listing was inaccurate: for example, if a part you didn’t mention is missing.
Your best protection is an accurate condition, specific wording and photos of everything. Our guide to eBay returns for Australian sellers covers returns policies and cases in more detail.
Where Listalong Snap fits
Listalong Snap is our phone app for turning item photos into eBay listings. It includes quick condition notes, such as Tested & working, Untested and For parts / not working, with room to add faults or details the photos don’t show. Working condition comes from your notes, not from what the AI sees in the photos, and you review the condition, description and price before publishing.
Snap is in private iPhone testing, with Android on the way. Sign up for launch updates to hear when it’s available.
Frequently asked questions
Is “untested” an eBay condition?
No. eBay uses preset conditions that vary by category, such as Used and For parts or not working. “Untested” is a description you add in the title or description to explain what you haven’t checked.
Can I list an untested item as Used on eBay?
In categories such as cameras and electronics, eBay Australia defines Used as fully operational and functioning as intended. If you haven’t confirmed that, Used makes a promise you can’t support. For parts or not working, with a clear untested note, is the safer choice.
Does a no-returns policy protect me if I sell an item for parts?
Not completely. Buyers can still raise an item-not-as-described case under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee if the listing was inaccurate. Clear condition, photos and wording are your best protection.
Sources and review date
Condition definitions checked 31 October 2026 against eBay Australia’s item conditions by category page. The condition table for untested items, the testing checklist and the example wording are editorial recommendations, not eBay policy.