Trade-in or Sell iMac on eBay?

[JeffL]

Has anyone on here, based in the U.K., sold any of their used Apple products to macback.co.uk? Just got an online quote from them for £208 for my iMac 21.5" Late 2012, 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M 512 MB. Also have an offer of £200 from an Apple Trade-In Partner. Both subject to them receiving the iMac and agreeing the excellent condition that it is in. Free collection from both companies. I could/might sell on eBay but would like to avoid any potential hassle if possible. I ask the question because another forum member has commented on their dissatisfaction with the Apple Trade-in programme and indeed a Google search does produce some stories from unhappy people. Having said that, I know that on review sites it is often the dissatisfied customers who tend to comment and not the satisfied ones. All comments welcome. Thank you.

 

[Kenney]

I have used them twice here in the US. Good response and fast payment. Tip: be honest with what you're selling / trading in. it goes a long way to getting what you want.

 

[JeffL]

I have used them twice here in the US. Good response and fast payment. Tip: be honest with what you're selling / trading in. it goes a long way to getting what you want.

I didn't know that macback operated in the USA, thought it was just a U.K. company?

 

[Kenney]

 

[southchatham]

You could double those prices on Ebay or Craigslist.

I have used them twice here in the US. Good response and fast payment. Tip: be honest with what you're selling / trading in. it goes a long way to getting what you want.

Quote - Macback.US

macback.us

 

[chscag]

In the US Apple does not use "Macback" for trade ins. And, as far as I'm aware, they never have.

Currently in the US Apple uses "Phobio" to manage trade ins. I believe they also use the same company in Canada.

What company handles Apple trade ins?

Phobio

Apple tells us Phobio is not the only company that helps manage its US trade-in program, but it wouldn't name any others — and we verified that every type of product you'd trade in at Apple.com (computers, phones, tablets, and watches) is currently handled by Phobio in the United States.Apr 14, 2021

 

[JeffL]

In the US Apple does not use "Macback" for trade ins. And, as far as I'm aware, they never have.

Currently in the US Apple uses "Phobio" to manage trade ins. I believe they also use the same company in Canada.

What company handles Apple trade ins?

Phobio

Apple tells us Phobio is not the only company that helps manage its US trade-in program, but it wouldn't name any others — and we verified that every type of product you'd trade in at Apple.com (computers, phones, tablets, and watches) is currently handled by Phobio in the United States.Apr 14, 2021

I do not know which companies are used by Apple in the U.K. as their 'Apple Trade-in Partners'. I think I would only find out the company name at the point of receiving the returns box. My comments about macback are related to a company which advertise they will buy Apple Macs from the public, their website is macback.co.uk it is this company who have indicated £208 whereas the unknown 'Apple Trade-in Partner' has quoted £200. I'm just in the process of looking at eBay.co.uk and initial signs are that I might get £250 but by the time it's been posted (unless someone local will collect) and I've paid the eBay fees it's probably not worth the hassle of selling on eBay. However I might push my luck and advertise it for £350 and if it sells at that or close to that, that would be a result. New iMac arrives next week so I have time to try eBay before I go through the trade-in process. Obviously not a lot of UK users on this site as no UK responses yet.

 

[southchatham]

I do not know which companies are used by Apple in the U.K. as their 'Apple Trade-in Partners'. I think I would only find out the company name at the point of receiving the returns box. My comments about macback are related to a company which advertise they will buy Apple Macs from the public, their website is macback.co.uk it is this company who have indicated £208 whereas the unknown 'Apple Trade-in Partner' has quoted £200. I'm just in the process of looking at eBay.co.uk and initial signs are that I might get £250 but by the time it's been posted (unless someone local will collect) and I've paid the eBay fees it's probably not worth the hassle of selling on eBay. However I might push my luck and advertise it for £350 and if it sells at that or close to that, that would be a result. New iMac arrives next week so I have time to try eBay before I go through the trade-in process. Obviously not a lot of UK users on this site as no UK responses yet.

Advertise the Graphics card in the post, this is why it's worth more.

 

[pigoo3]

Hey Jeff. I thought from previous conversation that you were all set to go with the £200 Apple trade-in deal...sounds like you're unsure now. I thought you checked eBay UK prices (or maybe I did)...and although eBay deals were higher in most cases...maybe for the extra £££...maybe it wasn't worth the hassle.

