What to do with a knackered MBA?

[Crosbie]

My gf has a well-loved (=casually abused) MBA 64Gb SSD, which needs to finally be retired. She got an iPad to replace it a while back, but iPad doesn't quite do all that she wants to do with it; the new 11" MBA seemed an ideal compromise.

Of course, even at the new bargain price, MBAs are relatively expensive; but the final straw was some damage to the hinge of her current MBA. This has meant dodgy colour on the screen, and, we've just discovered, a disconnected camera.

So, MBA 11" 128Gb it is, to be restored from the Time Machine backup of the current MBA. (Anyone with any comments on this process, that'd also be welcome, btw.)

What to do with the current MBA? It has damage and needs a geek to repair it. The resale value would be a healthy £580 towards the new MBA - if it wasn't knackered. I guess it would make that price refurbished by a tech, so it must hold some value still... how much?

Can anyone suggest a high street place or net company that might buy this? Is eBay an option or more trouble than it's worth? Will Apple or official service providers take it? Seems a shame to just recycle it.

 

[Hellhammer]

I would just try eBay. There are always fortune hunters who think they get a good deal on MBA that they can then repair. Just remember to take good pics of the issues and list every issue it has so the buyer is aware of everything. Hard to say about the price but you could get few hundreds off of it.

 

[Crosbie]

I would just try eBay. There are always fortune hunters who think they get a good deal on MBA that they can then repair. Just remember to take good pics of the issues and list every issue it has so the buyer is aware of everything. Hard to say about the price but you could get few hundreds off of it.

Think it'll actually sell? I guess it'd probably need to be @no reserve... My worry is that either it won't sell at all, so the cost of advertising goes down the drain, or at such a low price that it's barely worth the hassle of posting it and packing it up to deliver, or that some damn fool buys it at a reasonable price then acts all surprised that it's damaged and kicks off an unholy fuss about it.

Anyone with any experienced of selling or buying knowingly damaged goods on eBay that are advertised as such?

Any other options?

 

[flynz4]

My gf has a well-loved (=casually abused) MBA 64Gb SSD, which needs to finally be retired. She got an iPad to replace it a while back, but iPad doesn't quite do all that she wants to do with it; the new 11" MBA seemed an ideal compromise.

Of course, even at the new bargain price, MBAs are relatively expensive; but the final straw was some damage to the hinge of her current MBA. This has meant dodgy colour on the screen, and, we've just discovered, a disconnected camera.

So, MBA 11" 128Gb it is, to be restored from the Time Machine backup of the current MBA. (Anyone with any comments on this process, that'd also be welcome, btw.)

What to do with the current MBA? It has damage and needs a geek to repair it. The resale value would be a healthy £580 towards the new MBA - if it wasn't knackered. I guess it would make that price refurbished by a tech, so it must hold some value still... how much?

Can anyone suggest a high street place or net company that might buy this? Is eBay an option or more trouble than it's worth? Will Apple or official service providers take it? Seems a shame to just recycle it.

Apple has been repairing a lot of Rev A-C MBA's out of warranty if they have the hinge issue. It is a well known problem that they continue to fix.

I would go to an Apple store (not a 3rd party) and ask for a repair. If they repair it... I think the screen gets replaced... which would fix your display and camera at the same time.

/Jim

 

[Crosbie]

Apple has been repairing a lot of Rev A-C MBA's out of warranty if they have the hinge issue. It is a well known problem that they continue to fix.

I would go to an Apple store (not a 3rd party) and ask for a repair. If they repair it... I think the screen gets replaced... which would fix your display and camera at the same time.

/Jim

That's very interesting. 'The Hinge Issue.' Is this a documented problem then? I just figured it was my gf's over-expectations of the treatment a MacBook could handle...

 

[KPOM]

That's very interesting. 'The Hinge Issue.' Is this a documented problem then? I just figured it was my gf's over-expectations of the treatment a MacBook could handle...

It was one of those issues that Apple denied for a while but then started fixing quietly. Do a Google search. It's worth a shot taking it to the Apple Genius Bar and seeing if they'll fix it for you (it would certainly improve its resale value). However, usually it's a clean break rather than a dent or bend.

Here's a link to an example:


http://mindspacemind.blogspot.com/2008/06/macbook-air-damaged-hinges-little-too.html

 

[Mr. Savage]

My gf has a well-loved (=casually abused) MBA

I was going to suggest he try for the screen/hinge assembly replacement earlier today until I re-read his opening line. I think whether or not Apple will replace it under the "secret warranty" will hinge (sorry) on the definition of "casually abused." ( Lots of cosmetic damage = no go ).

 

[Crosbie]

I was going to suggest he try for the screen/hinge assembly replacement earlier today until I re-read his opening line. I think whether or not Apple will replace it under the "secret warranty" will hinge (sorry) on the definition of "casually abused." ( Lots of cosmetic damage = no go ).

My main evidence of abuse was the knackered hinge. There are other scuffs and dings, but not a great deal more than you'd expect.

She has the new MBA 11" now, but I've suggested that we take the old one in as recommended here. Thanks for the advice, people.

 

[nicoritschel]

Have HER take in the computer to the genius bar. They seem to take kindly to women