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jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,421
4,208
SF Bay Area
Apple just offered me £520 trade in on my M1 MBA with 8C/16GB/512GB.
So basically a third of what it cost - and this is a replacement one too so probably only 6 months old.
Not good.
Fortunately I'm very happy with it and don't want a change.
I just though I'd ask the question :)
That is the issue with adding more memory or drive space. They don't add as much to the price on the secondary market.
 
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TofSanity

Cancelled
Oct 29, 2010
1,498
2,935
I was curious about this topic this morning. I have a base model 13” MBP M1. Trade in was $740. My same aged iPhone 12 Pro Max trade in value was $790. Haha bought the same day. I guess Apple really wants to push the iphone over the MacBook
 
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imdog

macrumors 6502
Jun 20, 2017
353
793
Disneyland
Convenience.
Perhaps if you're a multi-millionaire, but it literally takes less than 2min to make an eBay/Craigslist/Marketplace ad. Then all you do is drop it off at a post office or meet someone to sell it to them. Just as simple as taking it into an Apple store, and you get 3X the money. The time you'd spend earning that money difference should be taken into the convenience too, there is absolutely no rational reason to use the trade in program. I can think of 3, very poor arguments.

1) They don't know how to sell things and are paranoid about getting scammed (it's extremely easy to avoid being scammed, and you're already basically being scammed by trade in programs anyway)
2) They are a bootlicker for the brand
3) They fell for the "environmentalist" shtick and think that recycling tech (ie. sending it to poor countries to be dumped in oceans and massive landfills) is somehow more environmentally friendly than selling it to someone else who will keep the product in use for several more years; which in turn prevents that person from buying a new device.
 

ipsedixit

macrumors regular
Jun 14, 2021
153
102
Perhaps if you're a multi-millionaire, but it literally takes less than 2min to make an eBay/Craigslist/Marketplace ad. Then all you do is drop it off at a post office or meet someone to sell it to them. Just as simple as taking it into an Apple store, and you get 3X the money. The time you'd spend earning that money difference should be taken into the convenience too, there is absolutely no rational reason to use the trade in program. I can think of 3, very poor arguments.

1) They don't know how to sell things and are paranoid about getting scammed (it's extremely easy to avoid being scammed, and you're already basically being scammed by trade in programs anyway)
2) They are a bootlicker for the brand
3) They fell for the "environmentalist" shtick and think that recycling tech (ie. sending it to poor countries to be dumped in oceans and massive landfills) is somehow more environmentally friendly than selling it to someone else who will keep the product in use for several more years; which in turn prevents that person from buying a new device.
Well, it might take less than 2 minutes to put up a eBay or Craigslist add (debatable), but the rest of the process is not as streamlined as a trade-in with Apple.

Unless you live next to a post office, it takes time (mucho time) to physically go to a post office, or UPS store or FedEx store. It also takes time to find a suitable box, with the appropriate packaging or bubblewrap, to package your computer. All of this takes time and energy. With a trade in, Apple takes care of all of that with you. They ship you a box, you put in your old computer, slap on the shipping label, and either UPS/Fedex comes to pick it up. Voila gone, done. A week or so later, your credit shows up on your account. No questions asked.

For me, that's uber convenient. My time is way more valuable than the additional money I can make selling it on my own. (And this is assuming you get a buyer sooner rather than later, and there's no haggling in price).
 

imdog

macrumors 6502
Jun 20, 2017
353
793
Disneyland
Well, it might take less than 2 minutes to put up a eBay or Craigslist add (debatable), but the rest of the process is not as streamlined as a trade-in with Apple.

Unless you live next to a post office, it takes time (mucho time) to physically go to a post office, or UPS store or FedEx store. It also takes time to find a suitable box, with the appropriate packaging or bubblewrap, to package your computer. All of this takes time and energy. With a trade in, Apple takes care of all of that with you. They ship you a box, you put in your old computer, slap on the shipping label, and either UPS/Fedex comes to pick it up. Voila gone, done. A week or so later, your credit shows up on your account. No questions asked.

