Feeler: MacBook Core Duo 2.0GHz White

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I'll be selling my MacBook -- Replacing with a newer model -- in the next couple weeks and was wondering what I could get for it.

• White
• 2GHz Core Duo
• 1GB ( two 512MB ) Apple ( Samsung ) factory -- I am going to swap my 2GB with whatever my new MacBook is shipped with.
• Hitachi 100GB 7,200RPM w/ 8MB buffer
• All original accessories
• Very good condition - No dead / stuck pixels
• ~1 month of original warranty left - Eligible for APP -- Purchased earlier July last year.
• No battery or other power issues that others supposedly claim

I'm also wondering something... I've been trying to make time but it's tough, the nearest Apple Store is ~1 hour away from me. That's a minimum of a ~2.25 hour venture. Of course, I'll probably have to leave it and come back a second time. :( If I don't get a chance, the only problems are that the right front corner of the palmrest ( top case ) is gapped about a millimeter and the left front corner is about a half a millimeter off. I had the top case replaced under warranty a few months ago for discoloring and I didn't notice it while I was there. I would guess they just didn't get it installed 'just right'. The other problem -- Also noticed just recently -- is a smaller crack in the power supply ( "brick" ). Never dropped it and I always have it wrapped up in my microfiber cloth when traveling. I can't imagine why it cracked but I plan on trying to get it replaced. Both are minor cosmetic 'issues' but I know they still count. I was wondering how much this would take from a selling price, just in case.

My upgrades are worth ~$200 new. The two 256MB DDR2-667 are worth practically nothing as anything with DDR2 memory comes with at least that much. The original 60GB hard drive is worth ~$60 new. -- I sold it for $50 shipped back when I initially purchased the MacBook.

Some items to note, since I know it will come up anyway. Foremost, Apple refurbished units go quick and most of the time are sold out. The Core Duo White 2GHz / 512MB / 60GB goes for $999.00 + any sales tax w/ free shipping, when available. The Core 2 Duo White 2GHz / 1GB / 80GB goes for $1,099 + any sales tax w/ free shipping, when available.

All together, that would make my setup ~$1,210 new-ish.

I can take photos if it would help. I more thing... I know it will come up as well. What are the price opinions of selling it here ( MR ), eBay, or Craigslist? Thanks.

[Veritas&Equitas]

Well, considering that the NEW model Macbook Core 2 Duo with stock 1 gb memory has been going for $1,000 shipped on here (3 within the last 2 weeks), I'd say that your model is not worth over $1,000, at least here on MR. You're probably looking at $900-950 shipped, quite honestly, considering the lack of time remaining on the 1 year warranty, coupled with the cosmetic issues.

Since I'm also in MN, I'll let you know that 2 Core 2 Duo Macbooks just sold over the past couple of days on our local Craigslist for $900, with me being a little too late on both of them. After checking eBay, your model is barely going for $1,000-1,050 total (without cosmetic issues + more time remaining on warranty). If you can get $950 for it, I'd take it.

P.S. As to your last question, Craigslist would be the easiest. Face to face, cash, etc. MR next hardest, just a Paypal transaction and shipping to someone we know on here. Hardest would be eBay, with the numerous scammers and deadbeat bidders, along with the listing and ending fees.

CL-MR-eBay = easiest to hardest.

P.P.S. You seem to really want to ignore refurb prices. Problem is, most people don't, and will wait 'til the right morning to get one. That way, you get a full 1 year warranty for a computer that has been inspected and certified by Apple, as opposed to having to take a risk that your 11 month old computer is just fine, with the warranty running out within a week or two (by the time you sell it and ship it). Refurbs are worth MORE than used (especially ones used for an appreciable amount of time) from individuals in my opinion.

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
As I mentioned, I'm trying to take care of the repairs myself but I wanted to ask / mention about them in case I didn't get the time. The buyer should be able to get them resolved with little hassle, if I don't get it. Of course, I understand that it is is my utmost best interest to do it before selling.

Are your suggested prices before the upgrades? Did those examples have ANY warranty? Mine would still have some and the buyer could still get APP. Systems without any warranty offer zero guarantees.

Being from MN, you do understand that the refurbished 2.0 C2D is ~$1,175 including sales tax. Plus, refurbs are actually pretty difficult to get when available, as they sell out quickly.

Think I can get $1,150 if I got the repairs done? $1,075 if not?

BTW, I didn't ignore them despite availability. $999 x 1.07 ( sales tax ) = $1,070 + $95 HDD + $105 RAM - $60 Old HDD = $1,210 for new-ish. So...Yeah..

