Guide · Buying used tech
How to check a used laptop before you bid
A practical checklist for buying a second-hand laptop in Kenya: screen, keyboard, battery, storage health, ports, charger and locks. What to ask the seller and what to test on arrival.
Laptops fail in predictable places. Use this list to judge the photos and description before you bid, and to test the machine when it arrives.
What to look for in the listing
- Photos of the screen switched on, the keyboard, the ports, the underside and the charger.
- The exact model, processor, memory and storage size. If any are missing, ask.
- A clear statement of battery condition, for example how long it lasts unplugged.
- Any cracks, dents, missing keys, stuck hinges or marks, shown in a photo.
- Whether it comes with the original charger and whether the machine is free of any lock tied to a previous owner or an employer.
Questions to ask the seller after you win
- Can you send a short video of it starting up and running for a minute?
- Can you show the battery report or tell me how many hours it lasts?
- Is the storage the original one, and has the machine been opened or repaired?
Tests when it arrives
Do these before you confirm receipt.
- Screen: look for dead pixels, bright spots and flicker on a plain white and a plain black background.
- Keyboard and touchpad: press every key and test both click buttons.
- Ports and charging: check each USB port, the charging port, headphone jack and the card reader if there is one.
- Battery: on Windows, a battery report shows design capacity against current capacity. A big gap means a worn battery.
- Storage: look up the drive’s health with a free disk-health tool and check there are no errors.
- Heat and noise: run it for ten minutes. Loud fans or sudden shutdowns need a closer look.
- Sign-in: confirm you can set it up as new, with no previous owner’s account or password lock.
How checking works on Bids Kenya
You cannot hold the item before you bid, so use what you can: the photos, the condition description and the seller’s answers. Once you win, you can ask the seller for extra photos or a short video before you pay the balance.
You pay the balance to Bids Kenya, not to the seller. After the item arrives, test it before you tap “I have received the item”. The seller is paid only after you confirm, and if something is wrong you can report a problem from your order first.
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Frequently asked questions
Are laptops with a SIM or cellular modem allowed?
They go through extra review by an administrator and are declined unless clearly eligible.
What if the battery is worn?
Worn batteries are normal on used laptops. A fair listing says so. If the description claimed good battery life and it is not true, report a problem from your order.
Should I confirm receipt straight away?
No. Test the laptop first, because confirming releases the seller’s payment.
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