If we were talking the US (where Apple trade-in values aren't quite as good compared to eBay)...I would definitely say do eBay or Craigs List. I would expect at least +50-100% (if not more)...I would always do these before trading in to Apple.

As far as eBay deals. I've been mostly purchasing just for my own use (and some selling on eBay) for close to 20 years. I would say 90-95% of the time you'll be dealing with "normal" people...but there are those 5% or less that maybe get "buyers remorse" after the auction closes...maybe get folks trying to find good deals so they can resell what they buy from you...and others.

Ebay is a VERY "buyer friendly" platform...which means a buyer can come up with almost any excuse if they decide they don't want the computer they bought from you (either because they no longer want it...found a better deal...etc)...and return it. Or they damage it on purpose...then claim it was damaged during shipping.

This is really only a very small % of buyers...but they are out there & wanted you to know. This would not stop me from selling on eBay...but I would much rather sell on Craig's List. Before the deal buyer needs to check out the computer to their satisfaction...hands over the cash...and you don't hear from them again. No returns...no buyers remorse...no funky excuses. Lol

But on average...you can get more $$$/£££ from eBay vs. Craig's List.

Nick

 

[JeffL]

Hey Jeff. I thought from previous conversation that you were all set to go with the £200 Apple trade-in deal...sounds like you're unsure now. I thought you checked eBay UK prices (or maybe I did)...and although eBay deals were higher in most cases...maybe for the extra £££...maybe it wasn't worth the hassle.

If it we were talking the US (where Apple trade-in values aren't quite as good compared to eBay)...I would definitely say do eBay or Craigs List. I would expect at least +50-100% (if not more)...I would always do these before trading in to Apple.

As far as eBay deals. I've been mostly purchasing just for my own use (and some selling on eBay) for close to 20 years. I would say 90-95% of the time you'll be dealing with "normal" people...but there are those 5% or less that maybe get "buyers remorse" after the auction closes...maybe get folks trying to find good deals so they can resell what they buy from you...and others.

Ebay is a VERY "buyer friendly" platform...which means a buyer can come up with almost any excuse if they decide they don't want the computer they bought from you (either because they no longer want it...found a better deal...etc)...and return it. Or they damage it on purpose...then claim it was damaged during shipping.

This is really only a very small % of buyers...but they are out there & wanted you to know. This would not stop me from selling on eBay...but I would much rather sell on Craig's List. Before the deal buyer needs to check out the computer to their satisfaction...hands over the cash...and you don't hear from them again. No returns...no buyers remorse...no funky excuses. Lol

But on average...you can get more $$$/£££ from eBay vs. Craig's List.

Nick

Hi Nick - Yes you're right, all set up to do the Apple trade-in. It was only by chance that a guy commented today on one of my previous posts about being really unhappy with his experience of the Apple trade-in partner he dealt with. So, me being me! thought I would ask about other's experiences. The thing is, my iMac is in pristine condition apart from the beachball appearing, but I've just done a restart of my hard drive about an hour ago and since, no beachball, go figure. So selling on eBay shouldn't result in any problems if I sell to that 90-95% of normal people. By the same token, I should get what I was offered from the trade-in partner because I have described the condition in a truthful manner. BTW, I have been successfully selling on eBay for many years but never sold a computer before and that's the only reason I said I wanted to avoid any hassle, i.e. it gets damaged in transit etc. I'll put up a link to that other post in a minute when I can find it.

 

[JeffL]

Hi Nick - here is the previous post where you'll see forum member totalsolutions started commenting today, which got me thinking....

Website pages break up

This has been happening for several months now, but very intermittent. It happens when I open a webpage. Two examples attached. The blank spaces are often black rather than the white/grey of these two instances. Any ideas what is causing this?

www.mac-forums.com

 

[JeffL]

Update: I sold my old iMac for £200 to a local computer repair shop who specialise in Apple devices. They refurbish them and them sell them on. I'm happy with that as £200 is what I was offered by the Apple Trade-in Partner (subject to their inspection) but there was always a risk on damage in transit to them.

 

[TotalSolutions]

Good for you Jeff. Good result. Enjoy your new machine.