Do you recommend selling on eBay?

[AMSOS]

My barely 1 year old MacBook Air (1.8 GHz, i5, 2017)?

I am seeing a price of around $500 on second-hand stores, but I think I could get a better price.

Is it safe to sell on eBay? I haven't sold an expensive item like this before.

Also, I still have all the 2 years of the extended warranty remaining. Should I ask for $220 for it separately, or will I get only part of this amount?

Thanks!

 

[Ghostrider72]

Is the warranty linked to the laptop? If so, I think you cannot sell it separately but you can add it as a bonus to get something more. I would cut a bit the price though.
Ps. I have forgotten to reply about ebay being safe. Well, this is the question that buyers normally ask but I have sold a laptop once without problems. If you want to avoid the paypal problem (paypal freezing your funds if the buyer has any problem) just don't go through paypal, ask to be paid via bank transfer only or, if in US you have the Revolut card and this feature is unlocked on your card like on mine, upon payment you will send the buyer a special link to a protected page where he will insert his credit card numbers (they will not be accessible to you) and you will instantly receive the money on your revolut card.

 

[chscag]

Is it safe to sell on eBay? I haven't sold an expensive item like this before.

The word "safe" is relative. The choice is yours of course but with so many scammers prowling around and eBay (PayPal) always seeming to side with the buyer, I personally would not choose to sell on there.

 

[edubfromktown]

I’ve been buying and selling on eBay since the late 1990’s. Sold 3 cars and bought items ranging from a few bucks on up to just under $10,000.

Only a couple of people tried to scam me in more than 1,000 transactions- one when I was the buyer and the other when I was the seller. Neither of them got away with it.

The added pain these days is that buyers in many states have to pay sales tax so they may not bid things up as high as in the past. Last item I sold was my 12” Macbook. Listed it at $250 and it got bid up to just over $950 in a 7 day auction.

I have a lot of eBay ratings (all positive) so people probably bid more on my stuff. If you don’t have many eBay ratings, you may not get as many bids and it might be better to sell elsewhere.

 

[dyusem]

My barely 1 year old MacBook Air (1.8 GHz, i5, 2017)?

I am seeing a price of around $500 on second-hand stores, but I think I could get a better price.

Is it safe to sell on eBay? I haven't sold an expensive item like this before.

Also, I still have all the 2 years of the extended warranty remaining. Should I ask for $220 for it separately, or will I get only part of this amount?

Thanks!

I may be interested: what is the size of the SSD and how much do you want?

 

[ignatius345]

I’ve been buying and selling on eBay since the late 1990’s. Sold 3 cars and bought items ranging from a few bucks on up to just under $10,000.

Only a couple of people tried to scam me in more than 1,000 transactions- one when I was the buyer and the other when I was the seller. Neither of them got away with it.

The added pain these days is that buyers in many states have to pay sales tax so they may not bid things up as high as in the past. Last item I sold was my 12” Macbook. Listed it at $250 and it got bid up to just over $950 in a 7 day auction.

I have a lot of eBay ratings (all positive) so people probably bid more on my stuff. If you don’t have many eBay ratings, you may not get as many bids and it might be better to sell elsewhere.

I've had a pretty successful run of selling my old stuff too -- only a couple hundred transactions but I've got a great rating. A friend was complaining recently that she's been encountering a lot of people misusing eBay's return policies and claiming stuff was broken (or even counterfeit) when it wasn't, demanding refunds. Her complaint was that eBay automatically sides with the buyer. You run into any of that kind of stuff?

 

[deeddawg]

It’s safe until you get fkd by someone who claims they received a brick in the box.

I’ve had good results with MacMeAnOffer.com. Sold them a few different items; I was honest about condition and they honored the quote.

 

[edubfromktown]

I've had a pretty successful run of selling my old stuff too -- only a couple hundred transactions but I've got a great rating. A friend was complaining recently that she's been encountering a lot of people misusing eBay's return policies and claiming stuff was broken (or even counterfeit) when it wasn't, demanding refunds. Her complaint was that eBay automatically sides with the buyer. You run into any of that kind of stuff?

Nope... I only sell to US buyers and do not generally get final bids from low or zero rating buyers. It happens on occasion that one of them wins but they haven’t been a problem (same is true with sellers who have a limited number if ratings in my experience).

I’m very succinct in my descriptions (leaving no room for “interpretation”), clearly document what I send in written communications and take photos when preparing shipments for my own protection. Paypal has been very even handed with disputes in my experience as well.

 

[AMSOS]

Is the warranty linked to the laptop? If so, I think you cannot sell it separately but you can add it as a bonus to get something more. I would cut a bit the price though.

I am not sure what you mean. Are there different ways of linking the warranty to the laptop?
I assumed that even though it's in my name, Apple Care will only need to check at their end, and should provide service to whoever takes the laptop to them.

