Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Best place to sell/exchange unwanted MBP

S

seb101

macrumors member
Original poster
I was fortunate enough to win an MBP in a corporate competition recently. It’s still sealed in its box because frankly, I don’t want or need it, I would however appreaciate it’s value!

I have asked the competition contact if I could have the invoice/receipt to return it to the merchant but they said it was not possible.

Does anyone have any tips for the best place to sell new & unused macs? I am highly wary of selling anything high value on eBay, last time I sold an old phone I had repeated scams attempted against me (“please post it to my brother in Lithuania”) and it took weeks to find a genuine buyer.

Will Apple stores exchange unwanted gifts? It’s worth about $3500 and with that I could get the whole family new iPads which would be much more useful!
 
Check out craigslist or an app like OfferUp or letgo. Craigslist and these apps allow you to sell your MBP to someone local through a face to face interaction rather than mailing the item.
 
How much should I expect to ‘lose’ off the retail price by selling it privately?
 
Imo you can't sell it for full retail price because it's although it's "new", its still being sold secondhand.
For the buyer, the purchase wouldn't come with the same amount of purchasing and refund support offered by Apple or any other retailer.

Personally, I would post it up on every web & local platform (eBay, Craiglist, letgo, Kijiji here in CA) for a hundred or two off whatever the cheapest alternative like BH or Adorama is selling it for, then be willing to go negotiate down a little if it means a promising sale.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ploki and tsukeyomi
deadworlds said:
If its new and unopened there is no reason why you shouldn't be asking for full retail price.
Click to expand...
😀
What logic is there in that?
If you can go to Apple Store and buy it without having to deal with a 2nd hand party and you can also return it in the case it doesnt work properly.
20% off is minimum.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SDColorado
It cost you... nothing. You won it.

Sell it for 70% of what the "new price" would be.
Accept a little less if offered.

You'll be that much ahead.
 
Part of the issue if I were a buyer, is how long ago did the company actually purchase it? While it is "new" in-box, was it actually purchased long enough ago where it is outside of its 14-day return period? Is it outside the time where you can still add Apple Care+ if you chose to?

New from a retailer and new" in-box from a 3rd party (the gifting company was the second) are not the same thing. You definitely cannot ask 100% of retail and have any reasonable expectation of getting it. I think I would side with Fishrrman on 70%

Edit:

I have asked the competition contact if I could have the invoice/receipt to return it to the merchant but they said it was not possible.

Here is the red flag for me. If the gifting company cannot provide an invoice/receipt to the OP to return it to the merchant. I don't think a buyer of it could have any expectation to return it if there is an immediate issue with it (keyboard, T2, etc.)
 
  • Like
Reactions: puma1552
seb101 said:
I was fortunate enough to win an MBP in a corporate competition recently. It’s still sealed in its box because frankly, I don’t want or need it, I would however appreaciate it’s value!

I have asked the competition contact if I could have the invoice/receipt to return it to the merchant but they said it was not possible.

Does anyone have any tips for the best place to sell new & unused macs? I am highly wary of selling anything high value on eBay, last time I sold an old phone I had repeated scams attempted against me (“please post it to my brother in Lithuania”) and it took weeks to find a genuine buyer.

Will Apple stores exchange unwanted gifts? It’s worth about $3500 and with that I could get the whole family new iPads which would be much more useful!
Click to expand...

Swappa.com is your best bet.
[doublepost=1544889752][/doublepost]
SDColorado said:
Part of the issue if I were a buyer, is how long ago did the company actually purchase it? While it is "new" in-box, was it actually purchased long enough ago where it is outside of its 14-day return period? Is it outside the time where you can still add Apple Care+ if you chose to?

New from a retailer and new" in-box from a 3rd party (the gifting company was the second) are not the same thing. You definitely cannot ask 100% of retail and have any reasonable expectation of getting it. I think I would side with Fishrrman on 70%

Edit:

I have asked the competition contact if I could have the invoice/receipt to return it to the merchant but they said it was not possible.

Here is the red flag for me. If the gifting company cannot provide an invoice/receipt to the OP to return it to the merchant. I don't think a buyer of it could have any expectation to return it if there is an immediate issue with it (keyboard, T2, etc.)
Click to expand...

