Cape Town – Classifieds provider Gumtree has launched a laptop price checker in South Africa so that buyers and sellers can compare prices.
“Laptops are one of the most requested and fastest selling items on Gumtree. There is constant churn in the category which is why it’s important to price your second hand computer correctly,” said Claire Cobbledick, head of Marketing for Gumtree South Africa.
The eBay-owned company has built the tool to reflect the average selling price of laptop brands on the platform.
As an example, the average selling price of an HP 550 is R4 985.86 on Gumtree though the price gives no information on the condition of the device.
Comparatively, a refurbished HP EliteBook costs R4 503 from Universe Direct.
Declining market
The Gumtree tool allows users to shift a slider to determine the most ideal selling price for their used laptop, but Cobbledick warned that it was only a guideline.
“While pricing is obviously influenced by the condition and age of the item, as well as demand, it’s a great guideline for shoppers and sellers.”
The declining rand is set to see new laptop prices increase and lower sales as the market faces sharp declines.
International Data Corporation data shows that notebooks in the Middle East and Africa suffered a 28.6% drop to 1.9 million units in the second quarter of 2015.
“Right now, with the continued weakness of the rand, I do not see an upside. It is going to hurt consumers and they may cut back on buying – which will hurt the local market,” said Christopher Riley, CEO of The Notebook Company recently.
As new laptops increase in price, second hand units may become more attractive to shoppers, but Cobbledick warned online shoppers to be alert for scams.
“Never pay for an item until you’ve actually verified that it works as advertised and until you’ve physically received it. Meet in a public place such as a police station or a coffee shop and if possible, bring a friend with you.”
Gumtree has also built price checkers for cars, houses and phones.
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