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Selling a laptop on Ebay

Evening folks :)

I found on Friday that I have won a laptop (Microsoft Surface Book) through an employee survey thing at work which is awesome but it's massively overpowered for what I need which is basically browsing the web and watching tv/movies so I'm going to sell it.

My dilemma is that I don't know anyone who wants to buy it, this is a laptop which retails for £1700ish and I'd like about £1200ish which seems reasonable...

I have two options which immediately spring to mind, one is CEX which have offered £740 the other being Ebay which I could probably get £1200 from (although I'd lose about £120 in charges) but I don't trust Ebay anymore after being stung :(

Does anyone have any thoughts, tips, guidance, etc? If I did go through Ebay how do I avoid being ripped off because although I've sold through Ebay before it's all been much lower value goods.

Thank for your replies :)
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Comments

  • guestman
    guestman Posts: 191 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    id rather take the CEX money than the ebay money, as the out come is... as least youd get to keep your CEX cash were as on ebay they'll report they never got it, yada yada.... and youll get nothing.




    myself - id sell it on gumtree or a computer forum I visit often. a very large members market and nobody seems to ever get scammed
  • lush_walrus
    lush_walrus Posts: 1,975 Forumite
    What about eBay with cash on collection? But meet somewhere public where they can't steel it from you.
  • pappa_golf
    pappa_golf Posts: 8,895 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    sell on ebay COLLECTION only , payment in cash , no paypal
    Save a Rachael

    buy a share in crapita
  • Hi Guestman,

    Thanks for your reply. I have to admit I'm leaning more towards CEX of the two... I hadn't really considered Gumtree I have to admit, I'm in York and every time I look on there it seems a bit... Dead(?) so I didn't think it would get much visibility.

    This forum sounds interesting though? Which do you use? Can anyone use it though or do you need to have a trust rating or something?
  • Hi Lush,

    I did consider that but I can't help that it would limit my options and market by doing so? I've never done it before but if it was me then I'd certainly not consider anything more than say 30-50 miles away...

    Have you any experience of doing this?

    Thanks,
  • Hi Pappa,

    See my response to Lush above. Have you any experience of selling in person?

    Thanks,
  • guestman
    guestman Posts: 191 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    advertise as collection only and rather than let them buy it, tell them to come and view it first, if they buy it while there then great,


    1. make sure the cash is legit
    2. people still collect items and pay via BT while at your house, this can still be fraud , either stolen cards or they ring there bank and say they never made that transaction


    number 2 isn't made up, ive read about if several times
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 73,409 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    What about eBay with cash on collection? But meet somewhere public where they can't steel it from you.
    pappa_golf wrote: »
    sell on ebay COLLECTION only , payment in cash , no paypal

    Unfortunately this could get expensive for the seller as on ebay you cannot remove the paypal option and insist on cash on collection. There is a sticky thread about this on the ebay boards.

    If OP wants cash then it would have to be Gumtree- but watch for the scams as they are rife, or I would suggest local facebook selling pages.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • Hi Soolin,

    Thanks or your reply.

    I feel a wally for being so wary as I have bought and sold on Ebay many times before now and have a rating of 156 but recent transactions has been a real mix so a big transaction like this has me running scared lol.

    I recently sold a leather jacket only to have tea towels returned to me and a complaint made and in another transaction I bought two gold sovereigns only for them to never materialise but at least in this instance I got the money back.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    edited 11 July 2016 am31 9:44AM
    What about a small ad in your local newspapers? Yes, people still do use that antiquated method;)

    About 6 years ago I sold a brand new MacBook on eBay with no problems whatsoever. The buyer had hundreds of positive feedback comments and I sent it by a fully insured and tracked method. There had been something of a bidding war on it towards the end (I put it on auction with a reserved price) and I was delighted with what I got for it. I paid for the all bells and whistles mailing method myself because I needed the security and I'm glad I did.

    I think, from what I hear from people who've got badly stung, that eBay has gone downhill a lot since then:mad:
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