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RepairKeeper
Trade-In & Refurbishment

Trade-in software that tracks buy to sold

Buy devices from customers or suppliers, grade condition, manage refurbishment checklists, and track every cost from purchase to sale — with margin scheme support for VAT-registered businesses.

14-day free trial. Trade-in features on Standard plan and above.

Device Lifecycle

Full lifecycle from purchase to sale

Track every device through a clear workflow: Purchased, Refurbishing, Ready for Sale, and Sold. Know exactly where each device stands and what it's worth at every stage.

  • Buy from customers or suppliers

    Record trade-in purchases with device details, purchase price, and seller information. Works for walk-in buybacks and supplier bulk buys alike.

  • Condition grading

    Grade every device as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor at the point of purchase. Grading drives which refurbishment checklist is applied.

  • Status tracking

    Devices move through Purchased, Refurbishing, Ready for Sale, and Sold. Always know what's on your bench and what's ready for the shelf.

  • IMEI & serial tracking

    Record IMEI or serial numbers at purchase for a complete audit trail. Verify provenance, handle warranty claims, and stay compliant.

Trade-In Pipeline 4 devices
iPhone 14 Pro Max Purchased
Grade: Good · IMEI: 35291...4820 £280.00
Samsung Galaxy S23 Refurbishing
Grade: Fair · Screen + battery replacement £145.00
iPad Air 5th Gen Ready for Sale
Grade: Excellent · Listed at £349.00 £220.00
Google Pixel 8 Sold
Sold 14 Mar 2026 · Margin: £112.00 £299.00
Cost & Refurbishment

Refurbishment checklists and cost tracking

Different devices need different work. Set up refurbishment checklists per device type and condition grade, then track every cost — purchase price, parts, labour, and your final selling price — to see your real margin on every unit.

  • Per-device checklists

    Define what needs checking and replacing for each device type. Technicians work through the list, ticking off items as they go.

  • Full cost breakdown

    Track purchase price, refurbishment parts, labour costs, listed price, and sold price. See your margin per device instantly.

  • Linked repair tickets

    Need to replace a screen or battery? Create a linked repair ticket for the refurbishment work. Parts and labour costs flow back automatically.

  • Margin scheme VAT

    For VAT-registered businesses, calculate VAT on the profit margin rather than the full sale price. Stay compliant with HMRC second-hand goods rules.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Refurbishing
Grade: Fair

Refurbishment Checklist

Factory reset & data wipe
Screen replacement (OLED)
Battery replacement
Full functionality test
Clean & polish housing
Purchase price £145.00
Refurb parts £67.50
Labour £25.00
Total cost £237.50
Listed price £349.00
Projected margin £111.50
VAT & Compliance

Margin scheme and compliance built in

Buying and reselling second-hand devices comes with specific VAT requirements. RepairKeeper handles margin scheme calculations automatically, and every device carries a full audit trail from purchase through to sale.

  • Margin scheme VAT

    VAT is calculated on the profit margin, not the full sale price. RepairKeeper handles the calculation so you stay HMRC-compliant without a spreadsheet.

  • Purchase records

    Record seller details, purchase date, price, and device condition for every trade-in. Build a clear paper trail for every device you buy.

  • IMEI lookup & history

    Search your trade-in history by IMEI or serial number. See the full lifecycle of any device — who you bought it from, what work was done, and who you sold it to.

  • Full audit trail

    Every change to a trade-in record is logged with timestamps and user attribution. Know who did what, and when.

Margin Scheme Summary VAT
Google Pixel 8 Sold
Purchase price £187.00
Sold price £299.00
Margin £112.00
VAT due (1/6 of margin) £18.67
iPhone 13 Sold
Purchase price £160.00
Sold price £249.00
Margin £89.00
VAT due (1/6 of margin) £14.83

Everything you need to run a trade-in operation

From buyback to resale — every tool a repair shop needs to manage second-hand device stock profitably.

Condition grading

Grade devices as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor at intake. Grading determines which refurbishment checklist is applied.

Refurbishment checklists

Define step-by-step checklists per device type and condition. Technicians work through each item before the device is cleared for sale.

Cost tracking

Track purchase price, parts, labour, and selling price per device. See your real margin on every unit — no spreadsheet needed.

Margin scheme VAT

Calculate VAT on profit margins for second-hand goods. Stay HMRC-compliant with automatic margin scheme support.

IMEI & serial tracking

Record IMEI or serial numbers at the point of purchase. Search and trace any device through your entire trade-in history.

Linked repair tickets

Create repair tickets for refurbishment work. Parts and labour costs flow back to the trade-in record automatically.

Stock integration

Refurbishment parts pull from your existing inventory. Stock is checked and allocated just like any repair job.

Profitability reporting

See which device types and grades deliver the best margins. Make smarter buying decisions based on real data.

FAQ

Trade-in software questions

How does the trade-in grading system work?

When you buy a device from a customer or supplier, you assign a condition grade — Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. Each grade can have its own refurbishment checklist, so your team knows exactly what needs doing before the device is ready for resale.

Can I track profit margins on refurbished devices?

Yes. RepairKeeper tracks the full cost chain — purchase price, refurbishment parts and labour, and your listed and sold prices. You can see your margin per device at a glance, so you always know which trade-ins are profitable.

Does RepairKeeper support the VAT margin scheme?

Yes. For VAT-registered businesses buying and reselling second-hand goods, RepairKeeper supports the margin scheme. VAT is calculated on the profit margin rather than the full selling price, keeping you compliant with HMRC rules.

Can I link a trade-in device to a repair ticket for refurbishment?

Yes. When a device needs refurbishment work, you can create a linked repair ticket to track parts, labour, and costs. The refurbishment costs flow back into the trade-in record automatically, giving you an accurate total cost.

How does IMEI and serial number tracking work?

Every trade-in device records its IMEI or serial number at the point of purchase. This gives you a full audit trail from acquisition through refurbishment to sale — useful for warranty claims, compliance, and verifying device provenance.

Turn trade-ins into a profitable side of your business

RepairKeeper gives you device grading, refurbishment checklists, full cost tracking, margin scheme VAT, and IMEI traceability — all connected to your repair workflow. Start your 14-day free trial today.

Card required — cancel any time before day 14 and you won't be charged. See pricing.