Ps. I have forgotten to reply about ebay being safe. Well, this is the question that buyers normally ask but I have sold a laptop once without problems. If you want to avoid the paypal problem (paypal freezing your funds if the buyer has any problem) just don't go through paypal, ask to be paid via bank transfer only or, if in US you have the Revolut card and this feature is unlocked on your card like on mine, upon payment you will send the buyer a special link to a protected page where he will insert his credit card numbers (they will not be accessible to you) and you will instantly receive the money on your revolut card.

Wow, I hadn't anticipated this. It sounds a little tricky to me, especially when we are talking about a payment in excess of $700.
Maybe, I could figure out a way for the other person to actually meet me.
Or, i'll just have to settle and sell it to recognised sellers such as gazelle, macmeanoffer, and the like.
[automerge]1590895847[/automerge]

The word "safe" is relative. The choice is yours of course but with so many scammers prowling around and eBay (PayPal) always seeming to side with the buyer, I personally would not choose to sell on there.

Yes, I notice that members here have reservations.
Which other places do you think I should check out?
[automerge]1590896062[/automerge]

The added pain these days is that buyers in many states have to pay sales tax so they may not bid things up as high as in the past. Last item I sold was my 12” Macbook. Listed it at $250 and it got bid up to just over $950 in a 7 day auction.

I see. I was thinking of setting a fixed price--a take it or leave it sale.
Do you recommend a bidding process, instead?

 

[edubfromktown]

I am not sure what you mean. Are there different ways of linking the warranty to the laptop?
I assumed that even though it's in my name, Apple Care will only need to check at their end, and should provide service to whoever takes the laptop to them.

Wow, I hadn't anticipated this. It sounds a little tricky to me, especially when we are talking about a payment in excess of $700.
Maybe, I could figure out a way for the other person to actually meet me.
Or, i'll just have to settle and sell it to recognised sellers such as gazelle, macmeanoffer, and the like.
...

I see. I was thinking of setting a fixed price--a take it or leave it sale.
Do you recommend a bidding process, instead?

I always list items starting at somewhere around 25-50% of what I expect they will sell for. The more bidding activity, the better...

More often than not (assuming it is posted with an accurate description and high quality photos of a clean item for sale) items are bid up higher than my expectation.

 

[coffeeplease]

Personally, I don't want to deal with the hassle of shipping out at expensive item and getting scammed. eBay/PayPal will side with the buyer over you if anything goes sideways. My advice is to try selling locally on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace first. Do the exchange in a safe a public space and once it's done, it's done.

 

[BF1M]

Personally, I don't want to deal with the hassle of shipping out at expensive item and getting scammed. eBay/PayPal will side with the buyer over you if anything goes sideways. My advice is to try selling locally on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace first. Do the exchange in a safe a public space and once it's done, it's done.

Unfortunately, he's correct. In my opinion, selling anything over 100 bucks on eBay is just not worth it anymore. Even when you mark no returns, the buyer has months to "change their mind", credit card chargebacks always favor the buyer, eBay couldn't care less as long as they get their cut.

 

[coffeeplease]

Unfortunately, he's correct. In my opinion, selling anything over 100 bucks on eBay is just not worth it anymore. Even when you mark no returns, the buyer has months to "change their mind", credit card chargebacks always favor the buyer, eBay couldn't care less as long as they get their cut.

The fact that the buyer can change their mind for months after the purchase will always be in the back of my mind. Can't deal with that.

 

[BF1M]

The fact that the buyer can change their mind for months after the purchase will always be in the back of my mind. Can't deal with that.

I hear you. Got stung almost 60 days after the fact for an XS I sold. Was in mint condition when I sent it out, not so when they sent it back. I fought it, eBay dragged their heels, the buyer did a charge back on the source credit card and that was that...

 

[ignatius345]

Nope... I only sell to US buyers and do not generally get final bids from low or zero rating buyers. It happens on occasion that one of them wins but they haven’t been a problem (same is true with sellers who have a limited number if ratings in my experience).

I’m very succinct in my descriptions (leaving no room for “interpretation”), clearly document what I send in written communications and take photos when preparing shipments for my own protection. Paypal has been very even handed with disputes in my experience as well.

Great to hear. I've got a backlog of stuff to list. Thanks!

 

[Ghostrider72]

I am not sure what you mean. Are there different ways of linking the warranty to the laptop?
I assumed that even though it's in my name, Apple Care will only need to check at their end, and should provide service to whoever takes the laptop to them.

Wow, I hadn't anticipated this. It sounds a little tricky to me, especially when we are talking about a payment in excess of $700.
Maybe, I could figure out a way for the other person to actually meet me.
Or, i'll just have to settle and sell it to recognised sellers such as gazelle, macmeanoffer, and the like.
[automerge]1590895847[/automerge]

Yes, I notice that members here have reservations.
Which other places do you think I should check out?
[automerge]1590896062[/automerge]

I see. I was thinking of setting a fixed price--a take it or leave it sale.
Do you recommend a bidding process, instead?

