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Wouter Groeneveld 2022-02-21 09:35:27 +01:00
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content/post/2022/02/on-trying-to-sell-a-laptop.md
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@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ My now ten year old 2012 MacBook Air got replaced last year [with a new M1 MacBo
Since then, it has been used sparingly---sometimes as a backup internet browser. Last month, I decided to finally get rid of it. How does one sell second hand electronics? Through eBay, of course! Well, not really. As I was trying to create a new "for sale" product page, eBay kept on spitting errors at me with regards to the price. After more than an hour of trying (!!), I finally found an obscure page explaining that most accounts can't sell articles for more than `€10` per month.
Wait, what? My eBay account is ancient, and it has hundreds of `A+++` style feedback records. I would have to "request a higher selling limit" or something similar. I was completely fine with having to reserve a percentage to eBay, but this is just ridiculous. I was forced to start the bidding at less than `€10`. That would mean that if I wanted to hit `€100`, I'd have to rely on sheer luck. Perhaps only one bidder would show up and get lucky. I eventually published it, but retracted the item after an hour. This didn't feel right.
Wait, what? My eBay account is ancient, and it has hundreds of `A+++` style feedback records. I would have to "request a higher selling limit" or something similar. I was completely fine with having to share a small cut with eBay, but this is just ridiculous. I was forced to start the bidding at less than `€10`. That would mean that if I wanted to hit `€100`, I'd have to rely on sheer luck. Perhaps only one bidder would show up and get lucky. I eventually published it, but retracted the item after an hour. This didn't feel right.
Option number two. In Belgium, `2dehands.be` (2ndhand.be in English) is a prolific---and dangerous, we'll get to that---alternative to selling goods on the second hand market. It's free, heavily marketed, and basically a digital chaotic market place. On eBay, if you encounter any trouble, policies and support is there to guarantee you'll get your money back (I relied on that once or twice). On 2dehands, you're basically screwed. I've been ripped off there once.
Option number two. In Belgium, `2dehands.be` (2ndhand.be in English, a watered down version of the local "Craigslist") is a prolific---and dangerous, we'll get to that---alternative to selling goods on the second hand market. It's free, heavily marketed, and basically a digital chaotic market place. On eBay, if you encounter any trouble, policies and support is there to guarantee you'll get your money back (I relied on that once or twice). On 2dehands, you're basically screwed. I've been ripped off there once.
So why go back and sell there? Because it's quick and I wanted to get rid of the laptop. And because my favorite option, eBay, refused to work as I envisioned it.
@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ _Two minutes later_. TWO. I should add that the 2dehands site comes with an app
Three. Retracted offers are rampant. After a day or six, I attempt to contact the highest bidder, say "congrats, let's settle this" (etc), and the answer is... a retracted offer. I then contact the runner up---no response. This is getting on my nerves...
Fourth. After agreeing on a deal, exchanging the address and time, the evening before, I receive:
Four. After agreeing on a deal, exchanging the address and time, the evening before, I receive:
> Hi is the deal still going through?
@ -49,6 +49,6 @@ Sixth. After several bad experiences with potential buyers, I don't want to exch
---
Selling an old laptop---I was aiming for a hundred EUR, wow!---gave me much more stress than the financial value I expected to get out of it. I expected the Dutch alternative, `marktplaats.nl`, to be an equally awful experience. I decided to just give away the laptop instead.
Selling an old laptop---I was aiming for a hundred EUR, wow!---gave me much more stress than the financial value I expected to get out of it. I reckon the Dutch alternative, `marktplaats.nl`, will likely be an equally awful experience. I decided to just give away the laptop instead.
Perhaps that `€10` eBay option wasn't so bad after all...