If it was bought since black Friday, it's return is available to Apple till mid January I believe.
 
BionicMan said:
Swappa.com is your best bet.
[doublepost=1544889752][/doublepost]

If it was bought since black Friday, it's return is available to Apple till mid January I believe.
Click to expand...

True. But was it? Who knows when the gifting company originally "purchased" it. They may not have. They may have even received it themselves as some sort of promotional consideration.

Without a receipt showing a date of purchase, or even that you actually own it at all, will Apple even do a warranty repair?

I mean even with purchases made after Black Friday, that holiday return period only applies with proof of purchase. I don't believe you can walk in and return without some kind of proof of purchase.

Depending on how long the competition was going, when prizes where purchased, etc. It could be prior to the holiday return period and well beyond the 14-day return.
 
SDColorado said:
True. But was it? Who knows when the gifting company originally "purchased" it. They may not have. They may have even received it themselves as some sort of promotional consideration.

Without a receipt showing a date of purchase, or even that you actually own it at all, will Apple even do a warranty repair?

I mean even with purchases made after Black Friday, that holiday return period only applies with proof of purchase. I don't believe you can walk in and return without some kind of proof of purchase.

Depending on how long the competition was going, when prizes where purchased, etc. It could be prior to the holiday return period and well beyond the 14-day return.
Click to expand...

Warranty shouldn't be an issue. I've bought a MBP on Ebay and sent it in for repair with no issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Plutonius and SDColorado
On eBay new, boxed Macbooks tend to go for $100-200 less than MSRP and occasionally above MSRP for some reason.
 
filmbuff said:
On eBay new, boxed Macbooks tend to go for $100-200 less than MSRP and occasionally above MSRP for some reason.
Click to expand...

What? I am glad there is a marketplace for those who feel that they need to pay that little bit extra over MSRP. Nothing like giving 110% in everything you do 😉
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ploki
deadworlds said:
If its new and unopened there is no reason why you shouldn't be asking for full retail price.
Click to expand...

I agree in principle, but in reality there is the fact you can normally secure 3-5% discount/cashback on an MBP by shopping around. Additionally the buyer is assuming additional risk as I am not going to be able to exchange it on the off-chance it is faulty and they will have to hope Apple honor the warranty.

I was expecting maybe 10% off retail.
 
Fishrrman said:
It cost you... nothing. You won it.

Sell it for 70% of what the "new price" would be.
Accept a little less if offered.

You'll be that much ahead.
Click to expand...

That's too low for a brand new unopened MBP. I would sell at 85% and no less. There will be plenty of buyers willing to pay a 15% discount.
 
LIVEFRMNYC said:
That's too low for a brand new unopened MBP. I would sell at 85% and no less. There will be plenty of buyers willing to pay a 15% discount.
Click to expand...

Maybe so. I wouldn’t. You can get a 10% discount with educational or military store purchase. It would not be worth it to me to save an additional 5% on a laptop I could maybe not return or exchange if there is an issue. I would take a hard pass at 15%
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ploki
SDColorado said:
Maybe so. I wouldn’t. You can get a 10% discount with educational or military store purchase. It would not be worth it to me to save an additional 5% on a laptop I could maybe not return or exchange if there is an issue. I would take a hard pass at 15%
Click to expand...

I to would rather still buy direct from Apple or a retail store. But there are many buyers that would purchase from a private seller for a 15% discount without second thought if it's new/unopened.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SDColorado
SDColorado said:
Maybe so. I wouldn’t. You can get a 10% discount with educational or military store purchase. It would not be worth it to me to save an additional 5% on a laptop I could maybe not return or exchange if there is an issue. I would take a hard pass at 15%
Click to expand...

Maybe not to you, but to someone who doesn't qualify for such discounts (such as myself) 15% is significant...
 
hallux said:
Maybe not to you, but to someone who doesn't qualify for such discounts (such as myself) 15% is significant...
Click to expand...

I qualify through the military discount in the new military store due to my service in the Navy, but from what I understand from some folks on here, they don’t even verify the .edu discount anymore.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BeatCrazy
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back