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What choice did I have? I didn't need it. Its value was not going to increase with time. When the iPad Air 3 comes out the market will be saturated with iPad Air 2s. I had one enquiry in three weeks. Maybe I could have been a tougher negotiator. But my buyer paid cash -- no fees to eBay or PayPal.

I'll be honest: I was disappointed. But something is only worth what someone is wiling to pay.

Yes. The market is indeed flooded with tablets of all types and mfgs. That does not work well in your favor as you have found out. I also think that Ebay itself has passed the point of popularity. It is no longer the only game in town to sell stuff. It has become less of an auction site and more of a dumping ground for companies. If you recall in the 90's when Ebay was just getting started it was all the rage. Ordinary people were cleaning out their garages and making a killing. Dumpster divers were making over a hundred grand a year selling trash. Fees were reasonable then. Paypal fees were reasonable, too. No more though. Both Ebay and Paypal have changed too much since their inceptions. You mentioned iPad 2's. Places still have iPad Air for sale - new. A huge glut exists right now.
 
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You sure? I've never heard that before....interesting

Yep. It took me about 5 seconds on Google to figure it out.

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I think that the biggest hit to resale values have been the regular retail discounts. For the last year in particular, there have been some significantly steep discounts available for the iPads. When you can buy a brand new iPad for LESS than Apple sells their refurbs, something's gotta give.
 
I'm starting to think this is Apple's new modus operandi: Think of a fair price for any new product and then add 25-30% at launch.

Benefits of the high launch price:
  • Dampens the initial crazy demand for new Apple gear,
  • Less need to stockpile inventory before launch (which means new products can be launched faster),
  • Less crush in the stores,
  • Less websites crashing 3AM,
  • No scalpers clogging up the stores on launch week/month,
    • Which means that Apple now grabs the extra profits that the scalpers were making (nice one).
  • Less customer complaints about all the above!
  • Authorized resellers can offer steep discounts after a few months (which suits their business models better)
  • Happier customers:
    • Premium customers can still buy at full price in the Apple stores and enjoy the enhanced experience that they value
    • Value customers can buy elsewhere (or in the Apple refurb store) and enjoy the savings that they value.
 
To everyone in this thread, who is complaining about weak resale values for iPads: You should just have kids. I have found that kids are the perfect landing spot for old iPads.

Hate it to break it to you, kids have horrible resale value even with iPads. Their service fees the first 18 years are astronomical and the return when you get old isn't even guaranteed! Also it requires paying fees to a fee-male (known in common tongue as female).
 
This is part of the price you pay when you purchase the most recent tech at retail prices.

If you are one who has plenty of income and is going to use the product for several years, no big deal. But if you purchase something with the intent of reselling it a few months later, you will always take a massive hit.

I purchased my 12.9 128gb with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil on Craigslist for 800 bucks, mint condition.

At launch, this same setup would have cost 1,219 pre tax. I chose not to do that, and saved a ton. If I had, I would have understood that resale would be a fraction of the retail price that I had paid.

It's nothing new. It's always been this way with electronics, new cars, and most things that are purchased at full retail price.
 
To everyone in this thread, who is complaining about weak resale values for iPads: You should just have kids. I have found that kids are the perfect landing spot for old iPads.
I employ the hand-me-down method almost exclusively. With my immediate as well as extended family. That is why I am often so passionate about Apple fulfilling MY needs(imagine that!!!). The longevity of an iPad/iPhone is important(ie RAM), as well as the ability to perform customer upgrades to a computer(I'm SOL here with Apple currently).

I guess it's been a long run of almost 20 years, since I came back to Apple - I started out on an Apple ][+, but Apple is really trying it's hardest to push me away.

I'll still endure for the iPad, as they are great consumption devices, the iPhone for the ecosystem, and I'll hold onto my 2012 15" cMBP until the day it dies.

:apple::oops:
 
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