My Two Cents: Attorney Tech Reseller Beware – Check Your Tech Market Value!

In later posts, I'll discuss when is the right time to buy a new computer. For some attorneys, part of the calculus when purchasing new tech is getting the best value out of your old machinery. But how do you know when you are getting the best value balance for buying and selling your technology?

When buying new tech make sure you are getting a good value for your old tech!

You have to look at what the computer market is doing. It's pretty easy with your Apple products. Apple will usually provide a trade-in value for our device. You can usually check this out on their website or if you ask someone at an Apple store. The buyback price Apple will offer should be the same either way. Granted, it is not the "most" you can get for your device. But it's usually a pretty fair deal. Or at least it used to be.)

Apple got caught in a public relations goof. They were offering nearly one-thousand dollars for the trade-in of a used Mac Pro model that they were still selling for over $52K! Granted, the computer chip used in this model, an Intel chip, is outdated with the release of other similar but new models with newer & faster proprietary chips, M1 & M2. I am hoping this is just a blip with Apple.

Attorneys make sure you are getting a good value when selling your old tech!

Mind you, I've been pretty happy with its trade-in programs. The little extra cash I could earn selling Apple tech on my own is outweighed by the time I'd have to invest in advertising, shipping, and any issues from illicit parties trying to rip me off. But still, for Apple to be selling the same computer at 52 times the value Apple will repurchase is pretty insulting. So what can lawyers learn from this?

Do a little homework on the web and find your technology's general value before selling it. It may not even have any value to bother selling it. In those situations, you could hand it down to younger family members, donate it, or recycle it. Meanwhile, don't forget to thoroughly erase all of your data before parting with your old technology! You don't want to get in trouble with your Bar Association.