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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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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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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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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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 $250 old dog. Gave up practically trying to give away tons of old audio magazines, only bites were fake Facebook entities inquiring about audio equipment I may have. I gave up tossed all the mags in garbage.
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Another option you can explore that I’ve taken advantage of is selling speakers through a local dealer who sells used and vintage equipment as well as new equipment. That way, you can still put an ad online, but you don’t have to mess with the buyers. Also, people have the option to listen to the speakers, and it exposes the speakers to a wider audience. They charge 10% commission but it’s worth it.
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Is Zelle really safe? I read where the buyer could tell the bank the transaction wasn't authorized and that would be a chargeback with Zelle
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Selling tower speakers and other high-$ 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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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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Only good experience with local sales on Audiogon...though none past 1+ years...
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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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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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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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These are focal speakers that are for $4k... even with that type of amounts?
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Getting. jacked for a pair of speakers - not likely!
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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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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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