How much is my laptop worth at a pawn shop is a complete guide to getting some quick cash at a pawn shop.
In this in-depth guide you will learn:
- How to get a good deal for your laptop
- The answer to the question How much is my laptop worth at a pawn shop?
- How to prepare your laptop for a pawn shop appraisal
- How to manage your first time at a pawn shop
So if you’re ready to use your old laptop to get some quick cash, this guide is for you.
Newer is better
Taking your old laptop to a pawn shop and getting a fair price isn’t difficult. However, it is always a good idea to make sure you know how much your old laptop is worth.
Your laptop’s value depends on a number of factors, including whether or not it is in poor condition or good shape. A pawn loan at the best price demands a good condition laptop with other features that make it worth the best loan amount.
And let’s get something clear right off the bat. Newer models make more money than older models. And newer models in good condition make the most money.
If your old laptop is a desirable brand then you can expect it to fetch a higher price.
How much is my laptop worth at a pawn shop: the laptop situation
Before you do anything, contact the local pawn stores to check if they actually accept laptops. Some won’t. You can ask them what the price range is for laptops so you know what the most realistic best deal is, but it’s generally true that old laptops pawn for between $50-500.
Pawn stores pay the most money for a small group of items. Jewelry, for example, will always hold value. Pawn shops take a lot of jewelry.
With electronics, TVs and laptops are the most sought-after items. Even older laptops will get a good price.
Pawning a laptop is a great way to access cash quickly. Most of us have a couple of laptops around the house. Grabbing a used laptop and taking it to your local pawn shop is a great way to get a quick loan.
At the pawn store, the pawnbroker will inspect the old computer carefully. The very first thing they will do is plug it in and turn it on. They will then take a detailed look at the machine, to check for any visible damage.
Needless to say, if the laptop has any keys missing, or a crack in the screen, there will be a direct impact on the laptop worth amount.
Then they will appraise the value of your laptop. Finally, they will offer a loan amount that will be a percentage of the decided value of the laptop.
Your laptop is then given to the pawnbroker as collateral for the loan. Collateral is an item of value (your laptop) pledged as security against a loan. The store owner may also ask for some personal information and other items such as your drivers license.
With the loan now approved, the extra cash will be given with repayment terms attached. The loan repayment terms are very important. If you don’t keep up with the dates then you risk losing your laptop.
Remember that there will almost certainly be an interest charge on the loan too. Check the terms of the loan and keep up those payments. Different pawn shops have different terms, but every single one will sell your laptop to someone else if you miss the payments.
When it comes to the time factor, the laptop will be pawned on a short-term loan. This could be as short as a month.
How much is my laptop worth at a pawn shop: getting a good deal
Like I said earlier, the newer the better.
However, you can make sure you get a great deal by doing just a few things about the condition of your laptop before you head down to the pawn stores. For example, you can make sure it looks clean and tidy before you try to pawn it.
Your laptop may have all kinds of dirt and gunk on it. Think about the breadcrumbs and the coffee near-misses. Any old laptop will need to be cleaned up.
There are a number of laptop cleaning fluids and special cloths available on the market. These are great, but you can achieve a similar result with a couple of damp cloths from the kitchen. Most of the dirt will be taken care of this way.
You will have to remove any personal data that is on the laptop. Then you will have to clear the laptop of any data that wasn’t there when you first bought it. Transfer all the data to a hard drive and then wipe the laptop.
You will get a reasonable price for your old laptop if you have the original box. And if you have all the original accessories, that’s even better. If not, package your laptop with a couple of accessories that will make it more attractive.
So how much is my laptop worth?
Remember that all pawn shops will have different views on how much your laptop is worth.
That being said, here is a quick rundown of the most popular brands and their expected values when it comes to a pawn loan.
Brand | Min. Pawn Value | Max. Pawn Value | Avg. Pawn Value |
MacBook (Regular or Unspecified) | $60 | $1200 | $312.35 |
MacBook Air | $10 | $500 | $217.45 |
MSI | $1 | $600 | $255.08 |
MacBook Pro | $15 | $1100 | $288.13 |
Asus | $1 | $650 | $144.44 |
Samsung | $20 | $75 | $48.75 |
HP | $5 | $500 | $85.69 |
Alienware | $1 | $550 | $252.65 |
Dell | $1 | $600 | $123.53 |
Toshiba | $1 | $300 | $80 |
Acer | $10 | $400 | $86.47 |
Compaq | $25 | $75 | $47.50 |
A Macbook Pro is naturally going to give you more value with the pawn loan than a standard Compaq computer or a HP laptop. In fact, Apple computers in general are always seen as valuable.
