[Guide] How to buy a used Mac and not screw it up

Buying an Apple computer, unlike mobile devices, is quite expensive and not everyone can afford it. Most Mac users begin their journey to the Apple world with an iPhone or iPad, embrace the Apple philosophy and ecosystem, and ripen to buy the right computer. But what if the budget is limited and you really want a Mac? There is a way out - the secondary market. Buying a used computer, like other complex and expensive electronics, comes with a lot of nuances that you will learn about in this guide.

I will describe the process of buying online and then forwarding by courier service, as it involves more steps. If you will be buying a Mac from hand to hand, just skip the extra steps.

Why is this needed?

As mentioned above, buying a Mac from your hands can save you a lot of money by expanding the list of available models, or even making it possible to buy a Mac, rather than a regular PC or laptop, with a small budget.

Who needs it?

Most often, people buy Macs on the secondary market when they want to get acquainted with OS X. Many people do not want to spend money on a new computer, fearing that it will not work for them. Another common scenario is buying a used Mac for iOS development. The developer can give preference to other brands and operating systems, but to create applications for Apple gadgets you need a Mac. Otherwise, people buy used Macs when they want to save money or invest in a pre-owned, but more powerful Mac.

Where to begin

Model selection

You probably already know which Mac you want to buy, but if you have not decided yet, then start from the form factor - desktop (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro) or mobile (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro).

I will not go into trivial details, I think you yourself know what will suit you best for your tasks and use case. I will only say that in the case of laptops, preference should be given to models no older than two years (if you do not pursue the goal of saving as much as possible), after all, the hardware becomes outdated very quickly (OS X is becoming more and more demanding), and in the case of a laptop, you should count on upgrades especially not necessary. Also consider the wear and tear of the battery, the high cost of replacing it, and the difficulty of finding the original.

The best option is last year's or the generation before last. These Macs remain quite productive and feel good on the current version of OS X. Of course, there is nothing wrong with buying a five-year-old Mac at a good price, but in this case, get ready to work not on the most recent version of OS X and the fact that it autonomy will be at most a couple of hours.

Price monitoring

Taking into account the rise in prices due to the fall of the ruble, the cost of used Macs, as well as new ones, increased. Apple equipment is a fairly liquid product and prices for models of previous generations are declining slowly. There is a certain variation in prices between generations and small fluctuations, depending on the condition, equipment and upgrades carried out by the previous owner.

When searching, do not focus on offers with underpriced prices, which, with rare exceptions when the seller urgently needs money, are scams of scammers. Look at the cost of similar offers, and compare it to the price of a new Mac.

Be aware of regional differences when considering options. "Gray" Macs with a US keyboard are cheaper, while the official RS / A models have a higher price tag. American versions may have ugly keyboard stickers or engravings. Actually, there is nothing wrong with that, but such models should be cheaper.

Also consider the cost of installed upgrades. For example, it is better to give preference to a Mac with an already installed SSD or expanded RAM than a “stock” model, especially if, all other things being equal, the difference in price between them is small. In any case, you will have to "pump" your Mac later, and taking into account the increased prices, it will be a pretty penny.

Choosing a place of purchase

There are many places where you can buy a used Mac. The most basic of them are message boards (Avito, OLX), auctions (Molotok, Aukro), specialized forums and communities in social networks, as well as local Internet flea markets in your city.

From my own experience I can say that the highest prices are at auctions. In terms of security, this is the best option as you can see the seller's reputation and credit history - the opinions of other buyers, the number of sales and the percentage of positive reviews. That is why sellers at auctions raise the price a little, knowing that users are ready to overpay, having received some guarantees.

Ad portals are good with a large number of offers, you can find literally everything there. Sellers are attracted by a simpler sale procedure and less responsibility compared to auctions. This, in turn, increases the number of fraudsters who set up their nets and catch gullible citizens looking for low prices on them.

Profile communities, in principle, are good for everyone - there will be no overpriced, there are other users who will help the new buyer, as well as identify potential swindlers.

A big plus with local internet flea markets is that you can check your Mac before you buy it and arrange for a moneyback in case of any problems. The only downside is a small number of offers, especially if you live in a small town.

Purchase

Seller choice

Choosing a seller is a very important point of purchase, so pay special attention to him. Most purchases are made online, but even if you are looking for an option to buy in your city, you will still be doing it via the Internet.

