Your used, unwanted gadgets may still hold some residual value–it’s time to turn them into extra cash!
Selling online has become the norm. And you can be just a few clicks away from selling your old laptop or other device. On the internet, you’ll find several services for tech reselling, and each of them has its benefits, offering various types of payment methods. What’s great about an online buyback program is that you don’t have to deal with listings, negotiations, returns, and other issues you typically encounter on marketplaces like eBay.
Let’s explore the perks and drawbacks of the online reselling platforms and trade-in programs together.
Top Places to Sell a Laptop Online
Some places offer the option of in-store trade-ins in addition to their online platform:
Best Buy
- Payment Methods: Best Buy gift card
- Turnaround Time: Around seven to ten days if using an online trade-in service.
Best Buy offers a way to trade in your pre-owned computer online for a store credit. Aside from laptops, users can also sell their digital cameras, smartphones, game consoles, and other stuff. So, if you want to sell your device and get something newer or different, then Best Buy Trade-in makes a lot of sense.
To get a quote from them, you need to select your specific laptop brand and model, and specify its condition by using the options available online. If you don’t know the exact specs, check out how to find your laptop model number to get help with identifying your laptop. If you agree to trade in, they’ll email you a gift card once you send the item to them. The turnaround time would normally be around two weeks.
We should note that only working gadgets without significant external damage qualify for a Best Buy store credit. If they deem your computer defective, it will be recycled instead.
Gadget Salvation
- Payment Methods: Cash sent through PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, or mailed in the form of a paper check.
- Turnaround Time: 2 to 7 days, depending on the seller’s location and order volume.
It is pretty easy to sell laptops online at the Gadget Salvation site. The company also accepts other electronics, such as gaming consoles, smartphones, smartwatches, etc. It also offers pretty decent cashback, even if the device is non-working.
To sell your pre-owned computer, you need to look up the model in their online database, ensuring it is correctly identified. Then, you’d check the condition of your gadget by selecting one that best describes it: Brand New, Flawless, Good, Fair, or Poor. The same goes for functionality: sellers are asked to specify whether their laptops are fully functional or may have defects. The offer is calculated based on the information the seller provides in real-time.
Once the seller submits the online sale order, they will be emailed a pre-paid USPS shipping label. Note that Gadget Salvation uses carbon-neutral shipping to reduce its carbon footprint. Once the laptop arrives at their location and is inspected to match the details in the seller’s description, which typically takes up to two days, they will send the cash via the method chosen by the seller.
Amazon Trade-in Program
- Payment Methods: Amazon e-Gift Card
- Turnaround Time: 3-10 business days.
Amazon offers a trade-in service online for legible electronics, such as e-readers, TVs, laptops, and more, and pays with an electronic Amazon gift card.
To sell laptops on Amazon, you need to identify their specs, such as storage and RAM size, processor type, and release year, and provide details about your laptop’s condition. Once you enter the required information, Amazon will give an offer. If you’re okay with it, accept it and print the shipping label. It can take up to 10 business days to process your electronics, and the selling time largely depends on your location. If all checks out, Amazon will deposit the agreed-upon amount as a gift card balance on your Amazon Trade-in account. Please also note that there is a chance they will deem your notebook unsellable or defective. In this case, it will be recycled or returned at your request.
Final Thoughts
Which method of selling a laptop online do you prefer and why? Both online sales for cash and trade-ins for credit are great ways to get rid of older electronics while recovering their residual value. Those who want to upgrade would find Best Buy or Amazon Trade-in programs to be the most sensible choices. At the same time, sellers who are interested in extra money (to pay bills, or cover unexpected expenses, etc.) would appreciate an online buyback service, like Gadget Salvation.
