How much is my iPod worth?
May 26, 2006 11:43 PM   Subscribe

I plan on upgrading to a larger memory iPod, and I want to sell my 4th generation 20G iPod, but I don't know how much it's worth.

My iPod is a simple click wheel with a black & white screen. It's doesn't play videos or accept photos. I've still got the original headphones (never used), the charger, and the thing that hooks it up to the computer. I've also got the Apple Care protection plan that I purchased earlier this year. I've had the iPod for a year & a half.

I know someone who wants to buy it, but I don't know how much to charge. I've checked eBay & numerous other places to find out how much I should charge, but the range of prices is very wide. I'd really appreciate any advice y'all can give on this matter.
posted by Four-Eyed Girl to Technology (10 answers total)
 
Your best bet is to try and sell it on craigslist/wherever for what you want, and if it doesn't go, lower the price until it does.
posted by cellphone at 11:51 PM on May 26, 2006


Are you a registered eBay user? If so you can put a number of eBay auctions that are similar to yours (i.e., selling w/headphones, charger, Apple Care) on Watch List and wait for the sales to end. Your Watch Lage will have the complete details of each and, most important of all, the final selling price.

You'll then have several data points to price your trade on. I generally do this when I want to sell something to a friend but I'm not sure of fair value. I generally then discount 20% or so for an in-hand, no-hassle cash deal.

The discount is up to you, but by using eBay's Watch List will let you determine fair value.
posted by Mutant at 12:08 AM on May 27, 2006


I did the same thing a couple of months ago. I put my 20 gig 4th generation iPod on Seattle Craigslist for $170, and it sold within hours -- I'm positive I could have gotten at least 200 for it (and wish that I had, in retrospect). The fact that you have Applecare increases the value quite a bit; maybe by $30 or so?

Basically, all markets are different, but here in Seattle, I would try to put that on Craigslist for $220 and see what happens. You might not get any hits, but you can always lower the price.
posted by rossination at 12:40 AM on May 27, 2006


You're getting good advice here - just a comment that you can search EBay for completed auctions, so there's the possiblility of instant knowledge, rather than waiting for auctions to end...
posted by deliriouscool at 3:31 AM on May 27, 2006


Are you a registered eBay user? If so you can put a number of eBay auctions that are similar to yours (i.e., selling w/headphones, charger, Apple Care) on Watch List and wait for the sales to end.

No need. As deliriouscool points out you can just search for completed auctions (checkbox in the left hand column). I'd run the search for

20gb ipod -color -u2 -new -bose -mini -photo -color

and maybe

20gb ipod -color -u2 -new -bose -mini -photo -color applecare

I think you'll find they're selling for around $200 but I haven't checked. I'd slap it on CL for "$225 FIRM - local pickup only" and leave it for 3 days. You'll probably get some lower offers regardless of the firm statement.

Or, if you'd rather sell to a friend, tell them you're looking for $200 firm or whatever.
posted by dobbs at 6:58 AM on May 27, 2006


What kind of music do you have on it?
posted by caddis at 7:06 AM on May 27, 2006


Have you tried eztradein.com?
posted by seymour.skinner at 10:47 AM on May 27, 2006


Putting 'firm' is only going to drive away some buyers that might have made a reasonable offer. Unless you know your price is good, don't do it. Same thing goes for the 'no low ballers' silliness you see on some buy/sell/trade forums, waste of time..

The buyers are liable to know the correct price pretty well, especially for something like an iPod, which appears to have a huge used market (maybe all those listings are spam, I don't check iPod sales). In that kind of market a 10% discount off 'the right price' can be enough to sell an item very quickly.
posted by Chuckles at 11:42 AM on May 27, 2006


Putting 'firm' is only going to drive away some buyers that might have made a reasonable offer. Unless you know your price is good, don't do it. Same thing goes for the 'no low ballers' silliness you see on some buy/sell/trade forums, waste of time.

Sorry, but I completely disagree. I've sold and bought dozens and dozens of things on CL--iPods, couches, beds, rental property, bikes, books, cds, computer equipment, rental property, housewares ... you name it.

Without exception:

- every ad i posted that said price is firm has gotten reasonable offers just under the firm price.

- every ad that didn't say no lowballers gets emails from total idiots who offer 25 - 50% of the asking price.

CL is free to post on. Put firm; if it doesn't sell in a day or 3, lower your price and repost with slightly different ad copy. (And delete your previous ad.)
posted by dobbs at 4:01 PM on May 27, 2006


Response by poster: Thanks for all the great advice! eztradein looks perfect, & it didn't even occur to me to check out completed auctions. I am selling it to a friend, so I want to make sure I give her a fair price.

caddis, the majority of music on my iPod is indie, but I've got some r & b, rap, alt-country, & podcasts thrown into the mix also. Alt-country makes up the 2nd largest percentage of music on it.
posted by Four-Eyed Girl at 9:29 AM on May 28, 2006


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