The most important thing for a seller is his reputation. This concept combines various components that differ depending on the place of purchase, but the most basic of them are:

Registration date … It is possible that the seller sells the Mac on a new site for himself and was registered there a week ago. But what is the likelihood of this happening? That's right, it tends to zero. We buy and sell a bunch of things, which obliges us to have an account on one or another trading platform and the “experience” of a seller who can be trusted should be at least a year.
Reviews … The ability to leave reviews is not everywhere, but it is, and you should definitely look through them, check for negative reviews and their number. Also pay attention to how many reviews were received per sale and how many per purchase.
Number of sales … In addition, the number of successfully sold lots is also important, from which the reputation is formed. It is logical to give preference to a seller who has thousands of sales, rather than one or two. And further. Do not be lazy to open the last lots of the seller and check what he sold before - maybe he got 1000 feedbacks selling beer caps, and now he wants to crank up a scam with an expensive iMac Retina 5K.

Clarification of details

Do not hesitate to bombard the seller with a bunch of questions, after all, the Mac is a very expensive thing and it will be sad if some unpleasant moment is revealed after the purchase. It is also useful for identifying fraudsters - if, after your questions, the seller behaves suspiciously or avoids answering, this is a sure sign that it is better not to contact him.

You are in your right, so feel free to ask for more detailed information, detailed photos of scratches, dents and other controversial things. By how much the seller will be tuned in to the answers, you can form an opinion about his decency and honesty.

Performance check, s / n

Each Mac has a model code and an identifier, which makes it easy to find all the information about it. For example, the latest 11-inch 128GB MacBook Air has a model code MD711, the identifier MacBookAir6, 1. Most often, the model code is used. It is convenient to search for the Mac you need and compare the characteristics. If businesslike sellers indicate only him in the description, and this code does not tell you anything, the code can be punched on the Internet or use special utilities for this. I like the free Mactracker, which contains information about all Apple hardware and software products and exists in versions for iOS and OS X.

The serial number is also very important and the seller should provide you with it. His refusal will be a reason for you to believe that he is hiding something, because by the serial number you can check the date of purchase and the balance of the warranty, as well as find out if the Mac has been restored.

Payment

Final price

Please be aware that even if the seller did not indicate a bargaining opportunity in the description, they may still agree to revise the final price. The chances increase if you have compelling arguments, which can be the external condition, battery wear, performance, lack of necessary upgrades, boxes, documents and other important details.

Payment method

Of course, the most preferred method of payment for you is the transfer of money after the desired acquisition is in your hands. If we are talking about an online purchase, then this is cash on delivery (payment upon receipt). You will have to pay extra for it to the courier service, but it will be calmer this way.

If you trust the seller, perhaps making a purchase on the recommendation of friends, or trust thousands of reviews from previous buyers, then you can choose prepayment. In this case, you transfer the agreed amount of money in a convenient way for you (most often a transfer to a bank card), after which the seller sends you the purchase.

Guarantees

It is definitely worth negotiating guarantees. If the seller agrees to give you at least a little time to check the Mac or moneyback, then in most cases everything should be fine with him. Otherwise, you need to be more careful and perhaps even refuse the services of this seller.

Delivery

Choice of delivery method

You shouldn't skimp on delivery, at least for such expensive purchases you shouldn't choose the cheapest option. It is compulsory to have insurance that covers cases of damage or loss of a precious parcel. Russian Post, I think, it is better not to trust such things and use the services of EMS or regional delivery services. Ukrainian State Post is a little quicker, but it has a lot of affordable alternatives that offer higher quality services.

Insurance

As mentioned above, insurance is required, and for the full amount of the purchase. When sending, the seller can evaluate the parcel, indicating any value. This service costs money and depends on the amount of insurance, so you may be offered to save money by insuring the shipment, say, 50% of the cost. Do not agree, this is just the case when it is better to overpay and be calmer.

Payment for delivery

Usually, the shipping costs are borne by the buyer, and even if the seller indicates that the shipment will be at his expense, the shipping cost is most often included in the price of the goods. This nuance can be negotiated and if you pay for the delivery - as a bargain, you can ask to drop a small amount that will cover your expenses.

Precautionary measures

Even if the seller turned out to be a very polite and decent person when communicating, it is better to play it safe and take some precautions. To protect yourself from substituting a Mac, when you see one computer in the photo and in the description, and when you receive a completely different one, you can request serial numbers from the seller and then check them at the courier service office. Ask to send you a serial number, as well as a photo of it on the screen and on the device itself.

Receiving

Preparation

To run tests of the Mac's internal components, you will need to have an installation disc or a USB flash drive with any modern version of OS X (in case the Mac's internal drive is formatted or there is no OS on it). You can also take a USB flash drive with you to check USB ports, headphones and any Bluetooth device to check it (even an iPhone will do).

