How to Read a Carrier Auction Manifest

A carrier auction manifest is the single most important document in wholesale phone buying. It is the difference between a lot that lands on your shelf profitable and a lot that costs you money before you unbox it. Yet manifests are often skimmed, not read. ## The five columns that matter Every serious manifest has at least five columns: model, storage, grade, quantity, and lock status. Model tells you what you're buying, but do not stop at "iPhone 13" — check whether it's the standard, mini, Pro or Pro Max, and confirm the model number range if a listing is ambiguous. ## Lock status is a hidden pricing lever Lock status changes a lot's value more than most buyers realize. Read the seller's published grading definitions before you bid.