Awful trade in value for 2021 14" MacBook Pro

[1BadManVan]

Trade-ins are always like this…

Then you clearly haven’t done trade ins through apple in recent years. They used to give a decent value for their own products, it’s why it was such a popular solution for many. Not too dollar but a fair value for the convenience

In the last year they have really cut down what they will give now while at the same time keep raising prices.

 

[tstafford]

Then you clearly haven’t done trade ins through apple in recent years. They used to give a decent value for their own products, it’s why it was such a popular solution for many. Not too dollar but a fair value for the convenience

In the last year they have really cut down what they will give now while at the same time keep raising prices.

This is my experience too. I'm less inclined now to trade in with Apple. It's just not as convenient or cost effective as before.

 

[johannnn]

European here. I've never ever sold a computer to Apple, or heard of anyone that does it. Everyone sells it on Facebook Markets or some other service.

Is it an American thing to sell directly to Apple? Why do people keep doing it if the trade in value is so bad? Apple is the highest valued company in the world for a reason, big profit margins.

 

[Berries-A-Million]

Check on swappa and see what they are selling for and put it up there.

 

[JM]

On the bitter-pill-to-swallow plus side, the M1’s are still great chips, no? And the abysmal trade-ins could convince owners to keep their machine longer.

Conspiracy theory: perhaps Apple is forcing low trade-in on purpose to discourage high turnover.

 

[eoren1]

On the bitter-pill-to-swallow plus side, the M1’s are still great chips, no? And the abysmal trade-ins could convince owners to keep their machine longer.

Conspiracy theory: perhaps Apple is forcing low trade-in on purpose to discourage high turnover.

It likely worked on me then...
The low trade in value + evidence the M2 MacBook Pro was supposed to be a Sept/Oct event = high suspicion that this spec bump will be a 6-9 month model

 

[neuropsychguy]

Macs held their prices better under Intel chips. Being on Apple's upgrade cycle now means chips are depreciated quicker as Apple pushes the envelope with each iteration where as with Intel bumps were more minor.

Maybe for trade-in but they are holding value quite well relative to the broader PC market (GPUs being the exception right now).

 

[Fruit Stand]

Maybe for trade-in but they are holding value quite well relative to the broader PC market (GPUs being the exception right now).

You’re not wrong but my M1 MBP that I paid $2500 CAD (Canadian Dollars) is worth close to a $1000 used today which is a much bigger drop compared to the Intel days of Macs.

I used to buy and resell every two years and it was easy to swalllow the difference but now the depreciation is quick with how big the performance bumps are.

 

[Ilzen&Mac]

European here. I've never ever sold a computer to Apple, or heard of anyone that does it. Everyone sells it on Facebook Markets or some other service.

Is it an American thing to sell directly to Apple? Why do people keep doing it if the trade in value is so bad? Apple is the highest valued company in the world for a reason, big profit margins.

I have to admit I’m the one who has just requested a trade-in in Germany after ordering the new MBP 14
The prices are a joke, BUT: I’m getting read of a very weak machine with a lot of flows (MacBook Air Early 2020, the last one with the Intel processor and no proper cooling system).

Getting 415 € in this case is just sparing me a lot of time and possible problems with private buyers on eBay, since not all are aware of what this machine can and cannot do. This way I basically take an easy way to close my biggest mistake of getting it in the first place (Thanks Apple!).

I agree however, that all other models are ridiculously underpriced. The news from the main page about the 50K $ Mac Pro being traded in for 900 $ should become one of those Apple Memes like the polishing cloth or the Mac Pro wheels set...

 

[Dorfdad]

If you are in the U.S., try itsworthmore.com. They are offering substantially more for the specs you listed, assuming 'flawless' condition, a good battery, and the OEM charger is included. I have sold to them many times with no issues.

Thank You I bought the 16 with a trade in apple gave me 1000 this site just got me 2000.00 so the New M2 is a much better deal for me now!!!

 

[kryptticAZ]

Make sure you submit ASAP. I checked itsworthmore.com yesterday vs. today and their quote on my 16" MBP was $250 lower.

 

[chars1ub0w]

I checked today. I'm typing on a 2021 M1 Max MBP 16" with 64GB RAM and 4T SSD. It's worth $1435. A 2023 M2 Max MBP 16" with 96GB RAM and two more cores and 10 billion more transistors and battery life improvements would run $5300. Suppose I traded it in and upgraded. The hit is about $4000. Then Apple can turn that traded-in MBP around, and it sells for $3769. That's about $2300 of profit for Apple on the trade-in alone (assuming the cost to run diagnostics, inspect it and re-box is fairly negligible).

 

[Technerd108]

In general tech resale value is really low. You have to be lucky to get 60-75% of original cost and that is without tax.

Generally around 50-60% and that is with relatively new hardware. You can go to a site like Swappa and check the listing for the particular model you are selling along with the various condition. That will give you a good idea of what to expect.

The older a device gets the faster it loses value and there are other considerations like new design or discontinued product, switch in architecture, etc.

