Buying a used MacBook Pro

I am considering buying a Used MacBook Pro with a display that needs to be fixed. The reason it caught my eye was that it is $225. It is a 2017 MacBook Pro 13”. Does anyone know how much it would cost to fix the screen? The seller states the screen works but is hard to see, maybe a backlight issue? Basically want to know if it is worth it to buy and fix it? The seller states there is a small dent in the bezel which could be the issue. I don’t believe it is under warranty or Apple care. Thanks for you help please no negative or unhelpful comments

Posted on Feb 25, 2020 8:49 PM

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Posted on Feb 26, 2020 8:05 AM

The dispaly is one sealed unit. If any part is bad/damaged, the entire upper unit must be replaced. This is pricing for a used/pulled unit for the 13-inch 20127 non-Touchbar:


https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Retina-Late-2016-2017-Display-Assembly/IF123-066?o=1


Not cheap, and you still do not know what else is wrong until the screen works.


Antother consideration: the seller must have followed the steps in this article to prepare the MBP for resale or you may not be able to use it even after buying a very expensive screen:


What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support


If the screen does not work, the seller may not have been able to accomplish this.


I cannot recommend you proceed with this purchase. In the ~20 years I've been active here I seen too many sad stories from people buying used Macs. Trying to save money on a Mac, other than at the Apple refurb site that we use all the time, too often ends in grief.




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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 26, 2020 8:05 AM in response to applefancb

The dispaly is one sealed unit. If any part is bad/damaged, the entire upper unit must be replaced. This is pricing for a used/pulled unit for the 13-inch 20127 non-Touchbar:


https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Retina-Late-2016-2017-Display-Assembly/IF123-066?o=1


Not cheap, and you still do not know what else is wrong until the screen works.


Antother consideration: the seller must have followed the steps in this article to prepare the MBP for resale or you may not be able to use it even after buying a very expensive screen:


What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support


If the screen does not work, the seller may not have been able to accomplish this.


I cannot recommend you proceed with this purchase. In the ~20 years I've been active here I seen too many sad stories from people buying used Macs. Trying to save money on a Mac, other than at the Apple refurb site that we use all the time, too often ends in grief.




Feb 26, 2020 5:48 AM in response to applefancb

applefancb wrote:

I am considering buying a Used MacBook Pro with a display that needs to be fixed.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to fix the screen?



Apples price repair list is limited, but look here for your query:

https://support.apple.com/mac/repair/service


Apple Clearance /Refurb:

https://www.apple.com/us/shop/goto/special_deals


Other options with warranties:

https://www.refurb.me/en-us (same original warranty from Apple just as you would with a store purchase.)


OWC/MacSales is a trusted vendor all things Mac—excellent customer support/ and some limited warranty.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple_Systems/Used/Macs_and_Tablets

Feb 25, 2020 9:54 PM in response to applefancb

Cheap because it is such a great risk to buy.


A broken screen could be the result of a fall, which could have broken much more than just the screen. Some of these other issues could take time to find, even if Genius Bar found just the screen this time around.


Buy a used one from Apple's "Refurbished and Clearance" list (bottom of the home page, small print). Those come with Apple's 1 year warranty and can add AppleCare+.


These are just the plain facts.



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Buying a used MacBook Pro

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