Compare the operating models
A fictional laptop shop has LA1 and LA2 with the same supplied Grade A specification. LB1 has a visible scratch that buyers must see before purchase. All three have passed the shop’s supplied refurbishment process; this decision concerns selling them, not repair approval.
| Business requirement | Grade product with unit tracking | Individual unit listing |
|---|---|---|
| LA1 and LA2 | Same promised specification | Repeated pages for equivalent goods |
| LB1 scratch | Generic grade hides material detail | Own photos and condition description |
| After sale service | Retain actual supplied serial | Listing links directly to that unit |
Work through the chosen model
Grade A is a product promise with eligible unit records LA1/LA2 beneath it. LB1 has a unit-specific listing. Store grade specification separately from each unit’s serial, condition evidence and availability, so the buyer-facing pool does not erase service identity.
- Publish the grade or exact unit promise
- Buyer selects the offer
- Allocate and record the actual unit
Grade pools simplify browsing but require a clear equivalence promise. Unit listings take more photography and maintenance; serial identity is useful in either model.
A buyer orders one Grade A laptop and receives LA2. Grade A availability falls from two to one, while service history links to LA2. LB1 remains a separate scratched-unit offer.
When the other model fits
Every laptop has different battery condition and supplied accessories. Can one grade alone express the offer?
Show the worked answer
No. Use unit-specific detail or smaller truly equivalent groups; buyers need the differences that affect the supplied promise.