Microsoft is always looking to improve their Surface line, the latest being the Microsoft Surface Book 2. With each new Surface, many people are wondering how they can offload their old device in order to make room (and funds) for a new one. I have some good news! Surface devices are built exceptionally well and hold onto their value for quite some time.
Here are the best places you can sell your old Surface before the new one arrives.
Selling your old Microsoft Surface
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There are a number of great spots where you can sell your old Surface device to make room and money for a new one.
Craigslist
Craigslist is a great way to sell your Surface locally. All you need to do is check a few boxes to specify what you're selling, fill in a few fields detailing your Surface, and upload a picture (optional but recommended).
You set the price so you can be happy with what you're getting, but you also have to deal with meeting up with someone to exchange goods. Make sure it's in a public place because Craigslist has a worse scammer reputation than the Canadian equivalent, Kijiji.
Sell your Surface with Craigslist{.cta .large}
Facebook Marketplace
The great thing about Facebook Marketplace is that you get some free advertising directed at all the people on your Friends list and beyond. You can also see — in most cases — who you're dealing with by visiting their profile. This doesn't entirely remove the scam aspect, but it will likely make you a bit more comfortable when meeting up.
It's only available in certain regions, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, however. Everyone else is out of luck. Still, it's a great way to have your Surface seen by a lot of people, and it's free to use.
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letgo
If you have an iPhone or Android and are located in the U.S., letgo is a stylish way to go about your business. It features ads with a bit of writing and a large image, so you definitely want to take some nice shots of your Surface. Potential buyers just enter a keyword and their address, and they're shown a selection of options that match.
It's a lot like Kijiji and Craigslist but with more of a hipster vibe. There are no fees to pay, but you can choose to upgrade your ads to be more attractive for a small price.
Swappa
Want to expand past your local marketplace? No problem with Swappa. Sellers choose the item they're listing, create an account, and fill in the information required to sell. There is a graph that shows how much these devices have sold for on the site over the last six months, and it will even tell you when you should sell.
There is a set list of conditions that your device must meet before it can be sold, which also gives the buyer more confidence. If the device doesn't meet expectations, PayPal's protection should handle it. Sales go through PayPal, and it takes a certain, small cut.
Swappa doesn't charge sellers but featured listings can be purchased for a small fee. If you aren't having any luck selling in your neighborhood, check out Swappa.
eBay
The online auction giant eBay has been around for quite awhile, and it's a proven method of selling your stuff. It gets tons of traffic and the auction aspect of it can be exciting, but there are often some hefty fees that will come out of your own pocket after selling.
There are plenty of return policy options to make the buyer feel more comfortable, but as long as you advertise honestly, the sale should go smoothly. If you don't mind the fees or the auction format, eBay is a great way to get a lot of eyes on your Surface.
Amazon
Amazon is another giant when it comes to online sales, so you're pretty much guaranteed to have traffic flowing past your Surface listing. You have to pay fees to use Amazon, but setting up a listing is about as easy as possible, and you get to set your own price.
The return policy that Amazon employs for third-party sellers might be a bit too much for some. You must either provide a return address, a pre-paid return label, or you must be ready to give a full refund. Don't mind any of those options? Amazon lets you get rid of that old Surface without much heavy lifting.
NextWorth
NextWorth operates a bit differently than the other options here. It's more of a virtual pawn shop than a place where you can create a listing. You search for the device you want to sell, answer some questions about the quality of the device, and get a quote for how much NextWorth will pay you for the device.
If you accept, you can receive a payment through PayPal before you ship (NextWorth pays) your Surface away. The only downside here is that you might not get the price you want, just like a real pawn shop. An unblemished Surface Pro 4 with an Intel Core i7 processor was quoted at about $190.
Sell your Surface with NextWorth
Windows Central Marketplace
The Windows Central community is full of avid Microsoft users, meaning there are plenty of Surface devices for sale and for trade. All you have to do is follow the guidelines while posting, and your device should get a bunch of eyes on it.
If you'd like to keep the sale in-house, our Marketplace is full of honest buyers, sellers, and traders.
Sell your Surface with the Windows Central Marketplace
Windows Store Recycle for Rewards program
If you're lucky enough to have a physical Microsoft Store near you, you might be able to take advantage of the Recycle for Rewards program. You essentially take your old Surface device (or really any device) into the store, a member of the staff examines it, and you get a store credit that can be applied to a new Surface.
Any devices that no longer retain any value can be left behind to be properly recycled. Mother Nature appreciates it!
Find a physical Microsoft Store near you
Where can you buy a new Surface device?
Don't forget, any of the selling methods listed above can also be used to pick up a used Surface. However, if you want a new device, the Microsoft Store is still the best place to shop.
See the Surface lineup at the Microsoft Store
Updated January 15, 2018: This list has been refreshed to ensure you're still getting the absolute best ways to sell your old Surface device.