For me, that's uber convenient. My time is way more valuable than the additional money I can make selling it on my own. (And this is assuming you get a buyer sooner rather than later, and there's no haggling in price).
For instance I'm going to be selling my late 2015 5k iMac, they go for about $1,300 on eBay. Trade in value is like 300. If someone offered you $1,000 to put an iMac in a box and take it to the post office (you could also have them come pick it up too), would you say no? That's the easiest $1,000 most people would ever come by.
 

ipsedixit

macrumors regular
Jun 14, 2021
153
102
For instance I'm going to be selling my late 2015 5k iMac, they go for about $1,300 on eBay. Trade in value is like 300. If someone offered you $1,000 to put an iMac in a box and take it to the post office (you could also have them come pick it up too), would you say no? That's the easiest $1,000 most people would ever come by.
No, because my time is worth more than that. Much more.
 
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Lava Lamp Freak

macrumors 68000
Jun 1, 2006
1,572
624
Apple just offered me £520 trade in on my M1 MBA with 8C/16GB/512GB.
So basically a third of what it cost - and this is a replacement one too so probably only 6 months old.
Not good.
Fortunately I'm very happy with it and don't want a change.
I just though I'd ask the question :)
That is something that is annoying with Apple trade-in values. The amount they pay is for the same regardless of the specs of the device.
 
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jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,421
4,208
SF Bay Area
That is something that is annoying with Apple trade-in values. The amount they pay is for the same regardless of the specs of the device.
It does vary some, but not much. It is similar to car trade-ins (in normal times, not now). You get pennies on the dollar for upgrades like better interiors, sports package, wheels, larger engines, etc.
 

BigMcGuire

Cancelled
Jan 10, 2012
9,832
14,032
Here in California Apple offered $900 for an M1 MBP 13 16GB ram / 1TB SSD according to their website (checking the Serial). Considering the device was $1.9k, that's a bit of a drop :/.

They changed the trade in process since I last used it in 2020 - now you have to bring it to FedEx or specifically ask for a mailer to be sent to you OR bring it to the store.
 

Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,840
6,531
Upstate NY . Was FL.
Perhaps if you're a multi-millionaire, but it literally takes less than 2min to make an eBay/Craigslist/Marketplace ad. Then all you do is drop it off at a post office or meet someone to sell it to them. Just as simple as taking it into an Apple store, and you get 3X the money. The time you'd spend earning that money difference should be taken into the convenience too, there is absolutely no rational reason to use the trade in program. I can think of 3, very poor arguments.

1) They don't know how to sell things and are paranoid about getting scammed (it's extremely easy to avoid being scammed, and you're already basically being scammed by trade in programs anyway)
2) They are a bootlicker for the brand
3) They fell for the "environmentalist" shtick and think that recycling tech (ie. sending it to poor countries to be dumped in oceans and massive landfills) is somehow more environmentally friendly than selling it to someone else who will keep the product in use for several more years; which in turn prevents that person from buying a new device.
You must be living somewhere real nice. I found 99% of craigslist , FakeBook market place interested buyers either A: offering 50% less than asking price or B: crooks. I get the occasional C: time wasters. I'd sooner sell for a little less to a reputable establishment than sit around entertaining crooks and low ballers via email and Messenger for weeks on end until a suitable buyer comes forward.
 

pshufd

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2013
10,151
14,574
New Hampshire
You must be living somewhere real nice. I found 99% of craigslist , FakeBook market place interested buyers either A: offering 50% less than asking price or B: crooks. I get the occasional C: time wasters. I'd sooner sell for a little less to a reputable establishment than sit around entertaining crooks and low ballers via email and Messenger for weeks on end until a suitable buyer comes forward.

If you price it properly, it will sell.

That there are no M1 Macs at all for sale in my area indicates that demand is strong for these. The stuff for sale in my area are Intel Macs from 2009 - 2020. Most of them are 2010 - 2013.
 
