Where do the used units come from?
Our used units come from domestic trade-in and upgrade programs inside China, collected through the same 184 pre-scanned factory and supplier network we use for new stock. Every unit passes through our Guangzhou facility for a 27-point bench test and serial-number log before it goes into a container. We never buy from scrap yards or unverified street collectors.
Why this concern is real
Used appliance trade has a bad reputation because buyers in Lagos, Tema, and Mombasa have been burned before: units arrive dead on arrival, compressors seized, serial numbers filed off, or the container turns out to be a mix of parts pulled from different broken machines. If a supplier cannot tell you where a unit physically came from, you cannot trace a warranty claim back to anything. That is the real risk behind this question, not just curiosity about geography.
How it actually works
In China, household appliance upgrade cycles run through licensed trade-in schemes and corporate/retailer buy-back programs. Twin tubs, microwaves, blenders, and similar units get pulled from this stream, sorted by category, and routed to verified suppliers we have already vetted across our 8 appliance categories. From there, each unit is bench tested on 27 points covering motor function, electrical safety, timer/control operation, and physical condition. It gets graded A (3 years old or less, 90-day warranty), B (5 years old or less, 30-day warranty), or C (tested working, sold as-is), and the serial number is logged against that grade before packing. This is why used grade B twin tub 8-10kg units run $48-68 FOB against $30-45 for new — the testing, grading, and traceability cost more than raw sourcing.
How we handle it at Apex Home Export
We do not touch used refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, or TVs, full stop — those categories are excluded from every container we load, used or new. For the categories we do handle, here is the sequence: (1) unit arrives at our Guangzhou facility from the vetted supplier; (2) 27-point bench test runs, results logged against serial number; (3) grade assigned (A/B/C) and unit tagged; (4) units matching your order are pulled, loaded, and run-tested again on camera at loading; (5) that loading and run-test video is sent to you before we ask for the balance payment. You are welcome to bring in SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek at your own cost to inspect before loading — we do not discourage third-party checks, we expect them on larger orders.
What you should do before you pay
- Ask for the grade (A, B, or C) and matching warranty terms in writing on the Proforma Invoice, not just verbally.
- Request serial numbers for the units in your order before the 70% balance is due.
- Confirm you will receive the loading + run-test video before releasing balance payment — this is standard practice, not a favor.
- Check that payment goes only to the corporate trade account matching the contract entity name, confirmed on the signed PI.
- If the order size justifies it, book a third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek) at your cost before the container is sealed.
Bottom line: used units come from traceable domestic trade-in channels, not scrap piles, and every one is bench tested and serial-logged before it ships. Message us on WhatsApp with your target category and port and we will walk you through current grade A/B stock and video proof before you commit a deposit.