Field reference: cabinet backs in a transport context. It supports discussion of physical structure and is not a condition grade.
Field reference: protected cabinets before opening. It shows why arrival and condition photographs should precede functional testing.
Field reference: a working display environment. It demonstrates the difference between a functioning display scene and a cabinet-level inspection record.
Physical inspection is the second quality gate because a cabinet’s visible condition affects handling, appearance, serviceability, and the customer’s understanding of used equipment. It takes place before power-on so that the team can record what is physically present without confusing a later functional result with an earlier cosmetic observation. The goal is not to make a used cabinet look new. The goal is to make its actual condition discussable.
The inspection should begin with the cabinet face and frame. Review the visible surface, module alignment, edges, corners, handles, locks, and any marks that may affect assembly or appearance. The front of the cabinet is what a viewer may see when the screen is assembled, but the frame and corner condition can also affect how cabinets meet. A small mark may be cosmetic. A deformation, loose part, or damaged locking point may influence handling or assembly. The record should state the observation and allow the appropriate team to decide its significance.
The rear and side interfaces deserve equal attention. Check connectors, cable paths, power and signal interfaces, protective covers, labels, and the condition of accessible hardware. Look for broken housings, missing fasteners, signs of impact, or cabling that has been pulled or placed under strain. The inspection should not assume that a connector is functional merely because it is present. Function belongs to the later power-on diagnosis. The physical gate records whether the interface is present, accessible, intact, or visibly questionable.
Module fit is another useful observation. Modules should be seated in a way that appears consistent with the cabinet construction, without obvious gaps, lifted corners, or loose sections. Again, the inspection does not replace a powered image test. A module can be seated correctly and still contain a functional fault; a visual irregularity may also be caused by the way the cabinet was transported. Recording it before power-on gives the technician a starting point for later comparison.
Age evidence should be treated carefully. If a production date or label is available, record the source of that information. Do not estimate production age from a photograph, a general appearance, or a customer’s assumption. If the internal process uses an age code, apply it only when the company has approved the definition and the actual evidence supports it. The current foundation does not approve a universal Y1–Y4 definition, so public copy should not pretend that such a code explains a precise commercial grade.
Cosmetic condition also needs precise language. A broad label such as “good condition” may mean different things to different buyers. Instead, the record can describe visible marks, corner wear, surface condition, label readability, hardware presence, and any issue that needs clarification. If the company later approves a C1–C4 or A+–C standard, the public page can explain it. Until then, evidence-based descriptions are more useful than an invented grade.
Photography is part of the inspection method. Capture the cabinet from repeatable angles, include the relevant label or identity when permitted, and take close images of unusual marks or interfaces. Four-side images can establish the general condition, while detail images explain a specific observation. A photo should be clear enough for a reviewer to understand what was seen. It should not be cropped so aggressively that the cabinet identity disappears.
The inspection record should separate normal handling wear from a condition that could block the next gate. A light surface mark may be recorded for customer awareness. A deformed frame, damaged connector, missing lock, or unstable module fit may require a technician’s review before power is applied. This decision should follow the approved internal method. The public explanation can say that visible issues are recorded and escalated where necessary without inventing a universal pass/fail threshold.
Inspection also prevents a common communication problem. If a buyer receives only a powered screen photograph, the image may show colour and brightness but reveal very little about cabinet edges, locks, connectors, or rear hardware. If the buyer receives only a front cabinet photograph, the image may show appearance but say nothing about signal or power function. The two gates answer different questions. Keeping them separate makes the evidence stronger.
For overseas customers, physical inspection is an important expression of respect. Used equipment is often purchased across a long distance, and a buyer may not be able to touch the cabinets before approval. A clear visual record helps the buyer understand the starting condition and ask focused questions. It also reduces the risk that a cosmetic issue is discovered only after the cabinet reaches the destination. The purpose is not to create fear; it is to make the decision more informed.
The inspection gate should end with a clear status for each cabinet or group. It may be ready for power-on, pending clarification, requiring repair before testing, or held for another reason. The exact status vocabulary should follow the company’s internal form. What matters is that the next technician understands what can happen next and why. A cabinet should not silently move to power-on because the inspection sheet is incomplete.
Q02 produces physical-condition evidence: faces, corners, locks, connectors, cabling, module fit, deformation notes, age evidence where available, cosmetic observations, and images. It does not conclude that the cabinet will function. That conclusion belongs to Q03. By respecting the boundary, Stellux can show customers what was seen without overstating what has already been proven.
Used equipment does not become clearer when its marks are hidden behind a grade. It becomes clearer when the marks, labels, interfaces, and physical condition are recorded in a way that the next gate can understand. Q02 makes the cabinet visible before electricity enters the discussion.
