I do it all of the time, though any salesperson thoroughly qualifies the potential buyer. I use Craigslist exclusively for local sales but Offer UP and Facebook Marketplace can work as well. Have sold dozens of items on Craigslist, as recently as last week, and have never had a scammer. Though there are plenty of flakes, but that just comes with the territory. YMMV. Summer is also, historically, the slowest time of the year for audio sales.
I would think that Austin would have a very vibrant used audio scene, like we have here in Portland OR. Sometimes it just takes time and patience. Good luck with it.
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+1 @viridian
I'm near Austin and have sold multiple items for cash and local pickup only. Speakers, turntable and amplifier. Always used craigslist for those sales. Never had an issue. Even dropped some off midway to the buyer's location when I felt confortable doing so. Much easier to find local buyers on Craigslist than USAudiomart.
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Getting. jacked for a pair of speakers - not likely!
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These are focal speakers that are for $4k... even with that type of amounts?
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Wow, no scammers! Doesn't matter what I list, Craigslist is a scammers paradise. Facebook Marketplace has it's fair share, easier to spot as they generally have some pretty strange 'friends' and no content. I totally expect it with every sale, most scammers use same old tactics, some are more subtle. And there are people coming up with new scams every day, scamming is a 'profession' these days.
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In recent months I have sold more than 1 item via US Audio Mart & Facebook Marketplace and used the local pickup option. You get all walks of life. Their cash money works for me.
Never an issue.
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I've had really good luck on Craigslist. The last few items I brought to the prospective buyers , I made it easy for them to listen and buy.
I sold a pair of Omega speakers in April , I brought them to RI . I live in Mass but it was worth the 25 min ride. We set the speakers up, huge smile on his face once the music started. I knew I wasnt going home with them.
Was worth the minimal effort. It's a tough climate for luxury items and toys . I can't remember if that sale was Craigslist or FB marketplace. I don't use Facebook but sometimes I'll have my girlfriend list stuff on marketplace for additional exposure
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Only good experience with local sales on Audiogon...though none past 1+ years...
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Have a conversation with them about the loudspeakers and their system. When they come to pick them up let a friend know and arrange to contact them after the sale. The buyer with $4k in cash has more to worry about being scammed then you do.
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Selling tower speakers and other high-$ gear locally just takes more time, usually to find a buyer. Any local ad I make always includes "Cash or Zelle in person" in the ad.
In y experience, the serious buyers are usually easy to spot when they ask a simple question like, "When can you show/ demo these." On FB, you can also see their profile, what town they live in, if local, sometimes they list their employer, etc. You can see that they are a real person and perhaps someone with means if they have pictures of their other audio gear in their FB page.
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Is Zelle really safe? I read where the buyer could tell the bank the transaction wasn't authorized and that would be a chargeback with Zelle
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Another option you can explore that I’ve taken advantage of is selling speakers through a local dealer who sells used and vintage equipment as well as new equipment. That way, you can still put an ad online, but you don’t have to mess with the buyers. Also, people have the option to listen to the speakers, and it exposes the speakers to a wider audience. They charge 10% commission but it’s worth it.
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I too have heard about bad things with Zelle and some of these other bank to bank transfers, wire transfers are safest. Cash is king, counterfeit bills, carrying a lot of cash could be issues. Can't believe people aren't mentioning issues dealing with mountains of scammers, yeah, their mostly just pests if you're familiar with selling on web, but they never cease to bother. Tire kickers another form of pest, some of these are complete phonies, trying to see if you have other items worth coming back to steal. I know any number of people who now refuse to sell on these platforms since they're rife with scammers. At this very moment I have old riding lawn mower for sale on Facebook, there are scammers even for this $250 old dog. Gave up practically trying to give away tons of old audio magazines, only bites were fake Facebook entities inquiring about audio equipment I may have. I gave up tossed all the mags in garbage.
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If it's big and heavy enough, I always do local pickup; sold speakers and amps that way through Agon or USAM, the buyer came by with cash, we did the transaction, and everybody was happy. It takes longer to sell, of course, but it's worth it to me to not have to deal with shipping these things.
