From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

The old MBP (2017) is really struggling now, the battery is at 76%, broken space bar, and itrCOs just not running a late enough OS to work with my other devices.

I had considered replacing it, and my iPad Pro (2020), with a newer MacBook Air, but I donrCOt think thatrCOs my ideal choice. I need something connected to my Photos library, and keeping a solid Time Machine backup (as well as
my other backups I keep).

The iPad was replaced by Apple last year, with a faulty USB-C port (luckily IrCOd kept up the AppleCare), so is essentially a new one. Ok itrCOs not an M-series, but itrCOs doing everything I need if it. Still ok for my photo editing mainly,

So, IrCOve decided to replace the MBP with a Mini M1, which is basically all itrCOs being used as anyway. I have all the bits needed, and old HP monitor, keyboard, trackpad, USB-C hub etc.

Had a look around, and ordered from CEX, a Mini M1, 8GB, 512GB, for -u280.
They give a 5 year warranty now, and it was about the best deal I could
find. I have ordered a few things from them over the last few years, and
always had good items.

Hopefully itrCOll do for at least a couple of years or so. At least it should match my other devices fairly well.
--
Andy H
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 28 Feb 2026, Andy H wrote
(in article <10nurfv$3d39v$1@dont-email.me>):

Had a look around, and ordered from CEX

Are they good? IrCOve always bought second-hand kit from Backmarket, who IrCOve found excellent, but a second option would be nice.

MST

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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Martin S Taylor <hogwash@mraermtoivnestaylor.tchoims> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2026, Andy H wrote
(in article <10nurfv$3d39v$1@dont-email.me>):

Had a look around, and ordered from CEX

Are they good? IrCOve always bought second-hand kit from Backmarket, who IrCOve found excellent, but a second option would be nice.

I've bought stuff from CEX and it's been fine. They offer a 5 year warranty but I've never had to claim, so never got to find out how much they wriggle.

The main thing is: never buy things from their shops, only online. They
stick to the letter of the law as regards returns. For online purchases
they have to offer a 14 day return period and a full refund according to the consumer rights act, but in-store they don't - they may just offer 'store credit' which is of limited use.

(since they sell stock out of stores rather than a central warehouse, I
suppose you could go and visit the store to inspect the goods and then buy
it online - I've not tried that)

I've not used Backmarket but AIUI it's a kind of marketplace of independent shops - so there could be some variation between shops?

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 1 Mar 2026, Theo wrote
(in article <aCF*AFqAA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>):

I've not used Backmarket but AIUI it's a kind of marketplace of independent shops - so there could be some variation between shops?

TheyrCOre a middleman for independent shops, though the process is opaque to the purchaser, in a good sense. The user doesnrCOt see it as a rCymarketplacerCO. Backblaze quotes the best price available for the goods you want in whatever condition you specify. You buy from Backmarket, and they handle all the guarantees, the cooling-off period, returns and suchlike, as well as ensuring prompt delivery.

MST

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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Martin S Taylor <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2026, Andy H wrote
(in article <10nurfv$3d39v$1@dont-email.me>):

Had a look around, and ordered from CEX

Are they good? IrCOve always bought second-hand kit from Backmarket, who IrCOve found excellent, but a second option would be nice.

IrCOve bought quite a few gadgets over the years, and found them to be (so
far for me) better than expected by their grading system. It looks like
they grade reasonably cautiously. At least from my past experiences anyway.

The best I got was an Olympus E-420 camera, that had almost no shutter actuations on it. IrCOve also had a few decent DSLR lenses, and my two Apple TVs (one 4K and one HD), all in nice condition. IrCOm still using the TV
boxes after about 6-7 years.

IrCOve also bought a few bits from Envirofone and Music Magpie. Mostly mobile/wearables. The phones nearly always need sending straight back for a
new battery (wherever you get them, they always seem to be at about 82%
life) but neither have quibbled over that - seems to be part of the process
to get them with a new battery. The watches I got from Music Magpie have
been great - a Watch 4, and a watch 7, both going strong after 18 months.

So, I would be happy to use any of those again.
--
Andy H
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 1 Mar 2026 at 11:33:37rC>am GMT, "Martin S Taylor" <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

On 1 Mar 2026, Theo wrote
(in article <aCF*AFqAA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>):

I've not used Backmarket but AIUI it's a kind of marketplace of independent >> shops - so there could be some variation between shops?

TheyrCOre a middleman for independent shops, though the process is opaque to the
purchaser, in a good sense. The user doesnrCOt see it as a rCymarketplacerCO. Backblaze quotes the best price available for the goods you want in whatever condition you specify. You buy from Backmarket, and they handle all the guarantees, the cooling-off period, returns and suchlike, as well as ensuring prompt delivery.

I've had a couple of iPhones (12 mini and SE 2022), and an M1 Air from them recently. First phone had a fault with FaceID, and the only way to not be without a phone for a few days was to buy a second one before returning the first (which they accepted, no quibbling).

The SE's screen was definitely not up to the grade they'd given it. After a few exchanges with support we got some money off. That took a bit more faff than I'd have liked, but we got there.

The Air seems fine, except that it has a non-UK keyboard, which wasn't specified. It came from Dubai, which seems....curious.

So overall: ok, and they seem consistently cheaper than the others.
--
TimH
pull tooth to reply by email
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

Andy H <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:

Martin S Taylor <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

On 28 Feb 2026, Andy H wrote
(in article <10nurfv$3d39v$1@dont-email.me>):

Had a look around, and ordered from CEX

Are they good? IrCOve always bought second-hand kit from Backmarket, who IrCOve found excellent, but a second option would be nice.