Checking the status

External state … Examine your Mac carefully for external damage, comparing it to the description provided by the retailer. Check for dents, for MacBooks for corners, and for the alignment of the lid and body when closed. If you move your hand and feel that the cover has "slid" outward or inward, this may indicate displacement during the fall or incorrect adjustment of the hinges when replacing the display. Also pay attention to the smoothness of closing the lid and the absence of extraneous sounds (crunch, squeaks). By carefully looking at the screws on the back cover, you can determine whether they were unscrewed and judge the intervention or repair.

Tests

Be sure to run the built-in Apple Hardware test (hold the D key while turning on), which will tell you about internal component problems, if any. This test is also valuable in that it will show us the true parameters of the Mac (processor, memory, disk, etc.), unlike the "System Information", the AHT data cannot be changed. This will save you from buying a Mac in a minimal configuration disguised as a top model. A quick test will take 2-3 minutes, but if you have time, it is better to run a full diagnostic (30-50 minutes), however, you will need an outlet.

After running AHT, turn on your Mac and check the operation of all devices:

Display and dead pixels … On a white background with maximum brightness, carefully inspect the display - it should not have highlights, yellow spots and "broken" (unlit) pixels.
Keyboard … Also check the uniformity of the keyboard backlight (for MacBooks) and its brightness control. The keys themselves also do not interfere with inspecting, checking their response - they must be pressed clearly and not "stick". You can create a new document in TextEdit and walk through all the keys by typing qwerty …
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth … It is easy to check wireless interfaces by connecting to them. If you don't have Wi-Fi at hand, you can use iPhone's tethering mode. Bluetooth is also easy to check with an iPhone - you just need to turn it on for detection and find it through a search on the Mac.
Speakers, microphone, camera … These devices can be checked immediately if you make a FaceTime or Skype call (check Wi-Fi at the same time). If this is not possible, then just open the built-in PhotoBooth application, record a video in it, and then watch it.
USB and headphone jacks … Bring a USB stick and headphones with you to help you check the corresponding connectors.
Battery, MagSafe adapter … The battery status, as well as information about other internal components, can be obtained from the System Profiler ( - About This Mac - Learn More - System Report) by opening the Power Options section. We are interested in the number of cycles, which is directly related to the battery life. Typically, up to 500 cycles, its capacity does not drop, but in the region of 600–700 it begins to decrease. Apple speaks of a service life of 1000 cycles, but if you buy a MacBook with more than 500, you can safely ask for a discount, since it will need to be replaced in the future, and it is not cheap. Also check the charging adapter - whether it is charging, is there any damage to the cable, the presence of an extension cord. This accessory is also not cheap, so in case of any nuances, you can drop the price.
Firmware password … The thing is quite rare, but I will still mention it. This is an additional layer of password protection that blocks access to boot options and, as a result, makes it impossible to reinstall the system and boot it at all - if you do not know the password. It is not reset or treated in any way. Generally. If, when you turn on the Mac, you see a "lock" and an input field - this is it. Under no circumstances should you buy such a Mac under any pretext.

Purchase at a meeting

Support group and money transfer

When buying a Mac from your hands at a meeting, for safety reasons, it is better to come to it with one of your friends, preferably familiar with Macs. You can play it safe and give the money to a friend who will be there and will bring it at the right time. It is, of course, better to meet in a crowded, well-lit place with Wi-Fi and an outlet (ideally).

Seller details

It does not hurt, with mutual consent, to draw up a simple sales contract or a receipt indicating the passport details of the seller and the buyer, for the peace of mind of both parties. Not every seller will agree to this, but if this is important to you, feel free to ask for it.

Pros and cons of buying a used Mac

The biggest, fattest plus in buying a used Mac is cost savings. By picking the right moment and monitoring the market well, you can find great deals that would not fit into your budget when buying a new computer. This is the most important advantage and it justifies all the troubles.

Minus, perhaps, only one - the complexity of the procedure and a high probability of making a mistake in the absence of experience. You can run into scammers who will sell you a defective or refurbished Mac, or even lose money altogether. If you do decide to buy a used Mac, keep in mind the possible consequences.

conclusions

And yet, despite the potential difficulties and a bunch of nuances, people buy on the secondary market both old (inexpensive) and modern, very expensive Macs. If you live in a metropolis or have experience with online shopping and are computer savvy or have friends like that, there is no reason to pass up the opportunity to buy a good Mac at an affordable price. Apple technology is very reliable and becomes obsolete much faster than physically. A Mac that no longer meets the requirements of a professional will serve you faithfully for many years to come.

Hopefully this guide will clarify some of the details and dispel any doubts and prejudices about buying Macs from your hands. If you have any questions, ask in the comments. Happy shopping!