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Resolved I'm selling my early-2011 Macbook Pro 15" to a friend. How much would be a reasonable price?

I

in31l

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 28, 2013
13
0
I'm selling an early-2011 Macbook Pro 15" (MC721LL/A). More info here: https://support.apple.com/kb/sp620?locale=en_US[1] .

When I used it, it ran pretty slow. Whenever I'd open up say, Chrome or iTunes, it would take about 5-10 seconds for the application to actually open a new window. Finder was slow, preferences was slow, pretty much everything was slow. However, when I gave it to the person I'm selling it to, I wiped it pretty much clean before hand and it ran pretty fast and smoothly, especially for a four year old computer. I think he wiped it to its default factory settings, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was moving even faster now. As you can tell, this exchange was pretty informal, I'm only deciding on a price now about a month after I've given it to him.

According to this site: http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...2011-unibody-thunderbolt-specs.html#macspecs1[2] -- the retail price now would be about $1150-$1300 USD. I'm in Canada, so that is well over $1400 CAD. However, this is obviously not in retail condition. There are a few minor nicks on the body itself, and even at its default setting now, I doubt it's as fast as it was when I first bought it.

According to the sites below, where I live, they're going for around $750-$950 CAD, if I'm correct? Which is about $600-$750 USD.
http://www.kijiji.ca/b-city-of-toronto/early-2011-macbook-pro-15/k0l1700273[3]
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/search/sya?query=early+2011+macbook+pro+15[4]

Do you think $800 CAD ($653 USD) with the charger included is too much to ask for? He believes it is worth $300 CAD ($244 USD), and that you can feasibly get an MBP of the same model brand new, out of the box, for $500 CAD ($408 USD). Who do you think is more off base?

Thanks.

(sorry if this is the wrong section)

* Also, I've been notified that Apple has a Repair Extension Program (more info: https://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/), which states that if the customer has any of the recurring problems present in the same model I own, they can just get it checked out and get it repaired. I believe this would obviously apply to my model, and would be a huge plus for the person I'm selling it to, as I had experienced those same display issues in late 2014. After around January or February of 2015, however, I didn't experience a single display issue like I had the year prior. Not sure what caused that weird jump in display issues that lasted a couple months, but nonetheless, if they come back, Apple has a program that can fix it.
 
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in31l said:
I'm selling an early-2011 Macbook Pro 15" (MC721LL/A). More info here: https://support.apple.com/kb/sp620?locale=en_US[1] .

When I used it, it ran pretty slow. Whenever I'd open up say, Chrome or iTunes, it would take about 5-10 seconds for the application to actually open a new window. Finder was slow, preferences was slow, pretty much everything was slow. However, when I gave it to the person I'm selling it to, I wiped it pretty much clean before hand and it ran pretty fast and smoothly, especially for a four year old computer. I think he wiped it to its default factory settings, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was moving even faster now. As you can tell, this exchange was pretty informal, I'm only deciding on a price now about a month after I've given it to him.

According to this site: http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...2011-unibody-thunderbolt-specs.html#macspecs1[2] -- the retail price now would be about $1150-$1300 USD. I'm in Canada, so that is well over $1400 CAD. However, this is obviously not in retail condition. There are a few minor nicks on the body itself, and even at its default setting now, I doubt it's as fast as it was when I first bought it.

According to the sites below, where I live, they're going for around $750-$950 CAD, if I'm correct? Which is about $600-$750 USD.
http://www.kijiji.ca/b-city-of-toronto/early-2011-macbook-pro-15/k0l1700273[3]
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/search/sya?query=early+2011+macbook+pro+15[4]

Do you think $800 CAD ($653 USD) with the charger included is too much to ask for? He believes it is worth $300 CAD ($244 USD), and that you can feasibly get an MBP of the same model brand new, out of the box, for $500 USD ($408 USD). Who do you think is more off base?

Thanks.

(sorry if this is the wrong section)

* Also, I've been notified that Apple has a Repair Extension Program (more info: https://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/), which states that if the customer has any of the recurring problems present in the same model I own, they can just get it checked out and get it repaired. I believe this would obviously apply to my model, and would be a huge plus for the person I'm selling it to, as I had experienced those same display issues in late 2014. After around January or February of 2015, however, I didn't experience a single display issue like I had the year prior. Not sure what caused that weird jump in display issues that lasted a couple months, but nonetheless, if they come back, Apple has a program that can fix it.
Click to expand...

