How to sell or exchange your old Mac and save on a new

Whether you plan to buy a new Mac or have one as a gift, your current Mac does not need to end up in a cupboard. So what are you doing? If you do not plan to give it to a friend or the lucky family member, you can exchange or sell it to help pay this new Mac. Here’s how to get each last value from your old Mac.

Apple has an assistance document that has good instructions on what you need to do before selling, giving or exchanging your Mac, and we also discuss how to prepare an old Mac to sell in a separate article. But we have some experience in this department that can help you get the most out of your exchange or sale.

Treat your Mac well

Your Mac’s physical condition plays a key role in what you can get in return for a sales sale. If you have a Mac that you plan to keep for a while, but be aware that you will end up negotiating or selling it when you get to, do what you can take care of it.

Office mac Like the Mac Mini and the IMAC are easy to maintain because they will not move much from their location, if at all. Wipe the dust that accumulates over time. Dust accumulation can make your Mac harder to keep cool, so regular sprinkling also ensures that your Mac works effectively. If you have an iMac, make sure your screen remains immaculate by cleaning your screen with a soft cloth every a few weeks. Screen protectors are also available, but they require a lot of patience and a good amount of skills to put properly.

Laptop mac are more subject to damage because they are supposed to be brought with you to work remotely. Use a good quality laptop bag and always keep in mind that you use an expensive investment – we have all seen a lot of people in our local cafe Manage their laptops carefully. Don’t be that person. Speaking of cafes, try to keep drinks and food away from your MacBook in case a spill occurs.

Be careful With how you use it. For example, if you connect a USB device, try not to plug it blindly into a port. Feeling around the Mac port with a connector can scrape the case, leaving an unsightly appearance of wear that can leave a bad impression on a person evaluating your computer.

Keep the original box (You don’t need the shipping box) and the documentation. If you have the original cables and adapters, register them also. People sometimes go to faster chargers or longer cables, so keep the originals with the box. If you don’t have these items, it doesn’t matter, you can always exchange or sell your Mac. But you will probably get more with them, especially if you sell it in private.

Wipe your Mac data: the steps

Save your data

When you are ready to exchange or sell your old Mac, be sure to save the data that is there. If you have not saved your Mac before, we recommend that you get an external storage device.

The easiest way to go back is the integrated time machine of Apple. The use of Time Machine is ideal because you can use it to restore data on your new Mac, which then draws all your old settings, files and applications, so that your new Mac is configured as your old one. You can also use a third -party backup service or cloud storage such as iCloud or Dropbox to save important files, such as documents, photos and multimedia files. You can restore these files on your new Mac, but all applications must be downloaded from the Developer App or website. You will also have to redo your settings on your new Mac.

Disauthorize your Mac from your Apple identifier

This is an important step. Apple follows the devices you use and if you do not log out, the new owner of your old Mac may not be able to configure it. To disconnect, use your iPhone, iPad or another Mac and access your Apple ID account on Appleid.apple.com, then connect with your username and password. Access the section of the web page devices, where you will see a list of devices associated with your Apple ID. Click on the Mac that you want to disautical and a contextual window appears. Click on Delete button. A confirmation dialog box will appear and you will have to confirm that you want to perform this action.

Once it is done, on the old Mac, make sure it is disconnected from iCloud by checking system / system parameters. You will also want to make sure it is disconnected from messages, which you can check in the messages application.

Reset the Nvram on Intel Macs

Mac Intels use Nvram to quickly access certain settings. To reset the NVRAM, turn off your Mac. Then keep the options of option, control, P and R on the keyboard and the power supply on the Mac. Continue to maintain these keys while your Mac boots, then the boots again. If you hear the starting sound a second time or if you see the Apple logo appear, disappear, then reappear, you can abandon the keys. It is not necessary on the Macs of the M. series

Erase the storage device and reinstall macOS

Make sure your data is saved and that you are connected to Wi-Fi before making the storage and resettlement of macOS using MacOS Recovery. Here’s how to start the process:

• On an Intel Mac, hold the control keys + R while turning on the computer.
• On a Mac of series M, press and hold the power button while turning it on.

The macOS recovery menu will appear. You can then use the disk utility to wipe the reader of your Mac. (Apple has detailed instructions on how to proceed for mac intel and m-series.) When the disk utility is finished, leave the application, then click on Reinstall macOS In the recovery menu to install the operating system.

Apple

Sell your mac

Okay, now that your old Mac is ready to leave, you must decide where you are going to sell it. There are several third-party sites to which you can go, although you may not get as much as you could directly to someone via eBay, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. But sell to a dealer can be ideal if you want to avoid the hassle of dealing with other people. Here are some of the most popular buyout sites and what they offer.

We also discuss the best place to sell a Mac or a MacBook in a separate article.

Gazelle

Gazelle buys (and sells) MacBooks only – this website does not seem to allow you to sell them an office Mac. After making them known the condition of your item, they provide a quote that is good for 30 days and covers the shipment. After receiving your Mac, they will examine it and can make you a new offer if the Mac does not correspond to the initial assessment. If you refuse the new offer, you can recover your Mac, but you have to pay for shipping. They pay you with a check, via Paypal or an Amazon gift card.

Swappa

Swappa is a market where you sell directly to other people. To ensure that the transactions are secure, Swappa checks the lists, manages Paypal payments only and organizes shipping. Swappa costs are included in the prices displayed. If you hesitate to publish on eBay or Craigslist, Swappa is a good alternative.

Exchange your mac

You may not get as much as you can sell your Mac to a third-party person or service, but the exchanges are almost without hassle and practical. Exchanges are also often available when a Mac is not in sale but the working condition. You are generally remunerated by a gift card, a store credit or a credit for your purchase.

Apple

The exchange process with Apple is fast and easy. Apple asks a few questions about the condition of your machine (you must provide the serial number), then the offer can be applied to a new purchase. Apple will contact you if it needs to revise its offer after inspected your Mac.

Apple

Amazon

Amazon has an exchange program, but to date, it does not seem to be open to Macs of any kind. You can submit iPads, iPhones or other non-papple devices, and they pay you with an Amazon gift card. It takes a while to treat your exchange, and you can get more on other sites, but if you buy frequently on Amazon, it is an attractive service.

Best purchase

Best Buy has an exchange program, but you will have to find your exact model before you can start the process. You get a Best Buy gift card.

Walmart

Walmart has a program in partnership with Cexchange, but it is only for Mac laptops. You get a Walmart Egift card.