The Best Places to Sell Used Mac Safely

Things won’t last forever and Apple MacBooks are no exception. There comes a time when you need to sell it or hand it over to someone else. Maybe it no longer has the latest techs you crave. Maybe it’s too old and dusted. Maybe you plan to buy a new machine. No matter what the reason, it’s time to say goodbye.

In fact, Apple hardware holds its value for a long time and it could still be considered expensive for some people. The reason behind this lies in its longer lifespan when compared to Windows rivals. That’s why you still can recoup some of your investment by selling your old Mac second-hand.

There are different ways in which you can sell an old MacBook Pro. In fact, you can either sell it to a buyer or you can find a service that will buy it. Of course, you will get some more money if you sell your Mac laptop directly to a buyer. However, there are a couple of things you need to do before putting your MacBook Pro on sale.

First, Backup Your Data on Mac

Data holds much more value than the device itself. So it is very important to backup your Mac before selling it to other.

When you switch from an old machine to a new one, there’s a lot of data to move from one device to the other. To make this process much easier, make sure you have a secure copy of your Mac before selling it to someone else. Luckily, there is a handy tool called Time Machine that comes pre-installed on every Mac and allows you to clone your Mac’s hard drive.

And if you want to create a bootable clone of Mac hard drive, then you can go with Carbon Copy Clone, SuperDuper or ChronoSync. For detailed review of Mac backup solution, please refer to this review for more information.

Clean Your Mac after Data Backup

Once you already have a backup of your Mac, then the next step is to clean it. In fact, cleaning your machine affects the selling price, so make sure you give it some refresh. However, ensure that you clean MacBook Pro properly. I recommend you use soft cloth to clean the screen and connectivity ports. If you have knowledge in hardware, then carefully open your Mac and clean the internals like the main unit or cooling fans.

The idea behind this is to keep your Mac as new as possible. You will attract more potential buyers and ask for a higher price if your laptop is more visually appealing.

The Safe Places to Sell Used Mac

As mentioned above, there are various ways to sell MacBook Pro. And how much you get for a second-hand MacBook Pro depends on a lot of things, from the specs your model now has to where you will sell it. Undoubtedly, you will get more cash if you sell it to a buyer than to a shop or an online service. However, things come at a cost.

There are a lot of scams out there. Falling for one of these guys, you lose your Mac and get nothing back. So, if you are not rushing to sell your Mac, I advise you spend some time searching for a higher bidder. You can even grab a trade-in deal directly from Apple or an authorized reseller.

Tips: It’s a good idea to sell your old MacBook Pro before Apple announces a new model. If you sell an old Apple hardware after a new model is announced, you will lose some cash.

There are different places to safely sell your Mac. Choosing between these services come down to your personal preferences or how much you will get.

MacBack

MacBack is a reliable service that will sell your Mac. They will buy every MacBook model you now have, including Mac Pro, iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. The best part is that everything is online, meaning you don’t need to go out and sell it in person.

To sell your Mac with MacBack, head over to its official webpage, select your model and provide your address. You can include photos that include any scratches or damage and year of manufacture. Once you are done, someone will pick up your model at the address you provided and you should receive your money via PayPal or bank transfer.

Apple Trade-in

It makes sense to sell your MacBook Pro to Apple. In fact, the Cupertino firm will buy your old Mac via Trade-in service and offer you a gift card you can use on the next purchase. This is thanks to Apple’s Reuse and Recycling program that supports the return for your used Macs (2007 or newer).

This is not the best deal if you are looking to get some cash in hand from Apple. However, it’s at least the safest way to sell your old Mac.

Ebay, Amazon or Craigslist

These are the most popular marketplaces out there. There are tons of guys who are willing to pay for your old MacBook Pro. More importantly, you will get some cash. However, as mentioned above, there are many scams out there. Indeed, eBay has been fighting against fake buyers recently, with the company adding more protection from scams in the form of PayPal.

I advise you avoid selling your model in person as there is more risk involved. If you have no choice but to go for it, make sure you take precautions like meeting in public places.

If you are going for Craigslist, someone will drive to your house and examine your Mac. However, you will get much from them.

Other Reliable Places to Sell your Mac:

SellYourMac.com: Fast, safe and easy way to sell your Mac.

CashforMac.com: Get most cash to sell your Mac.

Best Buy Trade-in: Making the most of your old tech is easy.