How to Find Affordable and Legit Used Apple Products
Whenever Apple unveils its updated products – a new iPhone, MacBook, iPad, and Mac Mini – people are always excited to get their hands on shiny new gadgets.
For thrifty thinkers like myself, a new product line means something else: cheap deals on older Apple models as people sell their excellent condition items to get on the new bandwagon.
While bigger screens and updated retina display are nice, saving money is nicer. If you’re still holding onto a first-generation Mac or an outdated smartphone, you can start cashing in on bargains for lightly used Apple gear.
With the iPhone 11 rolling out, there’s no better time to find used iPhones and other Apple gear.
Finding Deals On Used Apple Products
Before you try your luck with online sales, there are some tips you can follow to make sure you find a legit deal on a new-old product.
1. Research What You Want
As with any purchase, make sure you do your due diligence before finalizing a deal. Keep two questions in mind:
- What’s the difference between the model you have, the one you’re buying, and the newest one?
- What’s a fair price for an older, used model?
Sites like PhoneArena.com can be a great resource to help you figure out what you’re buying with older Apple products. And by comparing prices via online marketplaces, you can make sure what you’re paying is fair value.
2. Where Should You Buy?
Amazon has been cracking down on “unauthorized” sellers of refurbished Apple products, so it can be hard to find a reliable seller.
Gazelle is basically an online pawn shop that can be a great place to find products, or a resource to compare prices.
Popular online marketplaces like Facebook, Craigslist and eBay are still great tools to find deals on used products. If you connect with a seller online and decide to meet in person, make sure you complete the transaction in a public place so you can feel safe.
If you do agree to a one-on-one sale, avoid bringing wads of cash with you. You can always write a check or get a free money order from Amscot instead.
For trusty (but pricey) refurbished products, you can always buy directly from Apple.
3. Trace The Serial Number
It may seem a little paranoid, but you’re always better safe than sorry. Get the serial number from the seller and call your local police station to make sure it doesn’t match anything that’s been reported stolen.
To find out if your product has been refurbished, you can call Apple customer support too (800-676-2775).
4. Test Before You Buy
You wouldn’t buy a car without giving it a test drive first. A good rule of thumb is always to try before you buy. Here’s a checklist to run through before you commit to a sale:
- Turn the device off and on again
- Test the front and rear camera
- Make sure all headphone, USB etc., ports are working
- Connect to the internet and ensure there are no issues getting online
If anything seems off, don’t hesitate to back out of the deal.
5. Reset Your Product
After you’ve found the product you want at a price that makes sense, the last step is to reset your new Apple product to factory defaults.
With iPhones, iPads, or Apple Watches, make sure the seller removes the product from their Apple account so you can add it to yours.
And just like that, you’ll have a brand new (to you) Apple product for a fraction of the price of a new iPhone 11!
Read about micro-investing and how to get started with our complete guide: Micro-Investing: What It Is, Why It’s for You and How to Start.
