Pre-Owned Condition Guide
Pre-Owned Condition Guide
Every pre-owned item at Shell Design Boutique is individually reviewed and assigned a condition grade before listing. These grades and disclosures appear on each product page so you always know exactly what you are getting.
Condition Grades
We use a four-tier scale. The grade for each item is shown in the product details section on its listing page.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| Like New | Worn once or twice, if at all. No visible signs of wear. May or may not include original tags. |
| Excellent | Light wear with no flaws visible at arm's length. Minimal pilling, slight fabric softening, or very faint creasing — nothing that affects appearance during wear. |
| Good | Normal wear consistent with regular use. May have minor pilling, light fading, or small imperfections noted in the listing. Fully wearable and presentable. |
| Fair | Noticeable wear, fading, or imperfections. All flaws are described and photographed in the listing. Priced to reflect condition. |
Disclosure Details
Any of the following are noted directly on the product listing whenever they apply.
Stains
Visible stains are described by location (e.g., left cuff, hemline) and approximate size. Additional close-up photos are included. We do not sell items with stains we consider unwearable; items with minor, disclosed stains are priced accordingly.
Repairs & Alterations
If an item has been repaired (e.g., re-stitched seam, replaced button) or professionally altered (e.g., hemmed, taken in), this is noted in the listing. We describe what was done and where.
Cleaning
Pre-owned items are not laundered before shipping unless specifically noted in the listing. We recommend following the care label on any item before wearing. Care label information is included in the product details where visible.
Odor
If an item has any detectable odor — including perfume, mustiness, or storage smell — this is disclosed in the listing description. Items described as odor-free had no detectable scent at the time of review.
Smoke-Free & Pet-Free Status
When a sourced item's origin is known, we note whether it comes from a smoke-free or pet-free environment. If this information is unavailable, no claim is made. Look for these notes in the listing details section.
A Note on Our Process
Each item is visually reviewed by our team before listing. We describe what we see honestly — we do not perform professional cleaning, authentication, or structural inspection, and our descriptions are not guarantees. Photos are part of every listing; please review them alongside the written disclosure.
Questions about a specific item? Contact us before purchasing and we'll do our best to help.
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