Previous Ownership...does it matter to you?


I'm curious as to how others feel about knowing the previous ownership history when purchasing used audio equipment. Not necessarily who specifically owned as that's usually not possible but how many owners.

It might give you a glimpse into whether the item has been shipped back and forth from coast to coast in the US, Canada, or another country and if there's something not as advertised with the item since it continues to change hands too frequently.

I recently exchanged messages with a seller of a previous set of very nice speakers I previously owned. I knew the complete history, the buyer listed himself as the third owner when in fact he was the fifth owner. When I shared the details, his response was "could care less about ownership and how many times it's changed hands....".

I was surprised by the response. The obvious reason to understand ownership it's one of the listing rules from both Audiogon and US Audiomart in regards to the rating scale. Both Audiogon and US Audiomart are specific that anything a 9 or above must be single owner. In the case I reference above, the seller lists as a 9 even knowing he's the fifth owner. 

What is your approach to knowing ownership history? Does it matter or not to you?

128x128jcoehler

Showing 3 responses by falconquest

This is something that drives me nuts! I like to try different gear. I have purchased numerous pieces of equipment to try them out simply because I have heard excellent things about them and I may keep them 6 months or so. A Coda CSIB Integrated is just one example. I only buy gear that is in excellent shape (I don't care how many owners it has had) and I sell it in the same condition if not better. So somehow my ownership of the item has tainted it in some manner? I don't give a hoot if ten people have owned it. What matters to me is the condition. How is a piece any better if only one person has owned it or worse if three people have if it's in excellent condition? It's used gear and you are saving a ton of money (usually) over new.

I have a Plinius integrated for sale right now that is a current model that is less than half the original price and people act like since someone owned it prior to me It is somehow tainted and to be avoided. It's an excellent amp! It's in like new condition......it's less than half price! I don't get this obsession with "Are you the original owner?" or "how old is it?" Who cares! If I had held equipment I have tried to the same standard, I wouldn't have tried so many different pieces of gear. Geez, get over it folks. You're buying something used in "X" condition at a price much lower than new. What more do you want? As you can tell this obsession with ownership drives me crazy!

@alerrico BTW, If I were in the market for your DAC I would buy it without concern. I don't care about its history.

@alerrico You just made my point perfectly. Nearly all of my equipment has been bought used. If we all (as a community) respect the equipment and are honest in our dealings then I don't see an issue with how many times something has been sold. Just like your DAC, I bought an amp from a guy that was in excellent shape. I take it out of the box, put it in my rack plug it in and enjoy it. I don't beat it up, I take care of my gear and when I sell it, I take it out of the rack, put it back in the box and it's in the same condition as when I bought it. How do I know if the guy that sold it to me is telling me the truth about how many owners it has had? Why would he necessarily even know? It's "X" piece of gear in "X" condition for "X" price Take it or leave it!