Selling your old laptop: The best options

• If applicable, you must delete your Google account so that the new user cannot access your personal data.
• To delete your data for the first time, you should reset the laptop to factory settings. However, because all files can be relatively easily restored after this, a second step is necessary.
• You can securely and completely erase the hard drive using the Secure Eraser or WipeDisk programs.
• To get a particularly high price when selling, you must clean your laptop thoroughly and carefully so that your device looks newer and of higher quality.
• When selling your laptop, you should include all accessories and, if possible, the packaging, as this shows that you have taken good care of it.
• If you want to auction your laptop on auction sites such as eBay, you need to create a clear description and an appealing photo, and set a minimum price.
• You can offer your laptop for sale at a fixed price and sell it privately via portals such as eBay classifieds.
• The average lifespan of laptops is around 4 years. The price quoted on purchase portals always includes the depreciation of the device. This tends to be lower for Apple devices.

Use purchase portals

By working with special portals, you can sell your laptop faster and often more successfully than through auctions or private transactions. All purchase portals have both advantages and disadvantages. Noteworthy are the bonuses (amounting to €5 or €10) that are often paid for subscribing to a newsletter. Users can keep the money even if they quickly unsubscribe. The first three of the seven recommended portals have the great advantage that they purchase all brands of laptops. The last four companies limit themselves to Apple laptops only.

• The Flip4New portal offers very favorable terms, as it purchases all types of laptops, even defective devices. In addition, shipping is free for all laptops, you receive €10 for subscribing to the newsletter, and the purchase price is paid out after just 24 hours.
• The company mySWOOOP accepts all brands of laptops. You receive the purchase price after just 24 hours and €5 for subscribing to the newsletter. However, shipping is only free for laptops worth €30 or more.
• ZOXS buys laptops from all manufacturers. Unfortunately, laptops are only shipped free of charge for orders over €30, and it takes a few days for the proceeds to be paid out.
• CleverTronic offers free shipping for all laptops and €10 for a newsletter subscription. The laptops you send in are paid for after just 24 hours. On the downside, this portal only purchases Apple MacBooks from 2017 onwards.
• At CleverBuy, customers can send in their laptops free of charge and receive the purchase price after 24 hours. This company only accepts Apple MacBooks from 2018 onwards.
• The reBuy portal pays €5 for a newsletter subscription if the device has a sales value of €30 or more. Unfortunately, only Apple notebooks are purchased. In addition, shipping is only free for laptops worth €10 or more, and payment of the purchase price can be delayed by four to five business days.
• The company WirKaufens offers free shipping for all devices. On the downside, this portal only purchases Apple and Microsoft laptops, and payment is often only made after a week.

Sell laptops in seven steps

First, you need to set the selling price for your laptop. Use comparable laptops offered for sale on purchasing portals as a guide. You should ask for around half to a maximum of two-thirds of the selling prices listed there for your laptop, provided it is in good condition and fully functional. You can complete the sale in the following seven steps:

1. Determine the performance characteristics of your laptop: You can find the specifications of your laptop, such as the processor and memory, on the invoice or on the device itself. To do this, right-click on the button at the bottom left of the monitor and then click on the three buttons Settings, System, and Info in succession.
2. Compare purchase prices: After entering the specifications and current condition of your laptop (from “very good” to “acceptable”), check the preliminary prices offered immediately online by the major purchasing portals.
3. Select purchase portal: You decide on the company that offers the best conditions and the highest preliminary purchase price.
4. Print shipping label: You print out the shipping label sent to you by email and stick it on the package containing your well-packed laptop.
5. Send your laptop free of charge: You deliver your laptop to the purchasing portal free of charge using a parcel service.
6. Evaluate the final price: The purchase portal staff will check your laptop and you can then decide whether or not to accept the final purchase price.
7. Receive money for your sold laptop: If you agree to the final purchase price, the money will be transferred to you within a week at the latest. If you consider the final purchase price to be too low, the portal will return the laptop to you.

Is it worth selling older and defective laptops?

Selling old or defective laptops for spare parts can be well worth it, especially compared to simply disposing of them or selling them as a whole for scrap value.

• Particularly in the case of components in high demand, such as RAM, CPU, display, battery, or power supply, higher individual prices can often be achieved if they are still intact. However, dismantling and selling individual parts is much more complex and time-consuming, as separate buyers must be found for each component, descriptions and shipping must be handled, and often small remaining parts cannot be sold.
• Individual parts such as RAM, processors, displays, and power supplies are often sought after and can fetch between a few and several dozen euros, depending on their age and condition. Hobbyists and repair shops in particular purchase specific spare parts, sometimes even larger component packages. Reuse reduces electronic waste and conserves resources.
• The total profit from individual sales may be higher, but not all components are in demand – exotic/older parts often remain unsold for a long time or find no buyer. The time and effort required for removal, testing, photographing, describing, and shipping are considerable.
• Selling the entire item as “defective for hobbyists” on eBay/eBay classifieds or similar sites usually yields a lower but faster return without the effort of individual sales. Some buyer portals also accept defective laptops at flat rates, which are usually lower than individual sales, but save a lot of time and hassle.
• If maximum profit is the primary concern, it is definitely worth selling intact, sought-after parts individually – especially in the case of current, still compatible models and high-quality components. On the other hand, if you want to minimize effort and time, selling the entire laptop to a specialized buyer or as a “defective item for hobbyists” is usually more relaxed and faster.