MacPro-LA vs Back Market vs Swappa vs Amazon Renewed: Who Actually Sells You the Mac?
Quick answer
On Back Market, Amazon Renewed and eBay you buy from one of many third-party sellers, and on Swappa you usually buy from a private person. At MacPro-LA you buy from us. Every device passes our 50-point inspection in our Hollywood shop, comes with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns, and you can pick it up at our Los Angeles store, usually within 1 hour.
MacPro-LA is the only refurbished Apple store in Los Angeles where you order online and pick up in Hollywood within 1 hour, with a 1-year warranty.
The big difference: who is the seller?
Most people calling our store ask the same thing: "Why not just buy on Amazon or Back Market?" Here is the honest answer.
- Back Market, Amazon Renewed and eBay are marketplaces. They list devices from many different sellers. The one you get depends on which seller has the lowest price that day, and each seller tests in its own way.
- Swappa is person-to-person. You usually buy from someone selling their own old device.
- MacPro-LA is one store. We buy, test and sell every device ourselves in Hollywood. You know exactly who you are buying from, and you can walk in and meet us.
MacPro-LA vs Back Market, Amazon Renewed, eBay and Swappa
| Back Market, Amazon Renewed, eBay | Swappa | MacPro-LA, Hollywood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sells it to you | Many different third-party sellers | Usually a private person | Us. One store, since 2010 |
| Who checked it | Depends on the seller | Usually the owner | Our 50-point inspection, in our Hollywood shop |
| Warranty | Set by the marketplace or seller | Usually none | 1 year from MacPro-LA |
| Returns | Through the marketplace, by mail | Limited | 30 days |
| Pick it up today in LA | No, it ships | Sometimes, meeting a stranger | Yes, usually within 1 hour |
| See it before you pay | No | Only if you meet | Yes, at our counter |
| Activation Lock / MDM | Depends on the seller | Your risk to check | Checked clean |
| Someone to call after | Marketplace help desk | The seller, if they answer | (323) 378-5603, the people who sold it |
Marketplace terms change and vary by seller. Check each listing before you buy.
When a marketplace can make sense
If you only care about the lowest price on a very common model, are happy to wait for shipping, and do not mind not knowing who tested it, a marketplace can work. If you want to know who sold it, see it first, and have one store stand behind it for a year, buy from a real store.
What our 50-point inspection covers
Every Mac, iPhone and iPad is inspected in our Hollywood shop before it is listed. That includes the screen, keyboard and trackpad, battery health, ports, cameras, speakers and microphones, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, storage, and a check that it is clean of Activation Lock and MDM. If it does not pass, we do not sell it.
Inspected deals you can pick up today
In our store now (prices checked October 19, 2026):
Shop by product: MacBook Air deals · MacBook Pro deals · iPhone deals · iPad deals · Mac Studio deals
Pickup guides: MacBook Pro · MacBook Air · iPhone · iPad. Before you buy anywhere, read our 10-point safety checklist.
Not in LA? We ship free across the US, and orders paid by 1pm Pacific ship the same day. Have an old device at home? You can trade it in when you pick up: get a quote at sellmacsforcash.com.
Questions
Who actually sells you the Mac on Back Market, Amazon Renewed or eBay?
They are marketplaces. A different third-party seller ships each device, and you usually do not know which one until you order. At MacPro-LA there is one seller: us. Every device is checked in our own Hollywood shop.
Who sells the Mac on Swappa?
Swappa is a marketplace where individual people sell their own devices. The seller is usually a private person, not a store.
Can I see the Mac before I pay?
On Back Market, Amazon, eBay and Swappa, no. It ships to you. At MacPro-LA you can order online and pick it up at our Hollywood store, usually within 1 hour, and check it at the counter.
What does MacPro-LA check before selling a Mac?
Every device goes through our 50-point inspection in our Hollywood shop before it is listed, and it is checked clean of Activation Lock and MDM.
What warranty does MacPro-LA give?
A 1-year MacPro-LA warranty and 30-day returns on every device. If something goes wrong, you call us at (323) 378-5603 and talk to the people who sold it to you.
Is there a store in Los Angeles where I can pick up a Mac today?
Yes. MacPro-LA, 1947 N Cahuenga Blvd, Ste 104, Hollywood, CA 90068. Order online, choose Store Pickup, and it is usually ready within 1 hour. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm.
Do you ship outside Los Angeles?
Yes. Free shipping across the US, and orders paid by 1pm Pacific ship the same day.
MacPro-LA · 1947 N Cahuenga Blvd, Ste 104, Hollywood, CA 90068 · (323) 378-5603
Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · Sat 10am–2pm · Rated 4.8 from 3,500+ reviews · Get directions
