What's going on with the used audio gear market?

@ghasley 

"I miss the good old days when Ike was prez" :-)

Gotta love a guy willing to call out the military-industrial complex. I miss that.

@curiousjim 

I’ve left three items  on the table in the last couple of months because the sellers were asking almost new prices for 2-3 year old DAC’s or Streamers and were unwilling to come down even a few percent.

Oh well, their loss.

Did those items ever sell? Did you go back to the ads to see what happened?

@dekay Is it "greed" to sell something at a price you want to sell it for? It might be foolish, if no one wants to buy it but if someone wants it at that price, why is this an example of a vice, greed?

I understand the desire among folks here to try to understand the causes of the increase in used gear prices, but the notion this represents some kind of moral failing on buyers and sellers is eluding me. It's one thing to charge high prices for insulin and another thing to charge (relatively) high prices for used gear. 

@curiousjim Thanks.

@waytoomuchstuff 

Anyone who sells below market value is a) not paying attention, b) not very good at 4th grade math, or c) an advocate for the greater good, unselfishly serving humanity.

Or...

(d) wants to get stuff out of their house and that is more important than money
(e) wants liquidity to pay for something else, and timing is more important than profit
(f) probably a bunch of other reasons.

I listed some speakers at about 83% of cost, new. I got very few nibbles. I lowered it to 73% of cost and sold them. I had a clear, detailed description and excellent photos. I was willing to wait 6 months to sell them at the new, lower price. Because, I don't need the money right away and could also listen to them while they were listed.

@dekay 

Some of the sales listings I see are either greed or sellers who are not clear on the concept of value.

They are willing to take the risk of an item not selling because they have a price in mind that they want. Who am I to judge that as "greed"?

It's their price -- it's their calculation.

If they get their price, we've established what the market will bear.

If they don't get their price, they suffer the opportunity cost of spending more of their time trying to sell it.

I cannot fathom how greed comes into it at all.

"I cannot fathom how greed comes into it at all."

But then, I can easily fathom such and wonder what these sellers are basing their asking price on.

I cannot fathom what you think "greed" is, then.

Take an uncontroversial definition (via Wikipedia):

"Greed (or avarice) is an uncontrolled longing for increase in the acquisition or use of material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions); or social value, such as status, or power." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed

The notion that someone setting a price for used gear that is higher than what many others want to pay is an instance of "greed" suggests to me that we inhabit very different realities. 

@dekay

Did you step on my toes? No.

Your concept of "greed" includes someone setting a price for used gear that is higher than what others want to pay.

All I’m saying is calling this kind of action "greed" stretches the word beyond useful limits.

Surprised this makes no sense to you. Seems plain as day.

Let’s leave it there.