Amazon Returned Art Supplies Tested: What the Like New, Good, and Acceptable Categories Actually Get You

Introduction

Amazon’s returned items get inspected at a warehouse, graded as Like New, Good, or Acceptable, and then relisted at a discount. That sounds reassuring on paper, but the label does not always tell you what you are actually getting. To find out, we bought used art supplies from each of the three condition tiers and checked just how damaged, or undamaged, they really were.

Like New: Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

The Like New tier promises perfect working condition, fully functional items, and all accessories included, with packaging that may show minor damage. The Prismacolor Premier 36-pack normally runs about $28 and was listed for $27, so the savings here were minimal.

The packaging arrived covered in a strange yellow, sandy-textured stain, and the pencils inside were noticeably out of color order. The pencils themselves, however, were in perfect, unused condition. For a one-dollar discount, that is a mixed result: great pencils, but the Like New label did not deliver spotless packaging or meaningful savings.

Good: The Sweet Spot for Discounts

The Good tier guarantees items in good condition that may show light use, with packaging that might be damaged or repackaged, and possibly missing accessories. In practice, this category turned out to be the strongest of the three.

24-Piece Gouache Set

Normally $21.99, this gouache set was picked up for around $14, nearly half off. It carried an Amazon warehouse inspected sticker, which the Like New items did not have. Despite that, the packaging showed no damage at all, every color pan was completely sealed and unused, and the original slips were still inside. The only flaw was a small mark on the box. At almost 50% off, it arguably beat the Like New Prismacolor set in value.

Good: Stabilo Fineliner Pens

The Stabilo fineliner pen set normally costs $25 and was bought for $18. It even came with a sticker reading “thanks to you this product has a second life.”

The only visible damage was a single random smudge on the page, resembling dried food or glue, with what looked like small seasoning-like specks. Every pen was present, none appeared to have been opened before. Save for a smudge you could wipe away, this was effectively a brand-new pen set with $7 off.

Acceptable: A Genuine Gamble

The Acceptable tier is the lowest: clear signs of usage, possible missing parts or accessories, packaging that may be damaged or repackaged, and items that may not function until you buy extra components. Results here varied wildly.

50-Piece Watercolor Set

Normally $40, this set was discounted by only a few dollars. The tin holding the watercolors had visible damage and a lock mechanism that initially would not close properly, though it eventually settled back into place. Beyond that, the paint was completely untouched, the brushes were still unwrapped, and nothing had been used. Given the small discount, the condition was a pleasant surprise.

Acceptable: 52-Piece Drawing Set

Normally $22, this sketch set was bought for $14. The box had a clean box-cutter slit across the back, likely from the warehouse inspection.

Inside was the damage this tier is known for: a visibly used eraser, a used blending stump, a charcoal pencil worn down by roughly a third, a used sharpener, and charcoal sticks broken clean through. Checking the contents chart revealed even more missing items, including a box cutter, two paper clips, and a kneaded eraser. With broken and missing pieces, this set felt like it should have been at least half off.

Acceptable: Amazon Basics Watercolor Pad

The Amazon Basics watercolor pad normally costs $12 and was listed at $9.68. The box had damage, and the pad had clearly been used: the first page carried a painting in orange and green that was honestly rather pretty, and there was some leakage visible at the top of the spine.

The rest of the paper was undamaged. This one earned its Acceptable label honestly, since it had been used and some pages were affected, but at roughly five dollars off it is still easy to recommend if you do not mind starting a few pages in.

Overall Buying Advice

The takeaway from testing all three tiers is simple. The Good category was the clear winner: items were nearly untouched, close to Like New condition, but at meaningfully better discounts. The Like New tier delivered lightly damaged packaging for barely any savings, which makes it hard to justify. The Acceptable tier is the wild west, with results ranging from practically new to a sketch set missing several pieces, so only buy from it if you are comfortable with the risk.

Conclusion

Amazon’s return categories are not created equal. If you want the best balance of savings and condition, shop the Good tier first. Treat Like New as a small gamble with small rewards, and approach Acceptable only with realistic expectations about what might arrive in the box.