Is The Used MacBook Market Losing Its Mind?

LL3G3ND on 20/09/2025 - 11:09

Hi all, I've got a question that's been bugging me, and I'm genuinely curious about your opinions. Am I alone in thinking that used MacBook prices have gotten completely out of hand?

I've been looking at a few second-hand listings lately, and I'm seeing prices for a 1-6 month old MacBook that are either the same as or even more expensive than buying it brand new from a retailer like Officeworks.

For example, a new MacBook Air M4 can be around $1,447 AUD, and sometimes you can get it even cheaper with gift cards dropping the price below $1,400. Yet, I'm seeing used ones with a few months of use listed for $1,400, $1,500, or even more.

When you buy new, you get a full warranty and the peace of mind that comes with it. When you buy used, you're taking a risk on battery health, potential hidden damage, hassle of dealing with strangers, security issue, limited warranty…. etc.

When I offer $1,100 for a used MacBook Air M4, whose retail price is around $1,380, my offer is considered a lowball!!!!

The above is just an example. Also, used MacBook Air M2s are being offered for more than $1,100, and M3s for $1,500 and more sometimes, for the same storage capacity!

So, am I missing something here? What's your take?

Thank you

Computing Apple Computer Laptop

Comments

  • nubix on 20/09/2025 - 11:13
    +18

    why's it bugging you? just move on

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 20/09/2025 - 11:17
    +29

    Just… buy new?

    1400 like you say vs 1100 offer… man I’d rather just pay the extra for a brand new unit no scuffs or damage, full warranty and a perfect battery? Iunno maybe this is why I won’t be retiring till age 99

    • topherboi on 20/09/2025 - 11:34
      +4

      Just… buy new?

      They can't, because they want one now and it's not available for that price new at the moment.

      I.e. they want to have their cake and eat it too.

      • spc12go on 20/09/2025 - 15:40
        +2

        There is no lack or shortage of MacBook.

    • Thinkscape on 21/09/2025 - 08:30
      +2

      You’re planning on retiring at 99? 😮
      Jealous! What’s your secret?

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 21/09/2025 - 09:10
        +2

        The secret is to die the day after

        (Or die the day before for comedic effect)
        ‘Damn.. 1 day from retirement…’

  • nea ozb on 20/09/2025 - 11:18
    +5

    I felt the opposite trying to sell my 2018 Intel MacBook Pro in early 2023. Paid ~4,500 for it, couldn't sell it for $1000… checked other listings which had it closer to $500. Ultimately I gave it to a friend for free. It seems like the M-series are holding their price much longer.

    • idalla on 20/09/2025 - 11:26
      +14

      consumer awareness about the enormous advances of the apple silicon MacBooks vs crappy intel CPUs is very high for a subject otherwise so technical. intel brought it upon themselves!

    • liquornoodlescabbage on 20/09/2025 - 13:42
      +6

      You did well to get $1000, Intel MacBooks are rubbish compared to the M-series.

    • watwatwat on 21/09/2025 - 03:08

      You could probably have sold it for $800? Of which I still consider that to be good. It's a testment to the quality of Apple products that a laptop that's used for 6 years still worth a decent amount of money.

    • H3R34TH4C0MM3NTS on 22/09/2025 - 06:55
      +1

      Just keep it and use it as a retro gaming machine, it will probably run everything up to game cube pretty well

  • zoombie on 20/09/2025 - 11:27
    +13

    this is just silly!

    the RRP of macbook air m4 base model is $1699, what you doing is applying the ozbargain mindset of whats the cheapest when it's on sale, applying discounted gift card, some other trick to get to the lowest price possible then you discount it from that price

    did it occur to you that most ppl don't do this? they paid the $1699 so yeah $1100 for a current model m4 is low ball if the owner paid $1699.

    • linkser on 20/09/2025 - 11:35
      +1

      Dunno, the sub $1500 price for an M4 is not a crazy rare deal that requires you to do a lot of research. It was on for this price a couple of times now at JB, HN, Officeworks & Amazon.

      And on top, you always get 10% discount with the Apple Edu store which also a good amount of people have access to and results in like ~$1550

      The ozbargaining only kicks in for me, if you buy discounted GCs, use flybuys etc to push the price below 1400.

    • snapper17 on 20/09/2025 - 21:41

      its not silly.
      From a buyers perspective I consider how much it costs me to buy new vs second hand and then work out which is better for me

      If a buyer buys a new ev car for example at 50k then 3 monhs later the dealer sells them on special for 40k, I will not care that the seller of the used car paid 50k.
      I will consider offering what its worth to me.

      The offer of $1100 was more then reasonable.

    • gromit on 22/09/2025 - 11:54

      What the owner paid for it is irrelevant on the second hand market, all that matters is what the buyer can purchase new or second hand for from others.

