MacBook Pros last a long time, but when you are ready to move on, you might as well get some money for it. Selling a MacBook Pro isn’t always as easy as it seems because of how much competition there is. Understandably, you may struggle with how and where to sell your MacBook Pro for the most cash.
You can sell your MacBook Pro for the most cash if you sell it privately through Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Craiglist. Make sure to back up and transfer files before you factory reset your MacBook Pro, or else the buyer can access your sensitive information. Sites like SellYourMac and Cash4Mac can offer quotes based on your MacBook’s model, condition, and battery health.
Best Buy and Apple will buy your MacBook Pro, but they offer the least amount of cash. Follow along as we explore how and where to sell your MacBook Pro for the most cash.
How Much is a Used MacBook Pro Worth?
A used MacBook Pro is worth anywhere from $245 to $2,600 or more depending on the condition. Of course, newer models with bigger screens will earn you the most money. The battery condition, performance, and cosmetic appearance are also important cost factors.
You can add an average of $15 to the selling price if you include accessories, such as the charging cable and AC adapter.
However, you can only get the best value if you privately sell your MacBook Pro. Major stores like Apple and Best Buy don’t give much, no matter how much it’s worth because they operate on trade-in value.
How to Sell a MacBook Pro
Figure Out Which Model You Have
You won’t be able to figure out how much to sell your MacBook Pro if you don’t know which model you have. Luckily, you can quickly figure out which model you have from the Apple menu even if you no longer have the box it came in. Find the Apple logo on the menu bar, click it, and select “About This Mac”.
A window will appear that tells you the model, year, and screen size of your MacBook Pro. If that doesn’t work, you can also refer to the serial number at the bottom of your MacBook Pro. Simply enter the serial number into the coverage check page to find out which model you have and the year it’s from.
Compare it to Other Used MacBooks
The best thing you can do before you sell a MacBook Pro is research the competition. Scroll through sites like Craiglist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay to find the selling prices for similar MacBook Pros. This will give you an idea of how to fairly price your MacBook Pro to get the most cash and sell it quickly.
Transfer Data
Unless you want to lose valuable information, you must transfer data before you sell your MacBook Pro. Transfer your documents, applications, spreadsheets, and personal information to an external hard drive. Plug the external hard drive into another computer to make sure it properly stores the information before you reset your MacBook Pro.
That way, you can make sure the transfer works so you don’t lose any data and files.
Reset the PRAM and NVRAM
The PRAM and NVRAM on your MacBook Pro store information that you won’t even find on the hard drive. That’s why you must reset them before you sell your MacBook Pro so the buyer cannot access any sensitive information. To do this, you must first shut down your MacBook Pro.
Once it’s shut down, press the power button and quickly press the Option, Command, P, and R keys before the window appears on the screen. Hold these keys for 20 seconds, then let go to reset the PRAM. You can repeat this process to reset the NVRAM.
Sign Out With Your Apple ID
Apple keeps track of each device you are logged into. Because of that, you must sign out of your account with your Apple ID before you sell your MacBook Pro. This will ensure that your account only recognizes the devices that you use. Simply click the Apple logo on the menu bar, select “System Settings”, click your profile, and select “Sign Out”.
Factory Reset
Turn off your MacBook Pro before you factory reset it once you’ve transferred all the data you need. Now, press and hold “Command” and “R”, and hit the power button to pull up Recovery Mode. The utility screen will appear on the screen, and you must click “Disk Utility”.
Select the Macintosh HD hard drive and click “Erase” to delete the hard drive. This will reset your MacBook Pro and remove all the documents, apps, and data. If you have a MacBook Pro with macOS Monterey, you can reset it from the Apple menu.
Click the Apple icon, select “System Preferences”, and click “Erase All Content”.
Install a Fresh Operating System
Once you’ve erased the content on your MacBook Pro, you must install a new operating system. On the utility screen, simply select “Reinstall macOS” to install a fresh operating system. Once it’s installed, a prompt will appear to set up the MacBook with location information and your Apple ID.