[Veritas&Equitas]

No, my prices included the upgrades. In addition, you say $105 for memory, however, 1 gb sticks from Crucial and Kingston have been going for $30 after rebate over the past week. All the examples I looked at did have more warranty than yours as well. Hey, if you can get $1,075 I'd try. However, since you posed it as a "Feeler," I'm just saying that I don't see you getting over $1,000 total for it.

Look at it like this, by the time you sell it and ship it, the buyer is going to have maybe a week to decide to buy AppleCare, and try to get the changes fixed (unless you do it yourself, and you said you live a ways away from our Apple stores here in the Twin Cities, the repairs usually take at least a few days, which means even less time for warranty). I'm just saying that from the buying habits here on MR and locally with CL, if you get anything over $950-1,000 I'd be suprised. Doesn't mean you can't try though ;)

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I want to say that I do appreciate the input.

That's why I wanted to get "the ball rolling" on these 'issues' ASAP. If I can get it up for sale before June 1st but hopefully received by the buyer by than, I should be mostly OK. July 10th is when I registered it. June 29th was the actual purchase date. I'm hoping to be able to get an appointment where they can reseat the top case while I'm there and give me a new power supply ( "brick" ). So, I'm hoping it would be only one trip.

I'll admit that I made a mistake. I accidentally grabbed the 2GB kit price. Right now, a 1GB kit from Crucial is ~$58. Fair enough. Though, it would be Apple rebranded-ish and, therefore, give a slight less hassle for any warranty work. Though, we'll ignore that fact. So, I'll change my upgrades to ~$145 - $60 for a new 60GB ( original drive specs ) = ~$85. Fair enough. So, ~$1,155 new-ish. That's ~$1,000 + ~$70 ( sales tax ) + $145 - $60. :) With that said, would $1,050 sound fair if I got the repairs done before selling -- Likely the case despite all else. Would $975 sound fair if not?

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
Something of an update... The stock refurbished version of my MacBook dropped today to $849 + tax = ~$910. 1GB of RAM -- Using Ramseeker.com -- is ~$50. The original 60GB is worth ~$55 and the 100GB is worth ~$95 -- Using Pricegrabber.com

So, $910 + $95 + $50 - $55 = $1,000

So, if I'd give a 10% discount for being used, it would be $900. Does this sound reasonable?

Disappointing when you think about it as I paid probably around $1,500 less than a year ago.

[xfiftyfour]

I think $900 for a computer with so little warranty and two updates behind the newest refresh is a bit hopeful. I guess try eBay, where you might fetch more - but don't forget you'll lose on PayPal and eBay fees, which will be probably be a solid $50.

Edit: I mean, there's a 2.0 C2D refurb with a full warranty, 80gb HD, and your 1GB of RAM for only $100 more than your $900.

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I appreciate the input. However, it would be ~$170 more because of sales tax. It has an 80GB 5,400RPM drive, mine has a 100GB 7,200RPM. However, we can forget the hard drive difference because we'll say it more or less makes up for the C2D and DL SD difference. So, we'll say the C2D version you speak of costs ~$150 more to be fair. That seems reasonable, no?

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
Reposting to this for probably the last time. Does $875 + actual shipping / insurance -- Somewhere around $25 / $35, I'd guess -- with the small cosmetic issues seem reasonable?

I could also give the buyer the serial # -- after payment -- if they want to get AppleCare before the original warranty ends. I registered it July 10th but I don't know if Apple counts the purchase date of June 28th.

[Cybergypsy]

I say throw it on Ebay, One of mine went for over 1K and it was the same as yours but stock....you might want to try it:)

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I appreciate the response. It gives an idea but still hard to judge based on eBay ended auctions.

[Veritas&Equitas]

But wasn't yours a Core 2 Duo Cyber? Not Core Duo that went for $1k?

[teflon]

Hi
Reposting to this for probably the last time. Does $875 + actual shipping / insurance -- Somewhere around $25 / $35, I'd guess -- with the small cosmetic issues seem reasonable?


I don't know if you can still get $875 for your Macbook CD. You can try it on ebay, people there seem to pay higher than what it's worth, but personally i wouldn't go for it. For just over a $100 more, you can get a C2D mb refurb that's exact the same spec as your mb, but w/ the advantage of C2D and 2nd gen products free of the 1st gen problems. They also get a year of warranty which in itself will pay the price difference. The only loss is 20gb of hd, but with the prices of internal and external hd so low (around $105 for 120 gb seagate) and the hd being user-replaceable on the mb it's not much of an advantage for you. Also, they don't have to pay for shipping or insurance if they get it from Apple.