With the table above, you should now have a clear idea of how much money you will get for your machine. As you can see, a popular brand name makes a difference.
Different brands go for different prices, but there are some other aspects, such as the model of your laptop, that can swing it. Some models have a larger screen size than others by the same brand. This can make a big difference to the value of an item.
An easy way to check the current market value of your laptop is to pop on to eBay or Amazon and find what a second-hand machine in good condition is actually worth. You can’t do anything about the loan value a pawn shop owner gives you. It’s up to them. But if you know the value of your machine, you can at least shop around.
How much is my laptop worth at a pawn shop: FAQs
How do I clean my laptop?
If you’re looking to make some fast cash with your laptop, you will have to get it properly cleaned up first.
Earlier in this post I mentioned using damp cloths. That’s great, and it will actually help with a lot of the dirt on the machine. However, you may need to go next level if you have a truly dirty laptop.
You can buy cleaning fluids to use with the cloths. It’s important to remember that it is never a good idea to use any cloths that are any more than just damp. In other words, don’t soak the cloths if you want to get the best results (and avoid damaging the machine).
It’s also a good idea to buy a special keyboard cleaner. Cleaning the keyboard this way will prevent sticky keys. And don’t forget to look closely at the screen to make sure there aren’t any fingerprints or smudges. These will have to be removed if you are going to present the best possible machine to the pawnbroker.
With dust in the ports or vents, you can usually get a good result with using a handheld vacuum cleaner.
What about the laptop details?
Before you head down to the pawn shops you need to make sure you are fully aware of the details of your computer. Have the following information to hand before you walk through the door:
- The hard drive size
- The amount of RAM (Random Access Memory) the laptop has
- The processor type
- The screen size
- The model number or the series number (i.e. HP 15)
Why do you need to know these details? Well, you will need to be aware of all of this stuff to be certain you’re getting the right amount of money for your machine.
What about the condition of the laptop?
This is a big factor in the price of your laptop and its loan value. If you have any cracks or any bubbles in the screen for example, it could drastically reduce the price you will get.
A huge crack in the case will most likely mean the laptop is doomed. But if it is just a small crack, you can usually fix things up with a bit of glue. If there is a small gap in the casing of your laptop, turn off the machine and clean the area around the crack. You can use a damp cloth and a handheld vacuum to clean it.
Using your fingers, squeeze the gap as tightly as you can and then apply some super glue in the gap. Hold the pieces of plastic together for about five-ten minutes. Then release your fingers and you should find that the casing is looking better.
It’s my first time using a pawn shop. What do I need to know?
Pawn shops aren’t actually anything like what you see in the movies. Head into any pawn store today and you won’t see any crying, desperate people selling the family jewelry.
Instead, pawn shops are actually seen as a valid way to get your hands on cash quickly. And don’t forget, as long as you pay back the money on time, you can get your laptop back. In that sense, you still actually own your property as you borrow money against it.
That being said, watch out for a red flag or two as you look at your options when it comes to a pawn shop loan.
For example, some pawn shops ask extortionate amounts for interest payments. Believe it or not, there have been some stores in the United States that have asked for an incredible 200% interest on loans. This is obviously quite rare, but you can still get stung. Bear in mind, also, that more valuable items tend to attract lower interest rates.
Expect a credit check to be part of the loan process. Make sure you have all your financial details and personal details to hand when you head out to the store.
It’s also quite important to have a good relationship with the store owner. The more positive you are when you walk in the store, and the time you’ve taken to present your laptop make a huge difference to the final cash loan value. You have a higher chance of getting higher loans if you’ve worked hard and taken the process seriously.
If you are looking to buy a brand new laptop or just want some cash quickly, it’s well worth investigating your local pawn stores. Handing in your used computer as collateral can be a great option. And don’t forget, as long as you pay on time, you will get your laptop back.
I hope you liked this post. Leave me a comment if it helped you make some quick cash.