  • JimmyF on 20/09/2025 - 11:53
    +2

    I've been looking at a few second-hand listings lately, and I'm seeing prices for a 1-6 month old MacBook that are either the same as or even more expensive than buying it brand new from a retailer like Officeworks.

    Pretty common with a lot of things these days. 2nd hand card are similar, but for them there is a wait for new, but a Macbook you can just walk in and buy one.

    When I offer $1,100 for a used MacBook Air M4, whose retail price is around $1,380, my offer is considered a lowball!!!!

    Just buy new and be done with it.

  • McMaferMur on 20/09/2025 - 12:14
    +3

    because the 2nd sellers are delusional they only check how much they bought and dont care how much NOW and get angry when we send the link for brand new in the shop

  • Stealtho on 20/09/2025 - 12:42
    +1

    I got a 2 week old Sky blue 13" M4 16/256 for the Mrs for $1K, 3 weeks ago, FBM, just gotta find the right seller who needs the cash, bit of luck involved too.
    Sold the old M1 for $300 same day, was marked and scratched up on the screen though, $700 change over was a steel.

  • Switchblade88 on 20/09/2025 - 13:29
    -6

    It might be controversial but the people buying Macbooks are skewed towards rich, pretentious snobs who upgrade every 12 months and think that their devices hold value well, and don't look at RRP when buying.

    Then you have to try and buy said device from a pretentious snob.

    • snapper17 on 20/09/2025 - 21:49

      apple are now selling some products such as laptops and mac mini for a reasonable price.
      In the past they were very expensive 3-4k so yes I agree it felt like the snobs just bought macbooks.
      Now around $1400 for a new laptop that will last at least 5 years is a great deal for anyone.

      I bought the mac mini m2 for around 1300. Then they released the m4 which I got for 900.
      So the value of my old mini dropped way more then it would have had the m4 of been the same price.

      The new iphone 17 base model has alot packed into it that it now suits much more people and competes harder with google pixel and samsung galaxys

      • Randolph Duke on 22/09/2025 - 08:35
        +1

        apple are now selling some products such as laptops and mac mini for a reasonable price.

        In the past they were very expensive 3-4k so yes I agree it felt like the snobs just bought macbooks.

        What's your definition for "now"? It's not like cheaper hardware is a new Apple strategy. Mac Mini and MacBook Air have always been very reasonably priced and certainly never started at $3k

    • ThithLord on 22/09/2025 - 08:45

      Impotent Apple-hatred rejuvenates my breath. Stay mad.

  • watwatwat on 21/09/2025 - 03:12
    +1

    what you doing is applying the ozbargain mindset of whats the cheapest when it's on sale, applying discounted gift card, some other trick to get to the lowest price possible

    This earlier comment is the root cause here, but it's not a bad thing.

    ie. the ozbargain style of purchasing is so good that it makes it a stupid decision to buy second hand.

    I got a macbook air M2 for $900 brand new on ozbargain a week ago. And yet cashconverts has the same model on gumtree for $1300 and it's used with scratches and dents on it.

    So for people on this website, buying new is a great idea and also comes with warranty. And also there is no chance of being scammed or being put in dangerous situations, which is possible when dealing in second hand goods.

  • 2esc on 21/09/2025 - 09:47
    +2

    Just because these people advertising secondhand at higher than expected prices doesnt mean they are actually selling at those prices. Are they sitting there unsold? Or have they sold after a buyer has made a lower offer?

  • Noblejoker on 21/09/2025 - 14:04

    It's a sunk cost problem
    If you buy it at full retail on release for $1699 then try to sell it 12mths later you want 80% of RRP so $1300+
    Any true OzB would not have paid more than $1400 and wouldn't pay much more than $1K used
    Same people are not over what the used market prices are - they buy new
    It's a mindset

  • star-ggg on 21/09/2025 - 22:22

    How long have you monitored prices for? One thing to consider is the ads you see are the ones that aren't actually selling and it might be there's a lot of demand for Macbooks that are priced better so they get snapped up quick.

  • IcySpicyStew on 21/09/2025 - 23:04
    -2

    2nd hand macs smell desperado mac fan

    you'd save more money with a pc and get more done

    • ferry594 on 22/09/2025 - 06:33
      +1

      Depends what for. Desktop? Definitely. Laptop? The vast majority of non-mac laptops are absolute garbage.

  • magnitude on 22/09/2025 - 00:01
    +1

    ppl trying to sell their old garmin watch for 75% of the rrp are infuriating for this same reason..

    • watwatwat on 22/09/2025 - 21:03

      And I've found this for macbooks (and probably others), people calling stuff "as new" when it has been used for a year. That is heavily second hand.

      I would call "as new" or "like new" as if you open the packaging and have never used it.

  • gromit on 22/09/2025 - 11:38

    There are always people with ridiculous ideas of what second hand gear is worth. secondhand macs no longer have a premium resale value, paid $1000 for a macbook pro M3 for my sister earlier this year. You just have to be patient and look around.

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