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Simon · 04:05 AM

I'm thinking of selling my rev B 12" PowerBook (bought it November 2003) and getting a new one. However, I'm having trouble estimating a decent resale price. I'll probably be selling it to a relative, so I don't want to rip her off, I just want to ask for an honest and fair price.

Here's the offer:
� 1 GHz G4, 512 KB L2 cache, 133/266 MHz
� 768 MB RAM (256 MB base RAM, 512 MB installed additionally)
� 40GB HD (new and faster 5400 RPM disk installed two months ago)
� Combo
� BT built in
� new battery (bought two months ago)
� original cables, adapters, charger
� 14 months old, no warranty or AppleCare
� impeccable condition (never dropped, no scratches, no dents, screen has no bad pixels)
� original install DVD, Panther CDs
� i paid about $1900 originally

And here's the comparison: a 1.2 Ghz iBook with more RAM and BT module would be roughly $1200 at the AppleStore. The 1.33 GHz 12" PowerBook with some additional RAM would be about $1800.

Would $750 be a fair price to ask for my PowerBook? I'd like to get about that much out of the deal. If $750 is too much, I could throw in an AP card. Would anyone of you Mac-savvy guys here buy it for $750? Is that an honest deal?

Dr.Michael · Jan 31, 2005, 05:35 AM

It is not appropriate to compare the powerbook with an iBook.

I have the same machine (with the slow 60GB hd).
In germany the ebay price is roughly 1100-1200 euro.

So 750 seems to be very cheap. The new Powerbook is 1600$/1579 Euros. And if you sell to a friend you will have the additinal work with lifelong service for the machine :o).
So don't be too cheap!

audvidsvs · Jan 31, 2005, 06:02 AM

Apple themseloves was e=recently selling these for $1099.99 in the special deals section.
These come with a 1 year warranty and otherwise as yours except with the stock 256m memory.

This is a comparision you can use I think.
Also this being a relative you might want to give them a better deal than usual but you also will likely have to support the machine some too. An outright sale to a stranger ,you can often deal and then walk away.

The PB is worth whatever someone is willing to pay.

You can also go to Ebay and research to see what these have sold for recently to get another idea.

$750.00 seems like a great price for the other party to me,I would give you that for it right now.
I would do a little homework before I sold it.

Good Luck

Simon · Jan 31, 2005, 06:38 AM

Originally posted by Dr.Michael:
It is not appropriate to compare the powerbook with an iBook.

Indeed, but if a customer is mainly interested in performance (rather than features or style) the 1.2 Ghz iBook will be the comparable machine.

And after all, I'm selling a used (albeit impeccable) PowerBook that comes with no warranty and no possibility of getting AppleCare. The relative I would sell it to is moving to east Asia so I won't be doing any 'free' support. But if $750 is that cheap, I could increase to maybe $850. As long as it's not a rip off so I won't have to have a bad conscience (she's a young and very nice cousin).

Simon · Jan 31, 2005, 06:43 AM

Originally posted by audvidsvs:
You can also go to Ebay and research to see what these have sold for recently to get another idea.

That's what I did in the first place. But unlike the US or German Ebay, the local Ebay here has only few PowerBooks and they're practically all Tis. That's why I came here to ask.

$750.00 seems like a great price for the other party to me,I would give you that for it right now.

Ok, ok, I might ask for $850.

I would do a little homework before I sold it.

As I said before, I would love to, but the local market here is very small and it's difficult to get the right idea. I figured if the geeks at macnn would pay a certain price for it, my dear cousin won't be getting cheated (she has zero clue, so I can't really ask her what she'd pay for it). That's why I'm basically asking you guys here if you'd pay that much for it.

audvidsvs · Jan 31, 2005, 07:42 AM

Well,
Since I have no clue where you are I am just going by what I know here in the U.S.A.
It might be helpful to share what we are talking about if you want more region specific info.

That said I always consider the point I was making about supporting the thing yourself.If she is a nice,young and clueless cousin then the chances are better I would think thhat once you sell this to her your time with them are just starting.

This may not be a big deal but I would count on spending some time helping get her up to speed.
This wouldn't bother me,in fact it is one of the things I like about having switched a few years ago.
When I was mainly working with PC's I never really thought anything I helped people with would last,just too unpredictable and confusing to get people to understand some windows stuff.

With the Mac I usaully show someone once and they seem to get it and keep it and it always works the same way after that.

In any case if the machine is still solid after the first month or so I would feel OK selling to a relative and there is often more involved than just the price.

Simon · Jan 31, 2005, 07:45 AM

Hhhm. New PowerBooks. How much will that decrease the resale value of my PowerBook?

Randman · Jan 31, 2005, 07:55 AM

Maybe 10%.

Dr.Michael · Feb 3, 2005, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Simon:
... I could increase to maybe $850. As long as it's not a rip off so I won't have to have a bad conscience (she's a young and very nice cousin).

850 is certainly not a rip off.
But I read between the lines that you like your cousin very much and YOU would feel better with 750 than 850, won't you?

Then the price is no question. If 750 would make you both feel great, it is a typical win-win situation

.

iREZ · Feb 3, 2005, 04:01 PM

Compromise $800 seems like the sweet spot. I certainly wouldn't accept that much for my PB and I'm selling the sucker stock with no extra RAM but it does have APX and Applecare for another 2 years, so I'm looking to get at least $1000 for my book but more like $1100 if I could find somebody who actually values Applecare.

amazing · Feb 3, 2005, 08:33 PM

Originally posted by Simon:
Hhhm. New PowerBooks. How much will that decrease the resale value of my PowerBook?

Apple now has a special section within the special section for new 12" 1.33 ghz AlPB, $1299 (ie new PB within the usually-only-refurb special section.) I personally think the speed increase and new trackpad and faster 60 GB 5400 rpm HD, along with iLife 05 makes that price not so great.

After all, Apple has said that they're no longer supplying iLife 05 within the Special Deal section. Bad business decision...

Simon · Feb 4, 2005, 04:11 AM

Well, I think I'm going to try to get $800 or $850. If she sends me some ramen from Japan, I'll give it to her for $800.

Thanks for your help guys.

amazing · Feb 4, 2005, 09:29 AM

Originally posted by Simon:
Well, I think I'm going to try to get $800 or $850. If she sends me some ramen from Japan, I'll give it to her for $800.

Thanks for your help guys.

Actually, if she's in Japan, you should ask for the first picking of the green tea new crop. It's absolutely fantastic. (If you drink green tea?) What passes for green tea here is unrecognizable after you've had some of the new crop.

Simon · Feb 4, 2005, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by amazing:
Actually, if she's in Japan, you should ask for the first picking of the green tea new crop. It's absolutely fantastic. (If you drink green tea?) What passes for green tea here is unrecognizable after you've had some of the new crop.

She'll be going to Japan soon.

I know about the green tea problem. I brought back some real good green tea when I went to Japan last time. Hardly any left now. Thanks for the reminder. I'll ask her to send me some of that too.