[Veritas&Equitas]

Quite honestly, that machine, along with casing/cracked issues & no warranty, I think you'd be lucky to get even $775-800ish shipped (given that when you posted in May there was only 1 month warranty left, I now assume it's out of warranty).

Along with what everyone else has said about the newer models, Apple warranty, better pricing, etc., you're really going to have to give a price incentive to choose your old model that is out of warranty over a newer refurb that has a full 1 year Apple Warranty. Just my $.02

[MacCheetah3]

HI
That seems kind of low. When available, this model w/ 512MB of RAM and 60GB 5.4K HDD goes for $849 + tax ( ~$60 for MN residents ) on Apple's Special Deals ( refurbished ) section. Now, I understand, the warranty is basically over ( June 29th purchased, July 10th registered ) but I do have upgrades. So, $850-ish doesn't sound that unreasonable at all in my mind.

For a better idea of the cosmetic state, I did take some photos (http://web.mac.com/ctschida/iWeb/Site/MacBook.html)

Not that it really matters but this model was $1,299 + tax 1 year ago + upgrades. I spent ~$1,625 total for this thing. Of course, that was with 2GB of RAM.

[shipdestroyer]

I'd like to point out that not everyone pays tax.

[wyatt23]

i'd say you could get around 800 for this badboy nowadays. more on ebay. core duo's aren't desirable, especially when a core 2 can be had for slightly more money.

[uMac]

The buyer should be able to get them resolved with little hassle, if I don't get it. Of course, I understand that it is is my utmost best interest to do it before selling.

It will cost the buyer a lot to fix your computer. Their time is valuable (I use a rule of thumb of $20/hour) so if we take your situation (2.5 hours to the apple store & back + time inside, 2 trips) = 5 hours. So thats $100 easy of their time to fix this, and that does not include time without computer.

Then take into account the lack of applecare warranty (quickly running out) they will have to buy apple care (~$300). Since it 2 years, vs the one for referb - $250

The fact that your machine is having problems also drops it's value.

Alll & All I would suggest you take the current Refreb Price and subtract ~$250 from the price of your machine. If its out of warranty (as V&E suggests) then drop it by $500 instead as your asking someone to buy a computer they 'as-is'. If its out of warranty & still damaged you may be able to get $300-400 if your lucky & its functional; but it will have to be a local sale as the buyer will want to see it running & functional.

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I appreciate the insights. It's 100% functional. No problems there, that I've run into.

[mkrishnan]

I think Veritas&Equitas's analysis is pretty accurate, too. Typically, computers sold here go used for ~85% of the Apple refurb price. On eBay, on a good day, you get close to that price, but the general expectation is that a forum sale is about 15% lower in price than an eBay sale.

If you sold it on a forum and were very patient, you might get north of $800, but I think $800 is a very reasonable expectation of a shipped domestic price here. Unless you happen to get someone who is not very price conscious or aware of market rates, I don't see $875+shipping as realistic at all. And you have to always weigh the risk you take with being patient, since your computer will continue to age, be replaced by newer revisions, run out of warranty, etc, while you try to sell it for the higher price.

So if that doesn't sound good to you, you basically have to keep it, try to sell it locally, or put it on eBay.

[Cybergypsy]

But wasn't yours a Core 2 Duo Cyber? Not Core Duo that went for $1k?Sold my core due AND my Core 2 Duo each for a grand really got more for the Core Due because I had the red Macstyles cover on it and it went high on Ebay, I think because of the red....but then again you have paypal fees and ebay fees....

[dewey decibel]

So, if I'd give a 10% discount for being used, it would be $900. Does this sound reasonable?


Don't take this as a comment on your price- it might be fine for all I know as I'm new to the game. I just find it amazing that used apple computers are selling for 85-90% of the used price. It's been my experience that with almost any other product that the second you leave the store with it the value drops 50% from the retail price. I guess that's a testement to the quailty of the product?

Good for sellers, not so good for buyers. :o

[uMac]

Unless you happen to get someone who is not very price conscious or aware of market rates, I don't see $875+shipping as realistic at all.

On ebay, all you need is two!

[taylorwilsdon]

Hi
I appreciate the insights. It's 100% functional. No problems there, that I've run into.

Yes, but without the warranty if they buy it and it explodes the next day, they're left with nothing.

[mkrishnan]

On ebay, all you need is two!

Yes, I was referring to forum sales when I said that, sorry. eBay is founded on the principle of bringing at least two idiots together with a con-man (or woman) willing to take money from just one of them. :D

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I found a more local AASP but we'll see if they can reseat the top case without creating new issues.