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Can It Ever Be Advantageous to Look to Craigslist to Purchase a used MacBook?

pollybrowne

pollybrowne

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 4, 2009
125
6
I know that the safest way to purchase a refurbished Apple product is directly through Apple. I have a MacBook Pro that purchased refurbishes directly from Apple.

However I’m looking for a secondary machine to bring with me on a several month outreach trip where it’s possible it might get a bit banged up, among other things, so it’s doesnt need to be in perfect condition and though the Apple refurbs are obviously discounted, I’d like to pay a little less in light of my purposes with this secondary device.

My experience with EBay has been that a “lower than average” price on a used MacBook Pro typically translates to something being very wrong with the product itself, and I do obviously need the laptop to at least fuction.

On Craigslist, however, I understand that sometimes people might have a perfectly decent machine that they are trying to unload simply because they need the cash quickly, or for some other reason unrelated to the machine being a dud or having some sort of fatal issue. So that might be an avenue to try to find a legitimate device priced below value if you get lucky?

Does anyone else have any experience with that? Is my thinking correct on that?

Or is anyone else aware of any other 3rd part sites/resellers beside B&H that I might be able to try to find the lowest price on a working MacBook?

(*I obviously am not concerned about warranties or anything like that for my limited purposes)

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
I wouldn't necessarily avoid Craig's List for a Mac, but only if I met in person, in a public place, and was able to examine and try it out... connect to WiFi, etc. I would give it a good look, check the specs yourself, etc. I would also caution you to remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. But if you take care (safety) and are diligent in giving it a once over, it could be a good deal for you.
 
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As long as you are careful to meet up in person at a safe place, a lot of police stations have a meeting area for craigslist exchanges and anyone who is trying to completely rip you off won't show up there, it can be a good place to buy things.
 
Thanks for the advice! Are there any other 3rd party resellers you would recommend?
 
I've never had problems with craigslist. You just have to know what you are looking at. In terms of quickly identifying problems. Also to make sure iCloud is disabled on any Apple product.

I prefer eBay for this sort of thing. You get a bunch of buyer protection from eBay. I'd say eBay buyer protection is better than many computer stores. Because a store can decide your reasons don't warrant a return without a restocking fee. While eBay will almost always side with the buyer. Unless it is extremely obvious the buyer is committing some sort of fraud.

As for really cheap dead laptops on eBay. They'll usually list it as for parts or repair in the title or listing. If they don't. They'll just end up eating a return and damaging their seller status. This isn't a problem with big sellers with good reputations. They've already learned to list any known problems.

You can look at the reputation of the seller on eBay. Which you can't do on Craigslist. You can end up paying a little more buying from a power seller than someone who is relatively unknown on eBay.

I tend to only use Craigslist for heavy or bulky items. As shipping can get expensive. Assuming it is cheap enough to be worth the drive time and can be found readily enough. As for Apple products. It seems to me people are trying to get way too much money on CL. They think their 2008 iMac is worth as much as a 2013 iMac. I'd never buy any phone because it could be stolen and just not locked yet while eBay gives a 45 day guarantee.
 
For something such as a computer, unless I already knew the seller personally - as was the case with the first laptop I purchased - he taught at the same university I did - I would go Apple refurbished, rather than craigslist.

Why not go for one of the older refurbished models? Some of these sell at an excellent price although they come with specifications that are a few years old; however, you will still get the warranties and guarantees of a new machine.
 
My biggest issue with eBay/Craigslist is you don't get the warranty, and you can't pay with a credit card that can extend your warranty. But based off your post that is not an issue, so then eBay/Craigslist would be okay. I would also echo doing this in a very public space, and I usually bring a counterfeit marker to make sure the bills they give me are real. the other nice thing about not buying from apple is you can get an even older machine that will fit your needs, especially if you are expecting it to get banged up, no need to buy a fancy new laptop.

Safe huntings!
 
I have purchased dozens of apple computers on Craigslist. One reason is that Apple's warranty stays with the product, no matter how many owners it has. That is wonderful! I usually look for machines that are still in warranty. Sometimes for me, sometimes for my friends, and some just to flip and make a few dollars. There really are people on Craigslist who sell excellent computers for low prices for all kinds of reasons. Ask for the reasons. When I am looking for a machine, I contact every seller who has what I want for a good price. I pay attention to their responses. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is, but I have been surprised a few times where an exceptionally good deal was legitimate. Trust your feelings.

Here are some guidelines I follow for Craigslist shopping:
1. Only meet people in person and only in safe, public places. I have done deals at banks, police stations, Starbucks, McDonalds. I have met people in their homes before, but never alone.
2. Do all your negotiating before going to meet the seller. No one wants to spend time traveling with expensive kit or cash only to have the deal fall through at the meeting. I do most of my negotiating through text or email. If doubts or uncertainty arise before leaving, I try to call to talk with the seller before either of us has to leave to get to the meeting place.
3. If you are interested in a machine in warranty, ask for the serial number ahead of time so you can check the warranty status. If the seller is uncomfortable with that, that's okay. Just make sure you have mobile internet and let the seller know that you will check it when you arrive.
4. Know how to test everything and make sure you take what you need do the testing. I take my phone, a usb drive, and an Apple thunderbolt-to-gigabit ethernet adapter so I can test the ports, the wifi and the bluetooth. Don't forget to test it's ability to charge. Check the hard drive capacity, the processor, RAM, and graphics specifications from About this Mac to make sure it is what you expect.
3. Craigslist is pretty much a cash marketplace. Have the agreed-upon amount ready in an envelope or separate pocket and only pull it out after you are satisfied with the computer. I always encourage the seller to count it while I am still there.

I am sure there is more advice to doing business on Craigslist, but the most important one is to trust your feelings. Don't go if you don't feel safe.

I just remembered one time when a 13-year-old kid was selling his MacBook on Craigslist. Since I was already an adult at the time, I asked to speak with one of his parents when he told me his age. I had two reasons: 1) I wanted to make sure he was actually allowed to sell it, and 2) I wanted his parents to know that their son was setting up a meeting with an adult male stranger. Turns out they were on board with the son's plan. We all met a McDonalds and everyone left with what they wanted.

Good luck! I hope you find a great deal and have a great Craigslist experience.
 
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I got a refurbed MacBook Pro 15" 2010 model, & had nothing but a headache from Apple;
Apple recalled the 2011 models for faulty GPUs, but not the 2010s for the same issue,
then Apple wouldn't help me, because there wasn't a recall issued.
Not impressed.
 
I’ve bought multiple Macs from Craigslist with no problems. Also sold a couple there too. Bought my 2011 MBP when it was only 3months old. Still working fine. Did the transaction at the police station since the kids step-dad was a policeman.
 
I have never bought any Apple product through Craigslist but I sure sold some from monitors, iMacs, minis and Mac Pro. I was for the imac and monitors insisting we meet in a public place and they test the hardware. Part of what I did was provide proof of ownership, and then a written form printed twice where we both sign with date showing that the hardware was purchased. This protects both of us.

Though I am paid cash, I absolutely am insistent the person gets what they paid for and if there were any not readily seen problem that may show up later, I would state it.

So, what I suggest is you do the same - make sure they can prove they own the hardware, check the hardware out and preferably in a public place, create a form of some sort that the purchase for what items, ideally the serial numbers, date and amount etc. If there is warranty on the item, you will want that too so ownership proof does matter and may require more with Apple to prove.
 
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