I'm a laptop enthusiast who has purchased several dozen used machines on eBay over the years. Some were for me, some family, and some for parts to fix up machines I already owned. I've yet to see any good articles that cover the topic well, so I'd like to share things I've learned and a few recommendations.
First, the best model line to look for is the Dell Latitude and the Lenovo Thinkpad. These specific lineups are the most widely used by businesses. Employees tend to put the computers on a docking station with external monitors, keyboards, and mice which means they are in good physical condition. These models are also designed for easy repair and upgradability. For example, I purchased two Dell latitude e5470's a few years ago (one for me, one for the wife). The keyboard can be swapped in less than 5 minutes, so I replaced mine for the backlit keyboard for $20. My wife dropped her machine and broke the bottom casing, which I replaced in 10 minutes for $15. I've replaced the batteries on both twice for $25 each over the course of 4 years.
Second, these models tend to be purchased in bulk at an auction once a business closes or upgrades their lineup. Other businesses then buy these units and list them in bulk on eBay. For this reason, supply fluctuates greatly. If you don't see a good deal, be patient and look the next day. Sorting the results by "newly listed" is your friend.
Third, look for models around 2-4 years old. This is the standard length of a warranty, and it aligns well with a typical upgrade cycle.
Fourth, the descriptions tend to be generic. It will usually list the model number (t480, 5580, etc) but it usually won't list any of the optional upgrades like thunderbolt or screen resolution. To figure that out and find a good deal, you need to look at the pictures. The typical picture listings will usually include a picture of the side, so look for the iconic lightning bolt logo. The pictures sometimes include the system information page in the BIOS saying the screen resolution. But if the listing doesn't show the resolution, then ask the seller. This is your chance to score a good deal when other buyers ruled it out by the pictures. Don't use filters for specific processors, ports, or screen resolutions; this will hide all of the good deals that actually have these features.
Fifth, If you have a good idea of what you are looking for, identify the specific model number with those features. I like to use this webpage on wikipedia which lists all of the dell latitude models. If I was looking for a 14" 1080p with an 8th gen intel processor, I'd narrow my search to the model numbers 5400, 7490, and 7400.
Sixth, some of the best listings will have the hardrive and ram removed. If you are comfortable installing windows yourself, you can get a better deal by including terms like "No OS" or "No HDD" in your search terms.
July 03, 2021 at 05:39AM