IrCOve bought quite a few gadgets over the years, and found them to be (so far for me) better than expected by their grading system. It looks like
they grade reasonably cautiously. At least from my past experiences anyway.

That's what I've heard too.

Grade A = actually brand new
Grade B = like new, almost no damage
Grade C = everything else

CEX won't buy anything with major damage, so C grades work but likely have minor damage. Bought a C grade Pixel recently and there were some imperceptible scratches on the screen and some minor scratches on the metal sides - but it goes straight in a case so body scratches aren't important.

I'd just buy C grades online and be prepared to return if there are
dealbreaker scratches on them. It's a lottery but the odds are in your
favour.

IrCOve also bought a few bits from Envirofone and Music Magpie. Mostly mobile/wearables. The phones nearly always need sending straight back for a new battery (wherever you get them, they always seem to be at about 82%
life) but neither have quibbled over that - seems to be part of the process to get them with a new battery. The watches I got from Music Magpie have
been great - a Watch 4, and a watch 7, both going strong after 18 months.

I've bought from MM before and it's been fine. I found MM prices to have
been drifting up of late, but it does depend a lot on the models you are looking at.

I would keep a budget for a battery replacement, but even including that the cost is still very good - and if you're keeping the phone for years you'll probably want a mid-life replacement anyway.

So, I would be happy to use any of those again.

Agreed. Definitely better value than buying new... I think the last new
phone I bought was in 2013.

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 1 Mar 2026 at 12:48:59rC>PM GMT, "TimH" <thnews@poboxmolar.com.invalid> wrote:

On 1 Mar 2026 at 11:33:37rC>am GMT, "Martin S Taylor" <hogwash@mRaErMtOiVnEstaylor.TcHoImS> wrote:

On 1 Mar 2026, Theo wrote
(in article <aCF*AFqAA@news.chiark.greenend.org.uk>):

I've not used Backmarket but AIUI it's a kind of marketplace of independent >>> shops - so there could be some variation between shops?

TheyrCOre a middleman for independent shops, though the process is opaque to the
purchaser, in a good sense. The user doesnrCOt see it as a rCymarketplacerCO.
Backblaze quotes the best price available for the goods you want in whatever >> condition you specify. You buy from Backmarket, and they handle all the
guarantees, the cooling-off period, returns and suchlike, as well as ensuring
prompt delivery.

I've had a couple of iPhones (12 mini and SE 2022), and an M1 Air from them recently. First phone had a fault with FaceID, and the only way to not be without a phone for a few days was to buy a second one before returning the first (which they accepted, no quibbling).

The SE's screen was definitely not up to the grade they'd given it. After a few exchanges with support we got some money off. That took a bit more faff than I'd have liked, but we got there.

The Air seems fine, except that it has a non-UK keyboard, which wasn't specified. It came from Dubai, which seems....curious.

So overall: ok, and they seem consistently cheaper than the others.

I've bought several things from CEX (in store) without a problem. It's handy that they - effectively - take trade-ins as well (they offer vouchers that you can use against other devices. They also offer cash, but at a lower amount). Online does give you a better return window - and it's useful to note online orders can be returned in-store. I've always bought online as I'm in central London so there are several stores not too far away (actually, I did buy one item online, but when it arrived it was completely different to the one I ordered!)

I have bought two M1 Macbook Airs from Cash Converters in the last 7/8 months (the first because I needed one stat, the second because it was much cheaper than CEX). The first one was still under warranty and Apple replaced the keyboard part of the case for me. They have slightly different layouts
(British and US English International) but it's a non-issue. Also worth noting that CC often sell the same thing for quite different prices. I assume shop managers have more pricing leeway (maybe they are franchises? I think some CEX might be too).
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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 1 Mar 2026, TimH wrote
(in article <n0iqtrFlm81U1@mid.individual.net>):

TheyrCOre a middleman for independent shops, though the process is opaque to the
purchaser, in a good sense. The user doesnrCOt see it as a rCymarketplacerCO.
Backblaze quotes the best price available for the goods you want in whatever
condition you specify. You buy from Backmarket, and they handle all the guarantees, the cooling-off period, returns and suchlike, as well as ensuring
prompt delivery.

I've had a couple of iPhones (12 mini and SE 2022), and an M1 Air from them recently. First phone had a fault with FaceID, and the only way to not be without a phone for a few days was to buy a second one before returning the first (which they accepted, no quibbling).

The SE's screen was definitely not up to the grade they'd given it. After a few exchanges with support we got some money off. That took a bit more faff than I'd have liked, but we got there.

The Air seems fine, except that it has a non-UK keyboard, which wasn't specified. It came from Dubai, which seems....curious.

So overall: ok, and they seem consistently cheaper than the others.

Yes, all of this consistent with them acting as broker for independent shops. IrCOve had a couple of duffs sent to me, but absolutely no quibbles about my returning them.

I bought my Air from them, and had the opposite problem from you - I prefer the US keyboard, but mine has a UK layout. Wanna swap? :-)

(To be fair, I asked them about this beforehand and they were totally open that they couldnrCOt tell me in advance what keyboard layout IrCOd get, but I was perfectly free to return it if it was the rCywrongrCO one. Since I generally use a separate, Bluetoothed, keyboard, this wasnrCOt a deal-breaker.)

MST

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From Newsgroup: uk.comp.sys.mac

On 01/03/2026 10:52, Martin S Taylor wrote:

On 28 Feb 2026, Andy H wrote
(in article <10nurfv$3d39v$1@dont-email.me>):

Had a look around, and ordered from CEX

Are they good? IrCOve always bought second-hand kit from Backmarket, who IrCOve found excellent, but a second option would be nice.

MST

Only used them once and the HD's I bought had to be returned after both tested faulty on arrival.

But, YMMV
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