2. misc-audio
  3. 193409-178346

Anybody having trouble getting near-your-asking-price for used gear ? (Plz. no hype)

I buy and sell gear "on a whim" and have done so for 40 years. Mostly high-end tube stuff that I get an itch to move from my rig to make room for other high-end stuff that I have been dreaming of.  It's fun and gives me a fresh faces to fall in and out of love with.

Lately I am having a really hard time getting any serious offers above 1/4 to 1/3 of retail- actually zero offers over that. And winter is the time of year gear sells. Once the sun comes out things get really quiet.  Not terribly long ago I could ask 50% of retail and get serious offers pretty close to the ask.  

I am especially having trouble selling ARC gear. It's prices are steadily collapsing. On HiFi Shark that stuff sits for close to a year (or more) before it moves.  For example SP 15s are under 2K now. They were selling (not asking) at 3K a year ago. It took me almost a year to sell a new-in--box I/50 for $3000 (!)   Ref 75s are moving under $3000 and TMR will only offer 2K for one of them. The older stuff is selling in the hundreds not the thousands. Top-Of the-line stuff like Reference 10 preamps are moving under 12K (asking is around 17K) 

I recently sold a Bryston BR-20 brand new in the box and it took me 7 months to get 48% of MSRP.  This is NEW stuff- not somebody's junk. 

My guy at Magnepan told me their stuff is really moving slowly as well. He blamed it on the political environment. ARC is pretending all is well but I have a little birdie inside there that tells me their stuff is stagnant as and dealers are actually cancelling orders. 

Now, assuming you are being honest and not "fluffing the market" with bullbleep because you have something for sale and hoping for the greater fool,  are you seeing/experiencing the same thing I am experiencing? 

NO RETAILERS PLESASE- you guys tend to "exaggerate" to put it kindly- plus most of us here at AG know who you are and your 1000s of posts are a big clue. 

Signed/ Depressed about my favorite side gig. 

yesiam_a_pirate
audiodwebe's avatar
audiodwebe
249 posts
 

In selling used gear nowadays, it seems to me that you have to forget about what you paid for them. Or look at the gear like you paid zero so if it sells for any amount you’re happy.  

I’ve had a few items listed locally and on USAM for some time, but if the gear is remotely heavy I won’t ship in order to avoid the potential for damaged gear and the resulting headache. I’ve listed most items for probably 25% to 40% of MSRP, which seems reasonable to me, but often get offers of about 25% of my asking price. 

I find it difficult to let something I paid $1300 for last year go for $300 today. Once Alzheimer’s kicks in and I forget the prices paid, I’ll be able to sell all my gear locally, I’m sure of it.

devinplombier
454 posts
 

@jimijam 

How much are you asking though, and do you live in a major city?

kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
285 posts
 

If you live in a big city your odds of selling used equipment (mid-fi to high end) increases exponentially. If you live in a small city (under 250,000 population) your options become limited. If you live in small town in the middle of nowhere you would be better off putting your equipment on consignment in a big city and taking a big hit.

Small, easy to ship items can be successfully sold on sites like Audiogon and eBay. Especially stuff that needs no audition and isn't too expensive.

Mid-fi (under $15,000 total system) sells without audition for about 40% retail, anything more expensive people want to touch and see in person, and travel costs need to be factored into the equation. If I'm going to fly to LA, Chicago, or New York to audition equipment, I'm probably just more likely to make an appointment at a high end shop and buy something new.

Another factor to consider is the excellence of mid-fi these days. You can get a fantastic network server/streamer and pair it with some KEF LS 50s and a pair KEF Cube 10s for well under $5k. This will sound better than anything your audiophile father ever dreamed of having. And it will come with a warranty!

The 65+ crowd that can finally buy the McIntosh/Klipschorn system of their dreams is dying out (or at least downsizing as they move into assisted living).

My advice is to buy whatever you want (and can afford) and enjoy it while you can! Don't worry about resale value; it won't be there!

More to discover