Laptop Selling 101

Selling a laptop gives you an immediate advantage because they always command a better price compared to a desktop, even if the hardware is notably slower.

You obviously want get the most money on the sale of your laptop, so here are some tips to get as much cash as you can out of it.

Linux IS NOT a selling point

Some believe that if you can’t install Windows on the laptop (maybe you lost the disc or don’t have a license), installing Linux is a suitable substitute. It isn’t. Installing Linux on a laptop does not increase a laptop’s value whatsoever because the OS is free, and anyone who would install Linux would most likely choose a distribution other than what you installed.

If the laptop has XP, Vista or 7, use that. If you don’t have Windows, erase the hard drive. You can use a utility such as Darik’s Boot and Nuke to take care of that task. Once finished, list the operating system as “No operating system present, install your own.”

Scuffed, chipped or cracked but screen, keyboard and touchpad still work? Sell as parts-only.

Someone somewhere has an identical laptop to yours and desperately needs a parts-only unit. If your laptop is busted up but the major components are all still functional, sell as a parts-only laptop.

Remember, the most important part of the laptop is the LCD monitor. Why? Because it’s the most expensive component. If selling a parts-only laptop, make sure to really emphasize that point, because were one to purchase a replacement monitor outright, it would cost at least $250 to $400. And no, I’m not kidding. Many times people will buy a parts-only unit just for the screen because they’re hard to come by and are so expensive.

The laptop bag isn’t a selling point

If you have one of those ritzy Targa leather bags, you may think this will add value. It doesn’t because it’s not part of the laptop at all.

In fact you’d be better off selling the bag separately because you’d probably get a better price for it.

Battery dead? That’s OK.

It’s very common that most used laptops have a dead or near-dead battery, so it’s expected. The only thing you have to do is be honest about that when posting for sale. If the battery only holds 15 minutes of charge, state so. If it doesn’t hold any charge at all, state so.

Again, it is expected that most used laptops will have a DOA battery and that it will have to be replaced, so don’t bother putting any cash into a new one because you’ll never get the money back you spent on it.

RAM “maxed” out? That is a selling point.

If the laptop is stocked with as much RAM as it will support, that will increase its value. If the RAM is cheap enough (check www.crucial.com for price), it is worth it to buy a stick – again only if it’s cheap, as in under $40 cheap.

Have the original OS install CD? That is a selling point.

The CD that is most valuable is the Windows OS disc, should you have one. If you do, then yes that is a big selling point because it means the purchaser doesn’t have to buy Windows. All other discs do not matter, save for that one.

Still under warranty? HUGE SELLING POINT.

Even if you have as little as 60 days left on the original warranty, that’s a big-big-big selling point and is very valuable. It gives the buyer confidence that if anything goes wrong, the warranty allows the buyer to have any issues fixed free of charge.

Craigslist or eBay?

The general rule of thumb concerning which to choose is this:

If selling as a running machine, use Craigslist.

If selling parts-only, use eBay.

Local markets will typically pay higher for a complete working machine, because it’s most likely true what you’re selling is a far better deal compared to the local computer shop. eBay is a not-so good choice because there’s too much competition.

The exact opposite is true for parts-only units. Local buyers usually aren’t interested in parts-only laptops because they want 100% running machines, but on eBay there are parts hunters all the time, so your chances of selling your parts-only laptop increase exponentially by using eBay.