A business laptop keeps far more than a phone: local folders nobody synced, mail caches, saved passwords, sometimes a client export copied "to work on the train". When a refresh cycle frees up two hundred machines, they cannot go to the recycling centre or to the first buyer who calls.
In short: to sell company laptops, release them from your management tools (Windows Autopilot, Intune, Apple Business Manager), make sure the drives are erased with documented proof, and sell the lot to one buyer that quotes it as a whole. With Everlink, you describe the equipment, receive a fast offer, collection is organised for you, every machine is wiped in compliance with the GDPR and the Swiss nFADP, and you are paid with an inventory by serial number and an erasure certificate.
Why laptops need a different process from phones
A smartphone is reset in a few taps and identified by its IMEI. A laptop raises three extra questions.
Storage. A laptop has an SSD or hard drive, sometimes several volumes. That is where the files nobody thought to back up live.
Encryption. BitLocker on Windows and FileVault on macOS protect a lost machine. At resale time, they call for a proper erasure procedure rather than a quick reinstall.
Enrolment. A PC registered in Windows Autopilot, or a Mac assigned in Apple Business Manager, stays linked to your organisation even after a reset. Until it is released, a new owner struggles to put it back into service, and that lowers its value.
These three points are why IT equipment buyback belongs with a buyer that understands managed devices, not with a generic second-hand marketplace.
What Microsoft and Apple recommend before a device leaves
Everlink asks for no preparation: machines can be handed over as they are, and administrative unlocking is worked through with you. It still helps to know what the vendors say, because only your administrators hold the rights on your consoles.
| Environment | Vendor guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Windows with Autopilot and Intune | Delete the device from Intune first, then deregister it from Autopilot whenever it permanently leaves the organisation | Microsoft Learn |
| Mac, iPad and iPhone in Apple Business (formerly Apple Business Manager) | Release the device when it has been sold, lost or cannot be repaired; the action cannot be undone | Apple Support |
| Recent Mac | Use Erase All Content and Settings (macOS Monterey 12 or later, Apple silicon or T2 Security Chip) | Apple Support |
Microsoft is explicit: a device that leaves "for repair or because the device is at the end of its life cycle" should always be deregistered, and "skipping steps or removing records out of order can result in orphaned records or unrecoverable devices". Apple adds that managing Activation Lock through Apple Business is no longer possible once a device is released, so the order of operations matters.
In practice, a list of serial numbers shared between your IT team and Everlink is enough to coordinate these steps without anyone touching machines one by one.
Erasing a laptop: the proof matters as much as the wipe
The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) requires controllers and their processors to "guarantee a level of data security appropriate to the risk" (Article 8(1)) and to destroy or anonymise personal data once it is no longer required (Article 6(4)). For EU subsidiaries, the GDPR sets comparable obligations. A laptop sold with an intact drive is hard to reconcile with either.
The most widely cited technical reference is NIST Special Publication 800-88 Revision 2, Guidelines for Media Sanitization, published in September 2025. It helps organisations set up "a media sanitization program" suited to the sensitivity of their information, and covers cryptographic erase, which works by destroying the encryption keys of an encrypted drive.
On Everlink's side, every machine taken back is wiped in compliance with the GDPR and the Swiss nFADP. Your company receives an erasure certificate per batch and an inventory by serial number. For your records of processing, that document links each departing laptop to proof of its erasure. See our article on IMEI and serial number tracking for how to reconcile it with your asset register.
Buyback, ITAD or recycling?
| Option | What you get | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling | Compliant disposal, no income | No value recovered from machines that still work |
| ITAD provider (IT asset disposition) | End-to-end management of the disposal cycle | Model and cost vary by provider |
| Buyback | Payment, certified erasure, full inventory | Requires devices you own |
For a working laptop, recycling destroys value that the refurbished market can recover. Recycling still makes sense for equipment with no reuse potential. We explain the difference between the two service models in ITAD vs fleet buyback.
What Everlink buys in an IT estate
Everlink buys back computers, tablets, smartphones and smartwatches from companies, all brands. Broken or faulty machines are welcome and valued for parts: a laptop with a cracked screen or one that no longer boots still has value.
The main benefit is handling everything in one operation. During an office move or at the end of a cycle, the freed-up laptops usually sit next to meeting-room tablets and spare phones. One collection, one inventory and one certificate cover the lot. If your stock is mostly handsets, our guide on how to sell company phones in Switzerland covers that case.
How an IT equipment buyback runs
- Send the list: models, configurations if you have them, quantities and rough condition. An export from your asset management tool is ideal.
- Fast offer, itemised by model, functional and cosmetic condition and battery health.
- Collection arranged, by on-site pickup or inbound logistics, across Switzerland and Europe. Packing and transport are handled for you.
- Inspection, erasure and sorting of each machine; the offer becomes firm after this check.
- Payment by bank transfer in Swiss francs or euros, with a Swiss QR invoice (the standard Swiss payment slip), a full inventory and an erasure certificate.
Replacing the machines? Everlink also supplies tested refurbished computers, tablets and smartphones, with warranty included. See the refurbished fleet supply section.
Frequently asked questions
Should we remove the hard drives before selling company laptops?
It is not necessary. A laptop without its drive is worth less on the refurbished market, and every machine taken back by Everlink is erased in compliance with the GDPR and the nFADP, with a certificate for your company.
Does Everlink buy MacBooks?
Yes. Everlink buys computers of all brands, Macs included. For a Mac managed in Apple Business, releasing the device is coordinated with your administrator.
Our laptops are encrypted with BitLocker. Is that a problem?
No. Encryption protects your data in transit. Simply mention it in your description, and erasure and administrative unlocking are organised with your IT team.
Do faulty laptops have any value?
Yes. Broken or faulty devices are accepted and valued for parts, in the same batch as working machines.
Can we include laptops from a subsidiary abroad?
Yes. Everlink operates across Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Benelux and beyond, with settlement in Swiss francs or euros.
Describe your IT equipment
Send your inventory, even a partial one, via the contact form, at info@everlink.ch or on WhatsApp at +41 78 220 72 80. You promptly receive an itemised offer, with no commitment.