Sell stock as a service, returns or refurbishment organisation

Products may pass through different stages within a service, returns or refurbishment process. After receipt, they may be identified, visually inspected, technically tested, diagnosed, repaired, cleaned, repackaged and ultimately released or not released for further sale.

Not every product needs to have passed through every stage. A single stock lot may, for example, contain goods that:

• have only been received and registered;
• have undergone an initial visual inspection;
• have been technically tested or diagnosed;
• have been repaired and retested;
• have been fully processed and released for resale;
• are still awaiting a further processing or decision stage.

For the assessment, the registered status must above all correspond to the work actually performed. An intake inspection, for example, is not the same as a technical function test. A completed repair also does not automatically mean that the product was subsequently retested.

Existing RMA records, work-order statuses and exports from the service or inventory system may serve as a starting point. You do not need to create a new process classification, provided the meaning of the statuses used and the stages completed or still outstanding are clear.

Products in a service, returns or refurbishment process do not automatically become available for sale as soon as processing has been completed. They may still form part of an ongoing warranty case, claim, return period, retention period or agreement with the principal.

A defined stock lot may become available when:

• a periodic selection of processed products is released;
• the principal decides not to return certain products to its own sales or service channel;
• a returns, trade-in or service programme is completed;
• a service or refurbishment agreement ends;
• previously established take-back or processing criteria change;
• the agreed retention period has expired and the owner decides on the next destination.

Before submission, it must be clear which products have been definitively released from the original process and which remain subject to a work order, claim, quarantine, return obligation or other internal hold. Only goods that are actually available are assessed as a defined stock lot.

State from which date the stock may be transferred and whether the owner still imposes conditions concerning sales channels, markets, brand presentation or the use of existing warranty and product information.

Within service, returns and refurbishment processes, Stock & Trade focuses on complete commercial non-food end products that can be clearly identified and whose actual processing status can be substantiated.

A product does not need to be in its original packaging or include all original accessories. Do clearly state which parts, accessories, manuals, packaging or product labels are missing. Known technical, cosmetic or functional deviations must also remain clearly identifiable in the records.

Products that have failed a test, still require repair or are subject to an internal hold must not be offered as tested or released for resale. The same applies to goods subject to an unresolved safety notice, recall or other restriction where safe and lawful resale has not yet been established. Keep these products separately identifiable within the stock lot.

Loose service and repair parts, disassembled components and structurally incomplete products do not form an independent core stock category for Stock & Trade. If such goods make up a limited part of an otherwise suitable stock lot, share its full composition. We will then assess which parts may qualify for purchase.