I believe the warranty follows the laptop so you cannot sell it separately.

 

[AMSOS]

Unfortunately, he's correct. In my opinion, selling anything over 100 bucks on eBay is just not worth it anymore. Even when you mark no returns, the buyer has months to "change their mind", credit card chargebacks always favor the buyer, eBay couldn't care less as long as they get their cut.

but once you pick up the payment from paypal, they can't force you to return it.
I sold a fountain pen for $80 and was able to pick up the payment right away.
Am I missing something when it comes to electronics?
[automerge]1590980234[/automerge]

I believe the warranty follows the laptop so you cannot sell it separately.

I mean the new owner will use their own Apple ID.
Right now, the warranty shows up because I am logged in with my Apple ID.
How will that work once I log out? How will Apple know that the laptop still has warranty?

 

[TOGURO06]

but once you pick up the payment from paypal, they can't force you to return it.
I sold a fountain pen for $80 and was able to pick up the payment right away.
Am I missing something when it comes to electronics?
[automerge]1590980234[/automerge]

I mean the new owner will use their own Apple ID.
Right now, the warranty shows up because I am logged in with my Apple ID.
How will that work once I log out? How will Apple know that the laptop still has warranty?

You can always ask apple for a refund on the remaing time left on your AppleCare

 

[chscag]

How will Apple know that the laptop still has warranty

By its serial number. That is the way it has always worked. Apple Care is assigned to the device, not a person. Although obviously a person pays for it.

 

[deeddawg]

but once you pick up the payment from paypal, they can't force you to return it.
I sold a fountain pen for $80 and was able to pick up the payment right away.
Am I missing something when it comes to electronics?

Might want to re-read the PayPal USer Agreement.

... and as for electronics it just seems there's a higher proportion of scammers when it comes to electronics than with other stuff.

I mean the new owner will use their own Apple ID.
Right now, the warranty shows up because I am logged in with my Apple ID.
How will that work once I log out? How will Apple know that the laptop still has warranty?

Warranty is attached to the device serial number, as is AC+.

Exception is for something like a phone or watch and a pay-by-the-month AC+ - those can't be transferred, though the original warranty does.

 

[BF1M]

but once you pick up the payment from paypal, they can't force you to return it.
I sold a fountain pen for $80 and was able to pick up the payment right away.
Am I missing something when it comes to electronics?

Yea, PayPal will just take it from your account leaving you with a negative balance.

 

[PutTheFBackIn]

Echoing others sentiments here...

eBay is 100% a buyer’s market. As a seller you aren’t protected at all. If the buyer has any issues or change of heart whatsoever, eBay is ruling in their favor.

 

[edubfromktown]

Unfortunately, he's correct. In my opinion, selling anything over 100 bucks on eBay is just not worth it anymore. Even when you mark no returns, the buyer has months to "change their mind", credit card chargebacks always favor the buyer, eBay couldn't care less as long as they get their cut.

Totally disagree. eBay support has gotten better in my opinion and if you have facts, documentation (including photos) to back up your position, all goes smoothly.

I've sold $1940.00 of gear in the last 90 days with no issues and in more than a decade of buying and selling, only 2 transactions were scammers who did not persuade PayPal to rip me off.

It is a bit more unwieldy now with sales tax but still a good way to go (when they offer 50% off total value fees on 5 or more items roughly once every month or two).

 

[firedept]

If you feel you can do better then go for it. I have been selling on Ebay since 2001. All I can say is account for the fees you will need to pay once it sells. There is no guarantee it is ever safe. On occasion over the years I've had one or two minor issues. Always with electronics. But I have also done several thousand sales over the years so it is insignificant. Great majority of people are great. Just follow Ebay rules to the tee to protect yourself from scammers. Have you considered trying to sell here in the Marketplace.

 

[AMSOS]

You can always ask apple for a refund on the remaing time left on your AppleCare

I had no idea I could do that! You mean they'll refund me just like that, without penalising me in any way?
[automerge]1591063329[/automerge]

Yea, PayPal will just take it from your account leaving you with a negative balance.

Oh! I've actually transferred that money to my account already.
So, you mean to say the buyer could just turn back, make some excuse, and PayPal will charge me with a negative amount?
What about my side of the story!
This seems quite unfair.
[automerge]1591063376[/automerge]

Echoing others sentiments here...

eBay is 100% a buyer’s market. As a seller you aren’t protected at all. If the buyer has any issues or change of heart whatsoever, eBay is ruling in their favor.

Thanks all for sharing your experience. I am definitely not taking such risks, and will now look to other sources to sell my Mac, if I need to.