Buy local. I always try to sell local because I want the person to see and hear the piece before buying because I don’t want to listen to someone’s bullshit later. Even then - year ago I sold a Music Hall Maverick CD player (remember those) to some guy who auditioned it at my house. 4 months later he calls me up and tells me the player makes a noise or something. People want to save money buying used and then expect to have a lifetime warranty on the thing. But buying/sellling in person definitely cuts down on the problems. Good luck.
Are you seeing more 9/10s?
In my recent round of upgrade fever I had what was for me a new experience: shameless Audiogon condition rating inflation. Maybe once as an Audiogon seller have I rated an item 9/10. But three pieces I purchased recently were rated 9/10. Two of the pieces were nearly ten years old. One seller told me in correspondence that "for its age it's a true 9/10!" 9/10 means (1) less than a year old, (2) very light use, and (3) physically indistinguishable from new. None of the three met these base requirements. I eventually purchased them because they were priced appropriately and through much private conversation I verified their true condition (7/10 and 8/10). I remember when it seemed that all sellers went to great pains to rate conservatively and fully describe flaws. It frustrates me to have to approach listings from a default of skepticism and become Mr. Buyer Detective. Is this new? Am I seeing phantoms? Overreacting?