Where to Find Cheap Apple Mac Computers, iPods, or iPads

I’m a BIG Apple fan. The only other technology brand that occupies a large portion of our collection of gadgetry in my home is Motorola (Android phones and tablets.) Around 3 years ago I had made the switch to an “all-Mac” environment in my business – mPower Consulting – since we perform quite a bit of design work for clients and I’ve never looked back. But, out of the almost 10 pieces of Apple equipment we own, only one of them was purchased brand new. The rest were refurbished or previously-owned.

Being the “tech guy” amongst my family, friends, and fellow entrepreneurs I often get asked “Where do you find these Apple Mac computers, iPods, and iPads on the cheap?”

So, let me tell you a few places I like to look for deals.

Websites for Cheap Apple Mac Computers, iPods & iPads

For the sake of this quick little guide, I’ve put these websites in order of the ones I would recommend the most, from being the best place to find a good unit and good deal to the one where it might take more work on your part to find a good piece of equipment to purchase at the right price.

Apple’s Own “Refurbished & Clearance” Online Store

Like a lot of computer manufacturers, Apple has their own online store for items that have either been refurbished or marked down for sale. The problem for us consumers is that they basically hide the link to their store because, of course, they’d rather you purchase a computer brand new. However, once you get to this online store you’ll see that not only can you find decent deals on Apple Mac computers, but you can also find deals on iPods and iPads. Score!

All of these items have gone through Apple’s rigorous refurbishment processes to make sure they’re in full working order and typically are repackaged in original Apple packaging, which makes it feel like getting a brand new system… but for less. Also, all items sold through their website include all the original accessories as well as a 1-year limited warranty with the option to purchase their AppleCare plans.

I recommend using this option if you are less risk-averse, like things more brand-new, and have a higher budget to work with as although you’ll find items listed here that are less than purchasing them brand new, they’re typically more expensive than the other options I talk about below.

Typical Savings: $20 – $100 (sometimes more)

Go to the Apple Refurbished & Clearance Store >>

Cowboom.com – A Best Buy Brand

Typically when I say the name of this website I get a “huh?!” However, you might be surprised to learn that Cowboom.com is actually owned by Best Buy, a national electronics retailer (if you’re not familiar with them.) This is where they sell a lot of their refurbished, clearance/overstocked, and pre-owned items that have been returned to one of their retail stores. What’s nice is that they sell more than just Apple products, so if you’re also looking for a new camera, home audio system, or other household electronics, you’ll likely find something here.

In terms of Apple products, you can find all the different Mac computers, iPods, iPhones, and iPads (even older models if you like those more.) It’s important to note, however, that the bulk of the items sold through this online store are pre-owned and may or may not have scratches on the casings and/or screens, as well as potentially missing accessories, install CD’s, and guides. Each listing will provide a button to either purchase the item brand new, purchased a refurbished unit, or select the best available from an inventory of pre-owned units.

Important Tip: Primarily look for either the new items or the refurbished items, which typically include the original brand packaging as well as all the accessories and guides. If you are going to purchase a pre-owned unit (which I have successfully done,) be sure to look at what accessories are included, what is not included, and if there are any significant scratches on the casings or screen (which you may or may not care about.) Also, be sure to compare prices with the above and below recommended websites as sometimes the prices they are posting on Cowboom are crazy (sometimes a pre-owned unit is at a higher price than a brand-new items,) especially when you can find an Apple refurbished unit with ALL of the accessories for only $20 more somewhere else.

Typical Savings: $20 to over $500. (For instance, we’ve purchased iPod Nanos for $25 and a slightly older model Apple Macbook for $700 less than the original retail price and it had all the manuals, CD’s, accessories, and original packaging.)

Go to Cowboom.com >>

eBay.com – Find Good Items on Online Auctions

My third favorite place to find good deals is on eBay. I’ve purchased Apple gear in the past from there and just like any eBay auction, it’s all a little bit of timing and a lot of luck if you’re one bidder of a bunch of others going after the same deal. These items are typically pre-owned, but sometimes you can find an older model that is still brand new from a store that is trying to get rid of their previous model inventory. Just be sure to ask any questions you may have regarding the unit such as what’s included, what’s not, if there are any problems with the unit, what’s the cosmetic state of the unit, and how well it’s been maintained.

The biggest issue with purchasing items on eBay is the lack of a warranty provided by the seller, although many provide a 7-day refund/return policy if the unit arrives non-functioning. To help with this, however, eBay has created a service called “SquareTrade” that offers warranties on some items sold through their auctions. This can help protect your investment should something happen, and if you’re spending over $500 on a pre-owned Apple computer from some guy in Newark who had it during his college years and needs money, this might not be a bad idea.

Typical Savings: $50 to over $500 (Depends on how the auction goes. You might get lucky and get a good unit for hundreds off of the original retail price, or you might just get it for $50 off.)

Go to eBay auctions for Apple computers, tablets, and more >>