Split the difference ask for $600 if he won't accept then ask for it back.
 
Samuelsan2001 said:
Split the difference ask for $600 if he won't accept then ask for it back.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm assuming you're saying $600 CAD ($490 USD)? Do you think that price is reasonable, regardless of the situation I'm in?
 
in31l said:
Thanks. I'm assuming you're saying $600 CAD ($490 USD)? Do you think that price is reasonable, regardless of the situation I'm in?
Click to expand...

Well i'd expect you to get a bit more if you sold it on the open market, probably 700-800 CAD I'm in the UK it'd certainly be worth more here. However the US market is a lot cheaper and the canadian market a bit more expensive.

Quick lesson never sell anything without setting the price, especially with friends, stuff is never worth falling out with someone over though....
 
in31l said:
I'm selling an early-2011 Macbook Pro 15" (MC721LL/A). More info here: https://support.apple.com/kb/sp620?locale=en_US[1] .

When I used it, it ran pretty slow. Whenever I'd open up say, Chrome or iTunes, it would take about 5-10 seconds for the application to actually open a new window. Finder was slow, preferences was slow, pretty much everything was slow. However, when I gave it to the person I'm selling it to, I wiped it pretty much clean before hand and it ran pretty fast and smoothly, especially for a four year old computer. I think he wiped it to its default factory settings, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was moving even faster now. As you can tell, this exchange was pretty informal, I'm only deciding on a price now about a month after I've given it to him.

According to this site: http://www.everymac.com/systems/app...2011-unibody-thunderbolt-specs.html#macspecs1[2] -- the retail price now would be about $1150-$1300 USD. I'm in Canada, so that is well over $1400 CAD. However, this is obviously not in retail condition. There are a few minor nicks on the body itself, and even at its default setting now, I doubt it's as fast as it was when I first bought it.

According to the sites below, where I live, they're going for around $750-$950 CAD, if I'm correct? Which is about $600-$750 USD.
http://www.kijiji.ca/b-city-of-toronto/early-2011-macbook-pro-15/k0l1700273[3]
http://toronto.craigslist.ca/search/sya?query=early+2011+macbook+pro+15[4]

Do you think $800 CAD ($653 USD) with the charger included is too much to ask for? He believes it is worth $300 CAD ($244 USD), and that you can feasibly get an MBP of the same model brand new, out of the box, for $500 USD ($408 USD). Who do you think is more off base?

Thanks.

(sorry if this is the wrong section)

* Also, I've been notified that Apple has a Repair Extension Program (more info: https://www.apple.com/ca/support/macbookpro-videoissues/), which states that if the customer has any of the recurring problems present in the same model I own, they can just get it checked out and get it repaired. I believe this would obviously apply to my model, and would be a huge plus for the person I'm selling it to, as I had experienced those same display issues in late 2014. After around January or February of 2015, however, I didn't experience a single display issue like I had the year prior. Not sure what caused that weird jump in display issues that lasted a couple months, but nonetheless, if they come back, Apple has a program that can fix it.
Click to expand...
Have him give you proof he can get NIB model for $500. In fact, tell him to do get one that way if he actually can, I'd take a new machine over a used one any day. I seriously doubt that's even remotely possible. My first reaction would be to tell him he's full of ****.

With that said, your idea of gaging the price using kijiji and craigslist was the right one. That'll give you a faire market price.

If he truly is your friend you can knock say $100 off the current market value. That's a good deal IMO.
 
Not sure if you are still looking for opinions, but looking at what you have I thought I would chime in and say that I agree with a majority of the suggestions here. I would say anywhere between $399-$499 USD myself. That sounds reasonable as those models are still mostly relevant as far as support and hardware.
 
Dark Void said:
Not sure if you are still looking for opinions, but looking at what you have I thought I would chime in and say that I agree with a majority of the suggestions here. I would say anywhere between $399-$499 USD myself. That sounds reasonable as those models are still mostly relevant as far as support and hardware.
Click to expand...

