iPod touch 2nd generation factory reset need to connect to iTunes?

Hi, having a clear out of old tech and when it came to factory resetting my iPod touch 2nd gen it reset and then prompted me to connect it to iTunes before I could use it freshly wiped, which I did and everything was fine . I went to trade it in and after, I assume the same steps I took, they turned it away on the grounds that it was stuck in reset mode. Is it? Or is it just that the method of resetting older iPod touches involves connecting to iTunes after being reset (they did not do this), it’s been so long I can’t remember. Thanks