There aren't many things better than unboxing a brand new laptop. Ripping the plastic off the box, opening it up, and laying your eyes on your new purchase for the first time is exciting and fulfilling.
What happens, though, when your laptop breaks? If it's fairly new, the financial hit you could take can be a hard pill to swallow. There has to be a way to recoup some of your money, right?
In this article, we'll go over the best places to sell your laptop. There are a plethora of websites and stores that will happily buy your broken electronics, no matter what condition they're in.
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Preparing To Sell Your Laptop
Before you hop online to sell your broken laptop, there are a few things you need to do to prepare it for sale.
Assessing the Damage
How damaged your laptop is will obviously determine if it's repairable or needs replacing altogether.
If you decide to sell, here are the key specs you need to assess before you ready your laptop for sale.
You have to list the status of these characteristics in your product description. Otherwise, you may be stuck with a complaint, return, and a bill for shipping both ways, plus you'll have to issue the buyer a refund as well.
Keep in mind that testing some of these aspects might not be possible depending on how damaged your laptop is. You may have to visit a computer specialist who can test it using a peripheral display that can link to your laptop's internal specs.
Collect Everything You Want to Sell
Before you ship it off, you need to collect up all the accessories you want to sell with your laptop. It's absolutely essential that you include the charging cable, even if it's broken still include it with the laptop. However, if you don't have it, this is definitely going to impact the price you can get when you sell it.
Also, include other accessories you wish to sell along with your laptop. These can increase the overall value that your package can fetch at market, so make sure you include as many different things as you're willing to part with.
These can include a laptop case, screen protector, headphones, USB stick, external hard drive, or any other peripheral devices you don't need anymore that might boost the selling price.
Wipe Your Data
If you're selling or even donating a broken laptop, you need to wipe the hard drive and all of your personal information from the internal storage. However, you might not be able to access the hard drive if it's severely damaged. In this case, you may need to visit a computer specialist to have him or her access the data and wipe it from a peripheral device.
In addition, if you're also including an external hard drive or USB stick in the sale, be sure to wipe the data on it as well.
This is one way people often slip up when selling their broken electronics, and data thieves will comb the internet for broken laptops for sale to access the data inside them. You might sell your broken laptop for some money and then lose all of your hard-earned savings if the wrong person gets their hands on your personal data.
Best Places To Sell Your Broken Laptop
Without further ado, here are the best places to sell your laptop, no matter if it's broken or in perfect condition.
1. Sellbroke.com
Sellbroke.com is one of the easiest ways to sell your broken laptop online. The company specializes in expertly assessing a laptop's damage and giving a price quote that is fair for the seller and the buyer.
The Way It Works
The website has a comprehensive list of laptops that they're willing to buy from users. Pick your laptop from the catalog and select its overall condition from Like New, Used, and Used with Defects. Your broken laptop will have defects, so tick the boxes that apply to the specific things that are wrong.
After you've done that, you'll get an instant quote from the website's algorithm. Next, print off a pre-paid shipping label and box up your laptop. Once you've shipped it to their offices, Sellbroke's computer specialists will assess the damage.
If the condition matches what you described on the website, then you'll get paid out via Paypal, Google Pay, or a BOA company check as soon as possible. However, if the damage is more or less extensive than described, you'll receive an email listing the things wrong with the computer and how it will affect the selling price.
How Much to Expect
Estimated Sale Price for Apple Macbook 8.1 12-inch (2015) - $42 with a faulty battery and water damage
Estimated Sale Price for Microsoft Surface Book 2 Core i5 8th Gen 128GB SSD 13.5-inch - $10 with a faulty battery and water damage
2. Getcashforlaptop.com
Getcashforlaptop.com is another easy way to sell your broken laptop online. They have a similar process to Sellbroke and offer nearly identical prices for broken laptops of any make or model.
The Way It Works
Pick out your laptop from the extensive list of available models for purchase. You'll have to select the cosmetic condition from Excellent, Average, or Poor, then select the specific defects that affect the computer's performance.
Next, you'll be prompted for your email, where the company will send your customized quote. If you accept their offer, print the shipping label to send out your laptop via USPS or FedEx.
Computer specialists will assess the damage and determine if it matches the description you provided in the previous steps. If it does, then you'll receive a payout via Paypal, Zelle, Google Pay, or Venmo.
If the condition doesn't match your description, the company will send you another email with the exact damage that they encountered and how it will affect your payout. You can choose to accept the updated quote or have your laptop shipped back. You may need to pay for the shipping in this case.
How Much to Expect
Estimated Sale Price for Apple Macbook 8.1 12-inch (2015) - $40 with a defective battery
Estimated Sale Price for Microsoft Surface Book 2 Core i5 8th Gen 128GB SSD 13.5-inch - $10 with a defective battery
3. eBay
eBay - At this point, if you haven't heard of eBay, then you may have lived under a rock for the last twenty-plus years. It was one of the first online resources for selling used electronics to ever grace the internet, and it's still prevalent to this day.
The Way It Works
The process for listing your broken laptop on eBay is straightforward. All you need to do is create a product listing, select the relevant categories for it to show up through their search engine, and wait until the bids roll in.
If you don't want to wait for a bidding war to conclude and would rather get the sale done and over with, then you can list a "buy it now" price that people can pay immediately. However, you may end up losing out on some money. You'll never know how much you can actually get if you don't try!
