If you can’t prove it was delivered, PayPal will refund the buyer without question. You are responsible for your Mac reaching the buyer. This was a lesson I learned very early on, when the first question people asked me was ‘why are you selling?’. So when you’re selling to buy a shiny new one, say so. They will be wondering whether there’s a reason you want to get rid of it. People are rightly suspicious when buying used computers. Buyers are more confident when they feel they are dealing with a friendly person, and the more confident they feel, the more bids you’ll get and the higher the sale price.Īlways give a reason for sale.
It’s probably been a much-loved machine, so say so. Double-check that eBay has shown the correct details, especially if yours is an upgraded model.īut even if the panel is correct, a personal description really helps. Highlight the key features – any part of the spec that’s better than the base model of its time – but also enthuse about it a little. If you’re selling on eBay (and more on this in a moment), it automatically pulls in a spec panel when you enter the details of the model and year, but don’t just rely on this. Include photos of the box, and the Mac sitting in the box, and repack the power supply so it all look as neat as it did when you bought it from the Apple Store. Take close-ups of the screen from several angles, both on and off, so it’s obvious there are no cracks, scratches or dead pixels. Include close-ups of things like ports, again so that people can see they are in good condition. In that way, buyers can be confident there’s no hidden damage. Take photos from every single angle – including the underside. Make sure the freshly cleaned machine hasn’t attracted any dust. People can see exactly what they are getting, giving them far more confidence in bidding.Ĭhoose a well-lit place – close to a window is ideal. I’m firmly convinced that one of the reasons I tend to get good prices for stuff I sell on eBay is that I take high-quality photos – and lots of them. Finally, I use a second microfiber cloth to wipe it dry. Just ten minutes’ work can transform the look of a machine from perfectly fine to as-new. I pay particular attention to the keyboard, as those often end up dusty, spoiling the illusion of a new machine. Next I dampen the cloth a little and wipe both screen and exterior. I always start with a brand new microfiber cloth, and go over it really lightly to knock off any grit or similar. The biggest danger is that there’s a tiny piece of grit either on the surface of the Mac or a cloth, and in the process of wiping it you end up scratching it. Be careful you don’t scratch the Mac when cleaning it, though! You’ll sometimes find that marks you thought were small scratches are in fact just dirt. One really simple thing you can do is give the Mac a thorough clean. Even a small nick will reduce resale value.
Similarly, the closer your Mac looks to a brand new machine, the more it will be worth and the easier it will sell. Now, I don’t baby my MacBooks – I view them as tools, and my existing MacBook Pro has quite literally travelled around the world with me – but I do still try to avoid damaging them. If it is too late for your existing machine, I recommend hanging on to the box when your new one arrives. This phenomenon used to puzzle me: I couldn’t figure out why people were willing to pay more for a box that they will either throw away or stick in a cupboard somewhere, but I do have a theory. Buying used makes more financial sense, but I think some people feel they slightly miss out on the experience of buying something brand new – and opening the box gives them something of that experience. I even keep the Apple carrier bag when buying things from the store. If you can advertise an expensive piece of technology as ‘boxed,’ it immediately adds $50-75 to the price. This one may come a bit late, but I always keep the box and all the packaging. I’ve consistently managed to sell my old Macs for well above average prices by adopting a few simple tactics. But if you are selling privately, the amount of money you can get for the exact same Mac in identical condition can vary quite dramatically. If you just want a quick sale with no hassle, then our trade-in service is the simplest option. A decent chunk of the purchase cost for many of us will be raised by selling our old Macs, either ahead of time or once we have our shiny new Macs all set up and behaving themselves. With the new MacBook Pro models not exactly cheap (especially for Brits), we all need as much help as we can get in paying for them.