What Is the Trade in Value of My Old Computer?
Age, model, condition and technical specifications will affect the trade-in value of your old computer. Remember that best value does not always mean the best price. Shipping your old computer may or may not be included in the trade-in value. The same goes for securely deleting all personal information. Some places allow you to trade in only for credit, while others pay cash. Research options thoroughly before trading in your old computer.
Other People Are Reading
-
Condition
-
Some trade-in facilities take only computers that work while others will repair computers with easily fixed flaws, such as damaged power sources. Scratches and other physical flaws will reduce your trade-in value, as will broken keys, laptop hinges and peripherals such as optical drives. If you use a trade-in venue's online calculator to estimate trade-in value, be as accurate as you can when noting the condition. The company will examine your computer when they receive it, and you may end up with less money than you expect if you inflate the quality assessment.
Technical Specifications
-
The more modern your computer's inner workings are, the better your trade-in value will be. Newer processors and higher RAM and hard-drive storage will fetch better prices than processors with speeds that were considered high-end only three to five years ago. Hardware is more important than software for trade-in value, as the trade-in company can update the software for minimal cost.
-
Trade-in Options
-
Check the trade-in value offered by the store where you originally purchased the computer or look into the manufacturer's trade-in program online before looking at generic computer trade-in options. The store and manufacturer are more likely to give you better value or a credit you will want to use. You also don't have to worry about scams if you opt to work with an internationally known established brand. Taking your computer in to a physical store also saves you on shipping costs, and you can get an exact quote and even your payment right away.
Considerations
-
Inventory all your accessories when you are determining the trade-in value for your computer. Extra batteries, the original manufacturer's AC adaptor and any manufacturer-issued recovery disks can increase your value. Clean your computer, both physically by wiping down the outside and internally by deleting any personal files before you trade it in. The physical cleaning can increase the perceived value of your computer for trades, while the internal cleaning helps protect your information.
Other Options
-
Many computers have no trade-in value. If you cannot get trade-in credit or cash, you can still try to sell your computer directly to a new user. If your computer works, list it in local or online classifieds. You can also get some value by donating your working computer to a nonprofit organization. In this case, you will not get money but you can deduct the computer's value from your taxes.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit computers in aggressive environment image by frog from Fotolia.com