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Like @viridian I've never had a bad experience with craigslist. The worse it gets is those folks who insist on meeting in a supermarket parking lot, which is really annoying because you can't test the gear. But then again that lets you make a significantly lower offer on the item because, well, you can't test it.
From what I've heard though, the craigslist experience varies greatly from region to region. Around here it's pretty great, but one time I sold a truck to a guy who had just moved to town who, as soon as we were done, started gushing about how pleased he was with the transaction and what a great seller I was... To me it had been a pretty normal transaction, definitely nothing special, so I asked what do you mean, and he explained that in NJ craigslist is unsafe, you never go alone to a meetup if you carry cash, etc. Which explained to two guys he'd brought along I guess 😂
Occasionally you'll see some pretty high end components on local craigslist, up to $10K or so sometimes.
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I listed LRS + on a site and I had interested parties but they were giving me flack for wanting cash. $850 is NOT a crazy amount of cash to carry. I paid cash for them and that’s how they will be sold. You’re coming to my house to get them. What are people worried about? I took them offline after 2 guys wouldn’t pay cash. I put the speakers downstairs in the basement. I don’t need them gone that badly.
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I have a suggestion. You can ship large items without having to package them using an independent LTL Shipper. You'll get a much better price for your speakers if you can open it up nation-wide.
Several years ago I shipped a large item to big to pack using one of the sites where you ask for quotes. Sorry, it was a while back so I don't remember which one, but there are several to choose from like uShip, Shiply, etc. I found a guy who was already going past me, and my destination, on an upcoming trip. He just bungeed it inside his box trailer and charged me way less than what you would pay to ship via UPS!
Good luck!
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Zelle is a bank wire, essentially. There is no recourse or charge-backs by the buyer. It's the only 100% safe electronic payment I know of, (for the seller).
Venmo, Paypal, and the like are backed by a credit card to which the buyer could contact and file a claim/ dispute resulting in the seller losing out.
The other option would be to contact TMRAudio.com and see what they would offer for your speakers. I've heard nothing but good things about them.
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Can't say I have had any issues with using Canuck Audio Mart here in Canada.
I have bought and sold well over 100 items and, except for a couple of idiots, everything has been good. Marketplace is a different story because of the relative anonymity and vast number of users.
I'd be interested it what "details that lead (you) to cancel the arrangements before they happened".
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Venmo, Paypal, and the like are backed by a credit card to which the buyer could contact and file a claim/ dispute resulting in the seller losing out.
Yep. Ask me how I found out
I'd be interested it what "details that lead (you) to cancel the arrangements before they happened".
+1
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@bubba12 - too right - $850 is not much when it comes to cash transactions. I've had buyers who were happy to bring over thousands of dollars in cash.
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Zelle is better than cash. It is instant, not reversible and you don’t have to worry about counterfeit bills. You cannot do a chargeback with Zelle.
the only potential issue is transaction limits for the sender.
for security, I give the street / cross street but not the house number until the buyer is close by, and always meet in daylight with someone else around .
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The only reason I persist in using Craigslist and Facebook is eventually there is usually a successful transaction, just resigned to having to deal with the professional scammers.
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I know there’s a literal plethora of scams out there nowadays, but for those of us who haven’t had to sell anything online anytime recently, can you folks elaborate on some of the primary scams you’ve heard about or run into lately ?
Thanks.
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Craigslist is just a scammer's paradise. And FB Marketplace isn't a bed of roses either. Many time wasters there.
I haven't used CL in years but I keep a "fake" FB account just for the purpose of buying and selling. No way I'm putting my real identity out there.
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@larsman I have sold a pair of speakers for 11k cash. $850 is nothing and I would rather not deal if someone is AFRAID to carry $850. I was laughing. C’mon man.
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If cash is an issue, how about a cashier's check?
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If cash is an issue, how about a cashier's check?
Forged cashier's checks are all over the place. Of course you can call the bank to verify. Oh, it's 6 pm! The buyer was held up in traffic
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Unfortunately, some items are too much for a cash transaction. If possible meet the person at his bank with the sale item and have him go in and get the cash or bank check. It’s a safe place to do a transaction.