The key to selling on eBay is putting time and effort into the listing description. Upselling the good qualities of your broken laptop is one of the best things to do if you want to sell it quickly for a decent price.
Unless you're listing more than 200 products per month, you won't have to worry about an "insertion fee," a small charge for creating a listing. However, eBay does charge up to 14.35% and $0.30 per sale, so you will take a bit of a hit on the final selling price.
The final payment will be deposited directly into the bank account linked to your eBay account.
How Much to Expect
Since the "buy it now" price is up to you, you might be able to get more than the quotes generated by specialized electronics websites. Also, bidding means the selling price will vary significantly from listing to listing, so there's no way we can give you an accurate estimation of how much you can get for your broken laptop.
4. Amazon
Amazon gives sellers the ability to list any products on the website. It's a great way to sell your broken laptop because it has far more daily users than many other websites listed here combined.
The Way It Works
You'll need to set up a seller's account on Amazon before you can list your broken laptop. Users can browse your product description and pay the price that you list. It's useful to browse similar listings to get an idea of how much your broken laptop might sell for.
Also, Amazon offers a "trade-in" option for many used electronics. You can exchange your laptop for an Amazon gift card which you can use to purchase a new laptop, or anything you want, for that matter. However, Amazon might not be willing to buy a broken laptop from you.
When you receive an Amazon gift card, there are tons of websites that may be willing to buy it off you for cash. Be careful, though, because there are many scammers out there who may rip you off.
How Much to Expect
You might be able to fetch a reasonable price for your broken laptop, especially if the buyer wants a specific part that is working in yours that they can make use of. However, the selling prices may vary depending on the day, condition, and buyer, so it's better to browse the currently available listings to get an idea of how much you can expect.
5. Facebook Marketplace/Facebook Groups
Facebook Marketplace/Facebook Groups isn't just a way to connect with your long-lost high school crush. If you go into the app's sidebar, you'll find Marketplace, an incredibly useful tool for selling your broken electronic device.
Not only that, but there are a plethora of Facebook groups that may be interested in your broken laptop. It's best to list your item on both Marketplace and in as many groups as possible to get the largest number of people interested.
The Way It Works
Unless you change your location in the app, you'll most likely be selling your broken laptop to locals in your area. That means you won't have the same potential buyer-base as a more prominent website like Amazon or eBay, but you will be able to negotiate your price on an individual basis.
To list your broken laptop on Marketplace, click on the Marketplace icon and then select "Create a new listing." Select the categories that apply to your item and take a few pictures that accurately depict the laptop's condition.
Next, make a title for your listing and create a product description. Set your asking price (this might not be what you get in the end) and post it to the Marketplace and any buy/sell group you want it to show up in.
How Much to Expect
There aren't any fees for listing your broken laptop on the platform. In the end, you could get way more on Marketplace than other websites. On the other hand, you might get less. Try to up your bargaining game before engaging with any potential buyers, and the likelihood that you get your asking price will be much better.
6. Best Buy
Some people love Best Buy, while other people hate it. No matter how you feel, they provide a great way to "sell" your used or broken laptop.
The Way It Works
Visit the Best Buy website and click on the "Trade-in Program." Go through the steps and select the specifications of your laptop, and the website will generate an estimated trade-in price that they will take it for.
How Much to Expect
A mid or low-level laptop with severe damage might not be worth anything at all. A high-quality laptop with severe damage might be worth less than $100 depending on what exactly is broken. However, you will receive a Best Buy gift card if you accept the trade-in price. You can then sell this for cash but typically for less than it's worth.
7. Craigslist
Craigslist may have developed a less than stellar reputation over the last few years, but it's still a great way to sell your broken laptop to locals in your area.
The Way It Works
Firstly, visit the Craigslist homepage and select "post to classifieds." Make sure your location is where you would like to post. You have the option of posting in different locations, but this may complicate the exchange once you sell the laptop.
Next, create your product description. Always upsell the good qualities of the broken laptop. However, it isn't advisable to lie as you may get flagged on the platform and be banned from selling more products. Select the category you wish to list under. For broken laptops, you should choose electronics or something similar.
You have the option to add images to your post, so try to take enough to give the buyer a good idea of what defects to expect and the overall quality of the laptop.
An important thing to remember is that many Craigslist transactions happen in person. You can agree on shipping the product, but meeting in person is a popular way to ensure the product is up to the advertised standard and ensure you receive payment for the transaction. You need to take the necessary safety precautions, so we recommend going to the meeting with a friend.
How Much to Expect
You can list your broken laptop for any price you'd like to sell it for on Craigslist. However, it's better to browse similar product listings to get an idea of how the market for broken laptops looks. In general, don't expect more than $100 for a properly broken laptop, especially if key components aren't working correctly.
Conclusion
Using the websites we've listed here, you should have plenty of ways to sell your broken laptop. Each website has specific benefits and drawbacks that you should take into consideration.
For example, Sellbroke might not fetch the best price for your broken electronic device, but Craigslist carries the risk of meeting the buyer in person. Always think about what you might be comfortable with doing and make your decision accordingly.
Andrew White is the founder of TechGearoid, a leading technology review & information website that is designed to help consumers make better decisions when it comes to their IT purchases. As a specialist tech writer (nerd) with over 10 years of experience, he enjoys writing about everything there is to do with modern technology & the newest market innovations. When he isn’t providing value for his readers, he’s usually drinking coffee or at the beach. Andrew lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and family.