[Discussion] Preparing a Framework Laptop for sale – What matters most to you as a buyer?

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Hi everyone,

I’m planning to list my Framework Laptop on the Community Market soon. Since this community values transparency, repairability, and DIY spirit, I want to make sure I prepare the device perfectly for its next owner.

Before I put up the listing, I’d love to get your insights on what you care about most when buying a pre-owned Framework. What are the absolute “must-dos” for a seller to make the unboxing and setup seamless for you?

Here are a few specific areas I’m currently thinking about:

1. BIOS, Firmware & Software

  • BIOS Updates: Should I flash the latest stable BIOS version, or do you prefer to handle firmware updates yourself?

  • Security: Is a full TPM reset/clear expected before shipping?

  • Drive/OS: Do you prefer a clean, generic install of an OS (like Windows or a specific Linux distro), or a completely securely wiped SSD with no OS at all?

2. Hardware & Physical Cleaning

  • Deep Cleaning: Outside of wiping down the chassis and screen, should I open it up to blow dust out of the fan?

  • Thermal Paste: Would you prefer the stock paste, or is a fresh repaste (e.g., with Honeywell PTM7950 or Noctua) something you’d appreciate or rather do yourself?

  • Battery Health: What’s the best way to report battery wear to you?

3. Packaging & Expansion Cards

  • Original Packaging: How important is the original Framework box to you for shipping safety and “feel”?

  • Modules: Should I ship the laptop with the Expansion Cards plugged into the sides, or packaged neatly inside the original module boxes?

I want to make sure I do this right and follow the community’s best practices. Looking forward to your thoughts, tips, and preferences!

Thanks in advance!

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This is an excellent list. But strictly speaking for myself (I can’t speak to the rest of the community) an attractive “Price” (perhaps free shipping) is the BIGGEST factor to me. Also, ability to buy it without RAM and SSD.

I can do all of the above 3 tasks you listed myself so those will not matter to me, cost will. But again these are my own personal opinions. Oh yes, any original packaging is a big plus :slight_smile:

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Thanks for your input mate I appreciate it! I never thought about selling RAM and SSD separately from the laptop but I can see the value for the buyer in it. I might list the price for the components separately on the offer.

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As for a securely wiped drive, I think that’s going to be more important to you than to the buyer, generally. I mean, a buyer may appreciate it, and many buyers (myself included), would never misuse any personal info and would simply wipe the drive ourselves if there was anything on it. But you never know where it’s going to end up, so it’s best, for your sake, to securely wipe the drive before sale.

As for the OS, that’s going to depend on the user. If they want Linux, they’d probably just as soon install their own preferred distro. For Windows users, having an activated copy of Windows ready to go would probably be preferred.

As a bit of a do-it-yourselfer, I’d probably just as soon re-paste myself. But I’m sure there are others who might be hesitant to pull a heatsink, and would appreciate knowing it had recently been done and was good to go.

The deep cleaning isn’t a bad idea, just as a courtesy. It might not be something everyone would think of when buying a computer, but they would likely be appreciative if it was clean when they receive it.

As for battery health, maybe just say in the ad how it seems to be holding up, from a “seat-of-the-pants” type of perspective, and provide a picture of the battery health report from whatever OS you currently have installed, if possible. This might not be a requirement for a sale, but again, just a nice courtesy. And some buyers would likely ask for it if you hasn’t already provided it in the ad.

Personally, I can’t be bothered to set aside space/storage for the original packaging for things I buy, so I wouldn’t expect others to either. With that in mind, as long as it’s packaged well, and arrived safe and secure, I wouldn’t care if it was in the original packaging or a tomato crate, lol. But that’s just me. I know when I sold a Macbook online a few years ago, some potential buyers asked if I had the original packaging. Maybe that’s more of a thing with Macbook buyers, or maybe it just depends on the buyer.

Again, just my opinion, but I’d say the modules might as well be plugged into the machine. That’s probably safest and most secure place for them.

I’m not sure how much that helped, but those are my thoughts. Good luck with the sale! Cheers!

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