Thanks. So it seems like after all these replies (I also posted this on Reddit), the consensus is $500-$550 CAD at the absolute lowest. Even $600 CAD ($490 USD) is at the low end, so your reply is the first to give me a figure that low. Still much more than $300 CAD, regardless lol.

I think I'm going to ask for $550 CAD ($450 USD), and if he doesn't agree then I could probably find a buyer elsewhere around the $600-$700 CAD range, at least. Or just end up keeping it, since $300 isn't really much anyways. Thanks.
 
z31fanatic said:
Late 2011 with 16GB Ram ended at $678

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-4-Late-2011-2-2GHz-i7-500GB-HDD-16GB-RAM-/221796136043?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=jfn1SGbKCuEk9aR8UoKirvq1pnc%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Click to expand...

$840 CAD. Makes me think that $550 CAD is more than reasonable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/APPLE-MACBO...488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5675dc4998

This one of the same model is already at $500 CAD minus shipping costs. Also that guy above said the Canadian market is generally more expensive, although I don't know how much truth there is to that.
 
in31l said:
$840 CAD. Makes me think that $550 CAD is more than reasonable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/APPLE-MACBO...488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5675dc4998

This one of the same model is already at $500 CAD minus shipping costs. Also that guy above said the Canadian market is generally more expensive, although I don't know how much truth there is to that.
Click to expand...
Since the original price was higher (as in, the number was bigger due to our dollar being of lesser value than the US'), and depreciation is usually a percentage of original price, then yes, it should indeed be more expensive to buy a used mac here.
 
yukyuklee said:
how come you waited a month to give him a price? should have set a price from the start
Click to expand...

He was under the impression that we were set on $300. I went on vacation for 2.5 weeks so instead of the macbook just sitting there unused, I assumed he was going to use it since we never got a chance to talk about a price, and then we'd settle on something later. Bad misunderstanding obviously.
 
in31l said:
He was under the impression that we were set on $300. I went on vacation for 2.5 weeks so instead of the macbook just sitting there unused, I assumed he was going to use it since we never got a chance to talk about a price, and then we'd settle on something later. Bad misunderstanding obviously.
Click to expand...

yeah I hear you... since its your friend its going to be hard, I suggest you take back your machine. Just say you rather cherish your friendship over money. Either way its going to be hard. Good Luck and let us know what happened!
 
yukyuklee said:
yeah I hear you... since its your friend its going to be hard, I suggest you take back your machine. Just say you rather cherish your friendship over money. Either way its going to be hard. Good Luck and let us know what happened!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the concern. We just spoke and he's going to give it back to me. Anyways, I'll admit it was a mess-up on my part that I wasn't adamant on a figure before I left on vacation, but at the same time, it's kind of $300 CAD for a properly working MBP is extremely low, $500 new is just not feasible. I want to show him this thread to see the multiple opinions. I said I'd do $550 CAD ($450 USD), which is lower than 95% of the suggestions I've found on Reddit, here, Ebay, Craigslist, and Kijiji, especially so if you consider the Canadian market to be more expensive. My naivety was honest in that I thought it would be reasonable for us to negotiate after my vacation. THAT was my fault.

Oh well, it's over, hopefully this is the end of it. I won't hold it against him, I can totally understand how this would be frustrating for him as well.

Thanks again for everyone's help.
 
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So, you learned something. Always work the deal out in advance and get the money up front. All's well that ends well.
 
lol 300usd for a 2011 15inch, even my 2009 unibody macbook pro worth more than that.

i'm sorry but he's not really a good friend if hes trying to low ball you like that.

i had the same model, you can easily drop a cheap ssd in there and put the hdd in bay drive as 2nd storage, and you will be very very impressed by the result.
 
ilikewhey said:
lol 300usd for a 2011 15inch, even my 2009 unibody macbook pro worth more than that.

i'm sorry but he's not really a good friend if hes trying to low ball you like that.

i had the same model, you can easily drop a cheap ssd in there and put the hdd in bay drive as 2nd storage, and you will be very very impressed by the result.
Click to expand...

$300 CAD, which is actually $240 USD, so even less. Thanks for the advice.
 
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