Don’t fill out any of this information. It’s up to the buyer to set up the MacBook Pro with their Apple ID and location information. You will simply be giving the buyer your private information if you enter your Apple ID after you reinstall the operating system.
Clean It
The cosmetic condition of your MacBook Pro is a key factor that determines its value. This includes everything from smudges on the screen to lint and debris caught between the keys. Make sure to use a lint-free cloth when you clean the screen, or you will leave behind fibers that will only make the problem worse.
You can also dampen a microfiber cloth with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol to remove stubborn smudges from the screen. However, you must use 90% isopropyl alcohol or higher so it will dissipate quickly. Use compressed air to remove debris from the keyboard that is stuck.
What Is the Best Place to Sell a Used MacBook Pro?
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is the best place to sell your MacBook Pro because you can do it on your terms. You can set the price and don’t have to worry about Facebook taking a big cut. The one downside to Facebook Marketplace is that you must trust the buyer.
You can ship your MacBook Pro if someone buys it through Facebook Marketplace, but purchases typically entail local pickup. In that case, make sure to meet at a public place during the daytime for safety purposes.
SellYourMac
SellYourMac is one of the best places to sell a MacBook Pro because they do a lot of the work for you. You can enter the serial number and they will provide a quote to help you get as much money as possible. They ask for key information such as battery health, screen size, and condition to help you set an asking price for your MacBook Pro.
Craigslist
Much like Facebook Marketplace, Craiglist is a great place to sell your MacBook Pro without having to pay a big fee to a middleman. Make sure to look for similar models on Craiglist to see the asking prices for MacBook Pros from the same year. There won’t be as much competition as you’d find on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, and Craiglist takes no cut.
eBay
It’s easy to overlook eBay now that there are so many alternatives like Facebook Marketplace. However, it’s still a great place to sell your MacBook Pro for the most cash because you can easily compare it to similar models. The only downside to eBay is that there will likely be a lot of other used MacBook Pros to compete with.
Cash4Mac
Check out Cash4Mac if you’re having a hard time figuring out how to sell your MacBook Pro for the most cash. Their instant quote tool can quickly tell you how much your MacBook Pro is worth. Enter the screen size, condition, and model to get a quote, and ship them your MacBook Pro for a final listing price, and they will take care of the rest for you.
Swappa
Swappa is a great online marketplace similar to eBay and Craiglist. You can quickly find lots of used MacBook Pros and Apple products to help formulate an appropriate listing price. They also let you know how many MacBook Pros are listed and how many sellers there are, and this gives you a great idea of the competition.
Best Buy
Best Buy makes it quite easy to quickly sell your MacBook Pro. They don’t pay cash, but they can give you a gift card in exchange for your MacBook Pro. Currently, Best Buy only offers gift cards up to $450 for used MacBook Pros, so it’s only a good option if you don’t have a high-value, in-demand model.
Can You Sell Your MacBook to Apple?
You can sell your MacBook Pro to Apple or trade it in, but that’s not a great option. Apple doesn’t offer much trade-in value. For example, this Reddit post shows that someone went to sell a MacBook worth $5,000, and Apple only offered $970 in trade-in value. You will get much more cash if you sell it privately.
So, Where Can I Sell a MacBook Pro for the Most Money?
Use Facebook Marketplace, SellYourMac, and Craiglist to sell your MacBook Pro for the most cash. Sites like eBay, Swappa, and Cash4Mac are also great options because you don’t have to give up a big cut of the selling price. Best Buy and Apple should be your last resorts because they will give you the least cash for your MacBook, and it may only be in trade-in credit.
David Miller is a seasoned tech aficionado with a profound expertise in NGINX and Ubuntu. With a career spanning over a decade, David has honed his skills in optimizing web servers and enhancing server performance to perfection. His deep-rooted passion for open-source technologies has led him to become a go-to resource in the field. Whether it’s crafting intricate NGINX configurations or troubleshooting complex Ubuntu server issues, David’s problem-solving prowess shines through.