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dizmonk

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 26, 2010
1,080
678
So I have a question. I've bought one of top Intel Imacs in late 2020 and am planning to trade it into Apple when the new Imac comes out in 2022. (I know I could sell it through Swappa and I might do that but... ) Here's what I'm confused about. About 2 months ago the value (according to Apple's website/trade-in process) was like $1700. Now it's like $1400.

Why and how could the value drop so much like that? Did it have to do with the new MBP's being released even though that doesn't have much to do with the Imac? I don't get it. I'm torn because if the Apple trade-in value is going to continue to drop like this, I'm definitely better off either trading it now or selling it privately. (I know I can get more with a private sale).

How does Apple price its trade-ins? I don't get it. Thanks.
 

marzfreerider

macrumors 6502
Jun 13, 2014
367
254
Germany
Personally I would look at selling privately. The trade price will likely drop more in value as time goes on. The value fluctuates but very little in terms of going up. Not sure what specs your iMac has, but if you spent a lot on it you’ll want to get a better return selling it privately.
 

colodane

macrumors 65816
Nov 11, 2012
1,046
482
Colorado
Unless you live in a very rural area, I suggest doing a private sale by advertising on a channel such as NextDoor where your ad will be seen by lots of people within a reasonable distance. Then you can meet face-to-face for a cash sale and have no hassle or expense for shipping. I have sold all my old iMacs this way and received significantly more $$ than trading in with Apple or using one of the on-line buying services.
 

dizmonk

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 26, 2010
1,080
678
Yea I know private sales are better than the trade-in. When I do that I use Swappa. I guess I'm asking a different question. How does Apple price its trade-in value? Also I'm wondering why the trade-in value would drop so much when the only recent related Apple product is the new MacBook Pros?
 
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rpmurray

macrumors 68020
Feb 21, 2017
2,148
4,329
Back End of Beyond
It could be that Apple is taking into account the number of defective 2020 iMacs that are coming into the Apple Store for repair and is seeing an uptick.
 

Bodhitree

macrumors 68020
Apr 5, 2021
2,070
2,200
Netherlands
I would imagine they depreciate the value of the Mac by time as well as by other products released, so that the trade-in price tracks the resale price by partners to which Apple supplies the machines they receive. There is a whole second-use market for these machines.

It gets quite complex… if the Apple Silicon machines sell well, they receive more trade ins, and there is more of an excess on the market and so the price goes down.
 

CWallace

macrumors G5
Aug 17, 2007
12,517
11,527
Seattle, WA
Why and how could the value drop so much like that?

Last month, Apple reduced the trade-in values on most products.

 

ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
1,689
1,059
So I have a question. I've bought one of top Intel Imacs in late 2020 and am planning to trade it into Apple when the new Imac comes out in 2022. (I know I could sell it through Swappa and I might do that but... ) Here's what I'm confused about. About 2 months ago the value (according to Apple's website/trade-in process) was like $1700. Now it's like $1400.

Why and how could the value drop so much like that? Did it have to do with the new MBP's being released even though that doesn't have much to do with the Imac? I don't get it. I'm torn because if the Apple trade-in value is going to continue to drop like this, I'm definitely better off either trading it now or selling it privately. (I know I can get more with a private sale).

How does Apple price its trade-ins? I don't get it. Thanks.
When you say "top Intel iMacs", what is the spec of your iMac (CPU, GPU, SSD & RAM).
 

ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
1,689
1,059
3.8 ghz 8core i7, 32gb (thirdparty RAM), 4tbSSD
Standard 5500XT GPU I assume. That is a $3,500 machine not including the RAM. It's also quite powerful. Why do you want to sell it so soon? What can it not do that a M1 Max iMac would be able to?
 

dizmonk

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 26, 2010
1,080
678
Standard 5500XT GPU I assume. That is a $3,500 machine not including the RAM. It's also quite powerful. Why do you want to sell it so soon? What can it not do that a M1 Max iMac would be able to?
yes, that's right. My main concern is the fan/bottleneck when video editing. I know there will be fans in the m2 Imac (as opposed to the m1 MBA I have also). What I don't know yet is how loud the fans will be on the new Imac and how much performance difference there'll be between those and the 2020 Intel Imacs. I am mainly frustrated that Apple has downgraded the price of this thing (via trade-ins) by 2/3rds... I mean I get it - depreciation, wanting to make a profit with the trade-ins, etc.. but jeez... $3500 down to $1400 in less than a year???? I've considered the new 24" Imacs but the (IMO) childish color schemes and white bezels have me completely uninterested.
 

ADGrant

macrumors 68000
Mar 26, 2018
1,689
1,059
yes, that's right. My main concern is the fan/bottleneck when video editing. I know there will be fans in the m2 Imac (as opposed to the m1 MBA I have also). What I don't know yet is how loud the fans will be on the new Imac and how much performance difference there'll be between those and the 2020 Intel Imacs. I am mainly frustrated that Apple has downgraded the price of this thing (via trade-ins) by 2/3rds... I mean I get it - depreciation, wanting to make a profit with the trade-ins, etc.. but jeez... $3500 down to $1400 in less than a year???? I've considered the new 24" Imacs but the (IMO) childish color schemes and white bezels have me completely uninterested.
The 24" iMac would be a downgrade from your 2020. I am surprised you are running into bottlenecks video editing.

If the fan noise under load is bothering you it might be cheaper to buy a nice pair of over the ear noise cancelling headphones. Even the AirPod Max would be cheaper than dumping your iMac.
 
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