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I'd go with craigslist for those sales. Make sure you take cash only and if the gear is small enough, meet the buyer in a public place such as a coffee shop. For large speakers, yes the garage is a great idea to keep strangers out of your listening room/rooms.
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Sorry for your troubles OP. Personally, I've had lots of good experiences on USAM. I prefer to do local buy/sell using cash only. But, We are not talking high dollar items here. The most was my Hegel h360 that I paid $2,600 for a few years ago. Met the guy in a busy mall parking lot. There have been a few flakes and tire kickers but mostly serious 'philes. Met quite a few nice guys and checked out their systems as a bonus. Maybe I've just been lucky?
Of course, never give any info/address until properly vetting. A phone call is a must. Best of luck!
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The Worse exposure had to a Scam, was when advertising on a German Sales Site for a wanted Cartridge.
I was sent info by an individual having claimed to have said Cart' Model along with a Photo Sent of a Photo ID Carts and a Payment Details.
After a period of non-communication, follow up contacts would be made, informing with assertiveness, the Sales Portal Criteria was met, as the Photo ID Card is presented, make the Payment now, or be removed from the sales portal.
Later Invoices started to be received for my having used the Sales Portal.
Scams within Scams within Scam.
Scammers of one type, have a model where Turnover of attempts will bring monies in, these types are not too challenging a probe and a move on to the next is the way to the monies being looked for.
Scammers of another type are more needy for the money, these types will persist and intimidate, or be extremely accommodating to get to the place they can manipulate the payment to be made or not pay themselves.
Scammers of another type, maybe with the most desperate needs are going to bring unwanted encounters. Working out if this type is in contact is a critical part of selling, but they do focus on smaller items that sell on very quickly. In Audio maybe a Very Rare and expensive Album might get a focus from this type.
Smart Water is ideal for items being sold that attracts the desperate scammers, due to a host of types of unwanted outcomes being real.
Vigilant Observation and Assessments are required to look after ones own interests and Welfare.
Many Years ago I had to go on a Trip of a Few Hundred Miles and I looked for a Camera Lens that was of interest as a used sale item.
I found one and a small detour was required to arrive at a Supermarket, which was the arranged meeting place.
I was quite early and standing near the Cash Points as agreed.
I was to notice at the far end of the Parking area, an individual looking at me for a while, to then see the individual popping up in other locations in the Parking area, almost like a Prairie Dog.
It took quite some minutes before the individual began to approach me.
I was happy with the description supplied for the lens history of the usage and the condition of the Lens and made the purchase without a haggle.
The Vendor got their opportunity to be Vigilant, Get their 10 000 Steps in and have a Closed Won Sale.
When this Lens was sold, it was Purchased by a Company supplying Props for Movies. Visual appearance was all that mattered and the lens sold uninspected by the buyer, who made a Bank Transfer Payment. I was able to make a small profit on a lens that was quite important as a learning tool for my Photography Interest.
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Some bad info on this thread, Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and the like are not without substantial risks, I wouldn't use any of them for big ticket transactions with strangers. I'm selling a car at this very moment on facebook marketplace, mostly time wasters, consignment services, scammer title services. Even giving out a VIN these days can open you up to more personal info than you'd imagine. One shouldn't minimize the risks associated with buying and selling with strangers, better to be safe than sorry.
I
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Just sold a pair of speakers on CL, no problem. Nice fella came with his wife and (always) cash, in and out in a couple of minutes. I imagine this has a lot to do with where you’re located.
Rural Connecticut is hardly a scammers paradise.
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I've only had two "bad" experiences selling, in both cases, the "customer" wanted to see the item "in person" before making the payment. In one case the guy showed up at my home and decided that he'd pay $600 less than we agreed to on the phone. In the other case, I drove about an hour west to meet the guy, who never showed up. I have had no issues selling items when the payment is done through the site the item is posted on.
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Bought and sold multiple audio items, I always get a name and address of the party I’m doing business with and do a thorough Google search. You can verify a person is who they say they are and much more.
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I have bought and sold audio equipment and had no problems...I have bought a big pair of speakers that just fit in my car..
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