@steakster -- I know this is an aside from the OP, but I'm confused and interested. You said:
Re: integrity. Years ago, my expensive preamp was stolen. It was sold on Audiogon at a dirt cheap price. The identical serial # was visible in the photos. I contacted the buyer and explained the situation. I offered to buy it back for what he paid - plus shipping. No loss for him. He refused. I was confounded by his obstinance. Fortunately, another Audiogon member suggested ’to let it go’ - before the stress did even more damage.
If it was your stolen Preamp being sold, and the Serial Numbers even matched, why was this even an issue? You contact Law Enforcement who can identify the seller from a warrant issued to Audiogon which gives them the person's name and address. If the stolen Preamp crossed state lines it is even further up the chain of illegality. Why were you dealing with the person that bought the stolen Preamp and offering to buy it back from them? Did you file a police report when it was stolen? Did you have pictures of your gear and the Serial Numbers to prove ownership? I'm trying to figure out if I missed something when reading your post -- I was skimming through the thread.
Thanks, and I'm sorry you had to go through that. I have every piece of audio gear that I've ever owned since 1977 except for two items that were stolen during a home robbery in 1990, and to this day I wish I had 5 minutes alone with the hoodrats they caught. My gear was never recovered -- a Dual 1219 turntable and a Kenwood KA-9100 Integrated Amp. Neither piece is of great dollar value but they held big sentimental value to me because they were part of my first "big boy" stereo system. I despise thieves.