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ctjack

macrumors 68000
Mar 8, 2020
1,557
1,574
If you price it properly, it will sell.
Agreed. Tired of locals pricing any items 5-10 dollars short of the MSRP at the store. Their reasoning is that i am also saving a sales tax.
No thanks, i would rather pay $10+sales tax than use someones in-ear Airpods pro.
Also from the same series: base iPad is on sale for $250, and these guys asking $280 for a used one, crowd selling $1000+ tax 12 Pro Iphone for $980... well that is a "discount" indeed.
 
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Fred Zed

macrumors 603
Aug 15, 2019
5,840
6,531
Upstate NY . Was FL.
Agreed. Tired of locals pricing any items 5-10 dollars short of the MSRP at the store. Their reasoning is that i am also saving a sales tax.
No thanks, i would rather pay $10+sales tax than use someones in-ear Airpods pro.
Also from the same series: base iPad is on sale for $250, and these guys asking $280 for a used one, crowd selling $1000+ tax 12 Pro Iphone for $980... well that is a discount indeed.
You're insinuating that those that get time wasters and crooks on Facebook marketplace and Craig's list are not pricing their used items correctly?
Indeed, I do see some sellers on those mentioned pages doing that, which makes me chuckle also. But in my particular case when I sell items, they are priced to sell.
Just for your reference, I had put my iPhone 12 pro max 256gb for sale for $900 three weeks ago.
 

ctjack

macrumors 68000
Mar 8, 2020
1,557
1,574
You're insinuating that those that get time wasters and crooks on Facebook marketplace and Craig's list are not pricing their used items correctly?
Sorry, i didn't mean to insinuate anyone.
But in my particular case when I sell items, they are priced to sell.
Just for your reference, I had put my iPhone 12 pro max 256gb for sale for $900 three weeks ago.
That was my price advise for my wife to price her 12PM for $800-$900 with 256GB unlocked 2 months ago. She refused to sell.
These platforms like FB, CL has 2 type of people hanging around:
1) Flippers/Lowballers. No need to dive deep into this.
2) Legit sellers/buyers. Category 2 consists of 2 subtypes:
2a) Non-enthusiast
2b) Enthusiast

Non-enthusiast people(sellers/buyers) operate on their inner feeling of the "priced good". Sometimes it is on point and sometimes the price is way off.
Enthusiast people are that always aware of the deals outside of official places like Apple.com.

Revisiting your price, $900 was a fair deal 2 months ago. Right now i can have a brand new 12PM 128GB for $800-$900. So the dilemma is $800-$900 brand new 12PM 128gb with no sweat or used mint 256GB from you for $900?
I would say that $800 for you phone would sweeten the deal to change one's preference. But again, Apple are generous this year so you would get $790 for it anyway in trade-in. They are generous, because they can utilize again all of the internals in Iphone 12/13 especially the cameras.

Or maybe $1100-$1200 13PM from Apple.com? I am the type of person, that would prefer to add $300 over your price and settle on a new 13PM, cause i am already spending $900. Or if i feel, i can add $200 and get 128GB 13PM if money is an object. Or add $100 and settle on 13Pro. Percentage point you have a nice discount, which would drag a lot of people if we were in the car market - you offer your 1 year used car with the same discount% as your iphone? I am all in! But the money wise, in the car market we are speaking about saved thousands of dollars, well here it is $200-$300 of savings - you can look at it as an add-on price for improvements in 13PM.
==========================
There is also another side of the story. Culturally US is a direct speaking nation and there is no culture of trading the purchase price. While if you visit Eastern parts of the Globe, discussing the price is a main aspect of the deal. There are even some countries, where sellers feel offended if you didn't try to lower the price.

At the same time, every time US lawyer i know, hears that one is trying to negotiate his initial price, he packs his stuff and offers another "cheaper" lawyers down the street.

You priced it at $900, most nice guys/ladies like me would be feeling awkward and shy to offer you $750-$800, cause we can receive a negative answer and feel bad afterwards. So you are also losing on a bunch of people, who feel shy to cut the price at all or feel comfortable to drop only $50 but not $100-$150.
 
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