Anyone with online Trade-in experience: how picky are Apple about "physical condition"

[jagolden]

this is the first trade-in Ive ever attempted: typically I try to find someone else in my circle to sell it to. Do you use some kind of sleeve or skin on the macbooks? Because I think that’s really the only way to keep them completely pristine, I think.

Outside of the office/traveling I’d use a laptop/messenger bag to carry , but naked the rest of the time.

 

[thadoggfather]

Well, congrats on getting the trade done today. That in itself must be a relief.

And my $670 just posted on Apple Cash. Nice! that wasn't even one full business day since I did it early evening Friday, effectively a 40 hour turnaround time.

and I just got my 'mail in box' yesterday lol. Glad to have avoided that route.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

I keep my MacBook in a neoprene sleeve when not in use or when traveling with it. It only has a couple of small scuffs from my Apple mouse hitting the side of the case a few times while in use. The case has definitely kept the MacBook in excellent shape vs just carrying it in a bag with other items.

I also try and find a family member or friend to sell on to. Gives them a good deal and gets me a few more $ than trading in.

I feel like the only way to keep a MacBook in pristine condition is to have a skin/hardshell case on the exterior at all times, one of those horrible nets atop the keyboard, and maybe even a screen protector. I don't do any of that: in fact, I use all of my devices naked, which is kind of bold when it comes to the iPhone in particular, but I think is more than doable with a MacBook. That being said, this is why my unit does have some blemishes on it. I just hope that they aren't too stringent in their appraisal, as the number they quoted me is already only a bit over only a third of what I initially paid for it a year and a half ago.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I use wool but for my MacBook sleeve needs. In my opinion, it is top of the line in style and protection. I am waiting on mine to arrive for my M1. It is far superior to anything Apple's own attempt.

MacBook Sleeves

WOOLNUT Leather Sleeve Case 2025. Best sleeves & cases for the new MacBook Pro 14 & 16 inch (M1 + M2 + M3 + M4 Pro / Max). Also MacBook Air 13 & 15-inch (M1 + M2 + M3) sleeves.

www.woolnut.com

 

[Internet Enzyme]

I use wool but for my MacBook sleeve needs. In my opinion, it is top of the line in style and protection. I am waiting on mine to arrive for my M1. It is far superior to anything Apple's own attempt.

MacBook Sleeves

WOOLNUT Leather Sleeve Case 2025. Best sleeves & cases for the new MacBook Pro 14 & 16 inch (M1 + M2 + M3 + M4 Pro / Max). Also MacBook Air 13 & 15-inch (M1 + M2 + M3) sleeves.

www.woolnut.com

For me, if I get a sleeve, I want one that has some pouches in it to store dongles and cables in. Those look beautiful (and expensive), but a bit of utility is always nice too.

 

[Apple_Robert]

For me, if I get a sleeve, I want one that has some pouches in it to store dongles and cables in. Those look beautiful (and expensive), but I a bit of utility is always nice too.

That sounds nice until you get a small / tiny dent from the case accidentally bumping against something etc.

 

[Philpug]

I am going to trade my 2014..$320. Not worth the hassle of selling private.

 

[hoodafoo]

...but they sent it over Apple Cash, and I will now pay the list price / 12 months.

In other words, no discounted monthly installments its as if I hadn't traded in a laptop financing wise, and I can use the pool of Apple Cash refund amount towards the hiked monthly installments as needed instead. That's fine really, just a different way of going about things.

They gave you the full trade-in value up front in one lump sum and you're still complaining?

 

[thadoggfather]

They gave you the full trade-in value up front in one lump sum and you're still complaining?

I stated it’s fine just was a surprise from the expectation when I ordered the laptop online. I even later praised the 40 hour credit post

the employee said he dealt with the same thing when he traded a phone and was surprised also

 

[Internet Enzyme]

I cancelled the Apple trade-in and am now trading in with “Mac Me An Offer,” as was suggested by others. They quoted me $855 for my computer, which is $95 more than Apple did. Hopefully that works out well.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

Well, it’s been two weeks now (one week after UPS delivered my machine to them), and finally, the people at Mac Me An Offer have verified my computer’s quality and will send me my check, which will take another week or so probably. My M1 MacBook Air, however, still hasn’t shipped, which is frustrating. I doubt it will arrive within the window they originally quoted.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

Just for some finality: I received my M1 MacBook Air on Friday, the day after its order progress advanced all the way from "Processing" to "Shipped," so that was a nice surprise. Just on the computer: I love the Gold color and the Magic Keyboard is much nicer to type on than the Butterfly was: however, losing the Touch Bar may actually take me a bit of time to adapt to, as I now find myself reaching for the wrong areas of the computer whenever I want to adjust the system volume or display brightness. It's otherwise much the same size and weight as my 13" MacBook Pro, just is much more snappy and responsive (although, during the first day of setup, after I installed Rosetta, the M1 actually became a bit slow and laggy at times), and is completely silent and cool, with what seems to be very solid battery life to boot. This thread isn't a review of the M1 MacBook Air, but I figured I'd share my experience with it. In terms of the trade-in process: it was a bit nerve-wracking and I wish they had updated me a bit more frequently on the status of my computer than they did, but, overall, Mac Me An Offer were solid and valued my computer at a higher price than Apple did.