Whether you have an older laptop that does not get much use or a newer model that is not working out and is too late to return–there are sure ways to get cash back for a laptop you no longer need. So, how do you go about reselling a pre-owned computer for cash? As a professional used tech buyback, we have plenty of advice for you!
Option 1: No Middleman Involved
Selling directly to the end user is a sure way to maximize your return. But prepare to invest some time and effort to get the most cash for your laptop. Our favorite platforms end-user platforms are:
Facebook Marketplace
The convenience of selling within a social media app is hard to beat. Even if you are “not on Facebook,” you probably have an old (or a “throwaway”) account. Might as well make use of it, right?
Why we often recommend Facebook Marketplace for reselling a used computer:
- Ease of use.
- Free to list and no selling fees (unless you offer to ship).
- As the seller, you get to set your own asking price.
But it may not be suitable for everyone. As an experiment, we once listed an Alienware laptop on Facebook Marketplace to see how long it would take to sell a high-end, highly popular model outside our established reseller channels. To our surprise, there were no takers, not even at 15% (!) of the market price. The same happened with the Surface Pro 9 tablet and a 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro. At the same time, a custom-built PC we offered for sale was gone within hours.
Our experience with Facebook just goes to show that the localized market can be pretty different from marketplaces like eBay. So, it is possible to list a laptop for a more than fair price here and still end up sending it to an online buyback place months later.
With that, the downsides of selling a laptop on Facebook Marketplace are:
Downsides of Facebook Marketplace
- Depending on the make and model of your laptop, it may take a while to find the buyer.
- Multiple convo threats and very specific, and sometimes odd, questions to address.
- Low-ball offers.
- Flakiness.
eBay
eBay is another popular platform for reselling pre-owned stuff. Unlike on Facebook, here you have a much broader reach and an opportunity to sell at a competitive market price. However, we have mixed feelings about using eBay.
You can successfully get some cash for your used laptop on eBay if:
1 – You have an active eBay account and seller experience. New users have more selling restrictions and a higher chance of getting scammed.
2 – Your laptop is inexpensive. First of all, eBay will take a chunk of a sale as a fee, and if the gadget is high-end, it can translate into quite a bit of money. Secondly, you don’t want to risk losing an expensive computer due to eBay’s buyer protection policy scammers love to abuse.
3 – You are computer-savvy and can provide accurate and expansive information about your laptop backed by detailed high-resolution photos.
4 – You are prepared to wait 30 days for the return window to close before using the funds.
5 – You don’t care about negative feedback.
And here is our list of reasons against using eBay for selling a laptop:
- Despite eBay telling you the transaction is covered by seller protection, in reality, it is designed to shield buyers.
- The final sale is not at all final. Even if you don’t offer a warranty, eBay will still force you to take the item back and cover shipping expenses if the buyer decides to return the laptop within 30 days.
- The high volume of fraudulent returns. So even if you sell a fully functional computer, your buyer may claim a fault or damage and return an incomplete or destroyed merchandise.
- Shipping expenses, insurance, and eBay fees can add up to a significant amount.
Option 2: Get Cash for Laptop via 3rd Party BuyBack Platform
While getting quick cash for your laptop through local channels may not always be possible due to a smaller audience and low demand, you can always rely on a buyback site for a speedy turnaround.
The downside of selling to an online buyback company is that you will likely get less money for your computer. Depending on the type and its condition, the payout would generally be 40-50% less than if you were to make an effort and sell it yourself. But then again, if you want it to be quick and not invest all that time into the selling process, compromising an already busy schedule, then picking a site like Gazelle (if you have a MacBook), Gizmogo, or Gadget Salvation (hey there!) to get easy cash for your used laptop just makes sense.
Most third-party buyback platforms provide instant valuations, cover postage costs, and offer various payment options the seller can choose from.
To get the most cash for your laptop, describe it accurately, send the box within the recommended timeframe, and package it well. It is important to follow shipping guidelines to ensure the gadget arrives at its destination safely so that your transaction goes through without a snag. Misrepresentations, shipping delays, and poor packing may result in reevaluation and a lower offer.
Bottom Line
The reseller economy is on the rise, making it even easier to score cash for an unwanted pre-owned laptop. Nonetheless, you want to evaluate your options and research reseller markets to ensure a successful selling transaction. Lastly, when in doubt or on a time crunch, an online buyback platform, like Gadget Salvation, will always have your back. Here, you can get cash for laptops as quickly as 1-2-3, so what are you waiting for?
