A Better Way to Buy Gear - Help Needed

Hi All,

Wow!  It seems unanimous..."Full Reverse... All Engines".

@ grislybutter - For reference, the item is between $10k and $15k, so I am with you folks - No verify, No buy.  (sounds a bit like Boby Marley).

@ czarivey - I have never hear of Zelle before, but what a coincidence, just this the seller sent me not telling me that Zelle is connected to his bank account.  Small World.

What I am NOT hearing is that I missed something - i.e. an easy solution.  That said, thanks again for the imput. I am more comfortable playing by the normal rules...

Now for some music!

P.S. - the 'white-out in the last section is a e-glitch...

 

After my last Update: 

1. The seller changed the item’s color from silver to black in the listing. 

(… yet another cause for concern).

2. I requested the item’s serial number and name of the dealer from whom he purchased the item.  I seller provided both.  I contacted the dealer, and he confirmed that he bought the unit in Feb 2024.  Next, I contacted the manufacturer, who confirmed, via the serial number, item was sold to that dealer and that the item was sold in Feb 2024. 

(… I am now comfortable that the seller has the item, but what shape is it in?  What color is it – silver or black?)

 

Next Step:

I knew that sending cash and F&F are inappropriate, so I asked the dealer to broker the purchase using my VISA card.  He agreed, but only if the transaction was in-person.

              (…I am beginning to wonder if I should just go fishing 😊)

 

On the Road Again:

I decided to spend two days on-the-road to see the item in person. 

The item was now back at the dealer’s residence - still sealed.  We opened the boxes, and it was… Black.  >> I bought the item, spent the night in a hotel, then drove home. 

Oh yea, the item in question is a preamp.  I will write a prologue to let you know if the unit is working, or not, and my thoughts after the break-in period passes. 

 

Thanks to everyone for their input.  I hope that aspiring sellers get the nearly-unanimous message – PP Friends and Family is a deal-killer for expensive (self-defined) items.

Special thanks to:

NTPC4 - “Find someone in this community who is local to the seller and would do you the favor of inspecting the gear.”  (Great, constructive outside-the-box thinking – really appreciate the suggestion.  Hopefully others in the AG community will use this idea in the future)

Coltrane1 - Offer to purchase and you pay the PayPal fee. (It is great to know what the ‘standard practice’ has been, and that it worked)

For their sound ideas addressing the original question: “is there a better way forward… “

 

Best Regards,

 

 

@ superhonestben

Thanks for the reply.  I appreciate knowing how your forum handles F&F: It seems simple enough.  

I expect that most sellers are willing to break the rules, by selling to non-friends/family, simply to avoid paying sales tax. 

Your rule levels the playing field, which in-turn stabilizes pricing.  Moreover, your policy is fair - I must pay sales tax when I sell my car, my house, etc., so why do some falsely believe their expensive audio gear is an exception?  Such tactics are truly dishonest/illegal.

P.S.  In your example, you did not interfere with someone ability to sell, you simply interfered with their ability to sell on your forum (which is your call).  Subtle, but important difference.  They can place their drums on the lawn with a 'best offer' sign, and that does not involve your forum :-)

Summary:

One final update, and thanks for the feedback.

My new ARC 6SE Preamp now has 70+ hours of use, and the tubes are breaking-in.  During the first ~50 hours, the unit sounded good, but not too different than the sound of my Ayre preamp (in fact, not as good as the Ayre in a couple of regards). 

During the past 20 hour of use, the 6SE's tone, attack, decay and staging have all improved.  This 'new' sound is very engaging, even compelling. 

Is the new preamp worth the Odessey to get it?  Las week I would have said "maybe", but now I am glad I made the trip.

Regards to all,

 

 

Money can be hard to come-by, especially big $ for toys. 

I was and remain suspicious of F&F sales. 

That being said, once I learned that:

a.) the dealer would work with the owner, allowing me to pay with VISA, not F&F, and,

b.) ARC sent this specific piece to the dealer in question...

I was comfortable making the trip to confirm it was 'new' (and unharmed) and bring it home.

I would support a comprehensive move away from F&F where it is being used for business purposes - it just destabilizes the pricing and makes buying too risky.

Best to ALL.