Tomorrow is the debut of the brand spankin' new iPad 2. But, if you were an early adopter, you might be thinking you want to get rid of your old tablet device for the newer, more spiffier one. Well, here's how to prepare to sell your old iPad to help pay for the new one.
First, you should prepare the old iPad by wiping its memory. It's easy -- plug your iPad into a wall outlet using the Apple-supplied 10-watt adapter, then simply launch the Settings app and go to General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Once this is completed, don't allow anything else to sync with your iPad; especially not a computer.
Second, consider literally wiping the iPad to remove any dust, debris, finger prints and oil smudges. Remove any plastic films you might have applied if they are worn. A clean iPad will definitely sell better than one with lots of dirt, dents, or scratches.
Third, remove the SIM card if your iPad is a Wi-Fi+3G model. The buyer doesn't need the SIM card that is associated with your AT&T account. If you upgrade to an iPad 2 you should be able to use that SIM in the new iPad since AT&T is said to be grandfathering current data plans -- even the unlimited one!Jailbreak
Your iPad might sell better if you jailbreak it prior to selling it -- you might even be able to sell it for considerably more. If it is jailbroken, the buyer would be able to use whatever software they choose.
One note of caution: Apple generally releases a version of iOS when they release a new devices (i.e. like the recent release of iOS 4.3). If you want current jailbreaks to work, don't install the latest version of iOS on the iPad unless the creators of your favorite jailbreak tool tells you it is okay.Where to Sell
There are currently hundreds of iPads for sale on eBay, Craigslist, and other online second-hand retailers. The top two places to sell are eBay and Craigslist, but you might consider selling your iPad to an individual. Try your friends, work, or local user group. Stress the fact that they can buy and use your iPad without a contract on AT&T -- a good reason not to just give it away if you sell it.
If you sell on eBay, consider a short auction with a low reserve, since these tend to do better in the long run. Also consider using PayPal as a means of receiving payment since it gives the buyer and seller some protection. Craigslist offers some tips to prevent you from getting scammed.
Trade it in
Consider foregoing the drama of making the deal and get cash for your iPad using a site like Gazelle.com. We visited that site and had an offer of $530 recently for a perfect condition 64GB iPad Wi-Fi + 3G with all the cables.
Other options include selling your iPad to BuyMyTronics.com or NextWorth.com.
Apple makes it easy to resell your iPad if you purchased an AppleCare Protection Plan. These protection plans are fully transferable to the person buying your used equipment. We are often very surprised to realize that many Apple users are unaware of this. A fact labeled as item six within the AppleCare Protection Plan terms and conditions. If your equipment is still under warranty, then you can rest assured that with some work on your part (you have to be good sales person), you'll be able to sell your iPad at a premium price!
If you don't have AppleCare, most iPads out there are less than a year old -- so point out the fact that the buyer can buy AppleCare before the one year standard warranty expires. This will extend the warranty and technical support by another year this lowers the risk of buying a bad iPad for the buyer. They can probably get it fixed or replaced under Apple's outstanding extended warranty.
So, the gist of these tips are to leverage your equipment's condition, value, and the transfer of the AppleCare Protection Plan to get more money for your used iPad -- definitely don't just give it away!