Generally on a site like Swappa you can get a decent resale value and it is a trusted place you can use to sell.

Trade in value is always going to be lower than the resale value because it goes through multiple parties taking a cut. The trade in is sold to a resale dealer kind of like a wholesale car buyer. The dealer then sells to various refurbish companies that will then sell direct on Amazon or Walmart, etc. So at least two handshakes after Apple pays you. If they offered a higher trade in value they would lose money.

Some companies like Samsung will offer higher than resale market value for trade in on their products as an incentive to get you to buy a new device. They are losing money on the trade.

Trade in is a service to allow you to get some money off buying a new device and to eliminate the risk of resale. That is the benefit of trade in and it costs you money for the security of the deal

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, trade-in value should not enter into the buy equation. And Apple shouldn't be blamed for the prices offered by a third party.

 

[kryptticAZ]

I checked today. I'm typing on a 2021 M1 Max MBP 16" with 64GB RAM and 4T SSD. It's worth $1435. A 2023 M2 Max MBP 16" with 96GB RAM and two more cores and 10 billion more transistors and battery life improvements would run $5300. Suppose I traded it in and upgraded. The hit is about $4000. Then Apple can turn that traded-in MBP around, and it sells for $3769. That's about $2300 of profit for Apple on the trade-in alone (assuming the cost to run diagnostics, inspect it and re-box is fairly negligible).

I have the same machine and itsworthmore offered $2975 for it yesterday ($250 less today) and CashForYourMac is offering $2540. Definitely don't sell it to Apple for $1435.

 

[scouser75]

So out of curiosity, how much would I be looking to get on the private market for my 16" M1 pro 16gb 1tb?

I have a feeling with Apple offering such low value, they'll sell for low too,bringing the entire market down with then.

 

[kryptticAZ]

So out of curiosity, how much would I be looking to get on the private market for my 16" M1 pro 16gb 1tb?

I have a feeling with Apple offering such low value, they'll sell for low too,bringing the entire market down with then.

No need to guess. Submit for an offer on those two sites above and see what they offer. I've read too many horror stories about selling to private parties. I've done it before, but it always seems like a drug deal and I don't feel safe exchanging that much cash with a stranger. Plus, most resale sties (eBay, Mercari, etc.) take a ~12% cut, which brings them almost to the level of the price from a reputable trade-in site (like CashForYourMac).

 

[scouser75]

I tend to sell on forums I'm a part of and where I know who the regular and reliable members are. I've both bought from and sold on these kind of forums.

 

[Beau10]

This is my experience too. I'm less inclined now to trade in with Apple. It's just not as convenient or cost effective as before.

It doesn't seem to make much business sense IMO... I thought Apple being somewhat competitive w/ 3rd party solutions was a way to encourage more sales. It's just so convenient to turn in your computer while picking up a new one at the same time that you'll easily take a 10% hit over other options.

 

[CalMin]

The trade-in price reflects the fact that Apple doesn’t want your old laptop. It’s not a measure of its true value or worth.

If you’re comfortable selling it yourself you will do better.

 

[Panther61]

I think that since Apple is supplying their own chips now and can develop faster and more powerful processors, they have been coming out more often with new machines. Eventually the current models get marked down in Amazon, you purchase to save $, and then Apple introduces their latest and greatest. You want it and go to trade it in and reality sets in. The new Apple reality.

 

[maflynn]

The trade-in price reflects the fact that Apple doesn’t want your old laptop.

OR they'll clean it up and resell it for $$$ which is what I thought they were doing

 

[CalMin]

OR they'll clean it up and resell it for $$$ which is what I thought they were doing

The refurb store handles retail returns and warranty issues. Trade-in's are handled through a 3rd-party (I had a bit of a nightmare last go around).

Selling used stuff isn't a great business strategy for Apple and I don't believe that they do themselves. Refurbs are customer returns which cannot be sold as new - even if the return is in perfect condition.

The main reason that they even take trade-ins is so that they can sell you a NEW laptop, or phone etc.. The new sales is where they want to be, so offering this as a service encourages new purchases for folks who would prefer not to deal with selling privately. But trust me on this, they really don't want your old laptop and the new low trade-in values reflect that.

 

[Rick_2020]

I‘ve been offered $530 Canadian for a 14” M1 Pro, base specs, which cost $2,599 when purchased just over a year ago. These values are ridiculous as someone who has traded in multiple laptops over the last several years.

 

[CalMin]

I‘ve been offered $530 Canadian for a 14” M1 Pro, base specs, which cost $2,599 when purchased just over a year ago. These values are ridiculous as someone who has traded in multiple laptops over the last several years.

They are telling that they don't want your trade-in. Of course it's worth more than that, but they don't want the hassle of reconditioning it and reselling it. Just like you might not want the hassle of selling it privately yourself.

You will get far more on the used market (try FB Marketplace or CL) which is where you will see what it is truly worth*.

* (hint, it is worth what someone will pay for it)

Or you could sell it to me for $540 Canadian.