Savvy Mac users know that the best way to sell an unwanted computer is to do it yourself, probably using eBay. But for those who are not so clued up, a new crop of websites which offer to to do the work for you can be an attractive option. Sites such as webuyanylaptop.co.uk or buymylaptop.co.uk will take your old MacBook off your hands for cash, meaning you don’t have to advertise it or deal directly with a buyer.
The trouble is, according to a new report by Which?, the prices these sites offer are well below what you could expect from an eBay auction, for example. The watchdog tested out the sites, along with Asda’s trade-in service and found that in some cases it was offered less than a quarter of the price it was able to achieve on eBay. Asda’s trade-in fared worst of all. It offered only £75 for an Acer laptop which sold for £410 on eBay.
One of the notebooks used in the test was a 2009 MacBook. Of the five services tested, only three offered to take the Mac. Values ranged between £67 and £202 for a machine which cost £1125 new and which could be sold on eBay for £350.
Which? also reported that the price paid for laptops after inspection was often even less than the original offer.
‘People should be aware that the amount offered by these companies is not always the final amount you receive. Selling an old laptop online can be an easy way to recoup some cash, but it pays to shop around and try online auction websites to find the best deal,’ said Which? Computing editor, Sarah Kidner.
