JohnK your comment "Who buys used headphones anyway? Like buying a used shoe..." is quite surprising.
I beleive that for most folks, headphones are a secondary items compared to speakers (not everyone of course, but I would think a good 80%).
Headpnone have pad or earcovers that can be fully cleaned borderline aseptized when not completely replaced for not much money. Your "shoe" analogy bears no comparison here. Now, maybe you find $29.95 box-store specials ok, and there's nothing wrong with that.
But if you are shopping for headphones in the $300 a $1,500 price bracket, and wish to pay full retail, be my guest. |
I can only speak for myself but when I buy an expensive piece of gear I treat it with kid gloves.. I do that for two reasons first I think it's a sin to not take care of any product that's expensive or beautifully made.. Kind of like the rich a'hole who buys a Porsche or BMW and treats it like crap, never washed, door dings, wheels curbed.. I'm sure you've all seen what I'm talking about, too much money and no class. The other reason is that at some point I'll most likely sell the piece of gear and I want to get as much money back as I can, sell it as quickly as I can, and not have to make any apologies about it's condition, or that I'm a dick for not taking care of it :-) |
Oh,
I've also seen statements "checked by my tech(or dealer) for excellent operational condition few weeks ago"
After unpacking and connecting the unit, you find that the balance knob is off middle position almost to 2 o'clock and indeed you need to keep it there otherwise channels are out of balance. After slight tech-check with DMM immediately found that one of the output transistors gone short. Obviously there was some "cut the cwap" conversation involved about how-to-be-honest-101. |
Yes, all gear is lightly used in a smoke free, pet free, (fish tanks don't count)and child free environment |
Hifihvn, your missing "remote" scenario (or any undisclosed missing component) is a real peeve of mine as well. Why should a buyer even have to specifically ask if all the original accessories are present? One would "naturally" assume all OEM items should be included, but as you've discovered, your purchase would've arrived without it. And when you confront some seller afterwards, regarding the missing items, merely faults YOU for not asking in advance and refuses to assume any responsibility.
One of my previous Audiogon purchases stated "box" and "manual" in their ad. What actually showed up was a standard cardboard box with a Pass Aleph-5 amp surround by Styrofoam peanuts, BUT, though the OEM box was folded up like origami and tucked inside. Should I really have to ask any specific questions in advance within THAT scenario?
Regarding yet *another* recent EBay transaction; the item was listed as "New-in-box". Anyone selling/buying on EBay, with 200 positive feedback, should know EBay's grading criteria at face value by then, or can read the criteria if in unsure. What I received was a box with several *previous* shipping labels, each item showing light usage, and a used/substituted AC power adaptor. I expected a brand new item, so a claim had to filed. EBay sided with me, but the seller just refused to acknowledge EBay's grading criteria and had the audacity to say I was too fussy and nit-picky, even after Ebay pointed out his error! A few of my Audiogon nightmares were quite similar and have dramatically reduced my trust, plus the current feedback system as mentioned before. |
If you ask the seller the date of manufacture you can find out if he's full of s***. When the seller avoids the question in his response... maybe he's not the original owner as stated or the gear is much older then claimed. Sometimes the seller doesn't even respond. I don't think this question is to intrusive? |
Revisiting this thread, lot's of very entertaining posts! |
Ok lets think about this. Most of us have jobs, that means we get about 3 hours after work each night of free time. So maybe 2 to 3 nights and 2 hours on those nights to listen.
If we have kids then that go's down to about 1 hour per night of free time and maybe 2 night of listening at low levels because of the children.
Now we have the weekends, if no children 5 hours per day and with children 3 hours at most.
No Children, 14 hours a week = 728hrs+ per year.
With children 7 hours a week lol = 364hrs+ per year.
Light use I would say yes.
If an owner is like me. I work very long hours during the summer and winter fixing A/C and heating systems. I have very little time to listen if any. I save up to buy new things during the Spring & Fall so some items I have even though a couple of years old really have little time on them. I have an IDecco I purchased a few years ago to see if I liked computer audio. I used it as a DAC for the one spring season. I have not sold it yet because I may have use for it in another room. Even though it is a few years old I will state low use in the ad.
How often do we really put our systems to their limits and abuse them. I cannot be in my room if I set the system to abuse levels anyhow and would be visited by the police if I did.
All this is out the window if the person is under 25 as all I did back then was blare my system.
What gets me is most of us are happy to buy Demo equipment because of the warranty but that equipment is used the most of all and could have 5 time more use at higher levels than used equipment.
IMHO |
"It seems to be a law of the universe that all tubes have 200 hours on them"
Yes this is really funny but to me what's funnier still is "NOS" tubes with "low hours" being advertised as NOS. There should be two descriptions for the old tubes from days yonder that are coveted by audiophiles, UsedOS and NewOS. If it's used how can it be new? With the prices of some of these desirable tubes rising to ridiculous levels it will eventually get onto the radar of the professional scammers that are always looking for an angle to make a fast buck or has it already?:) Cavaet Emptor, especially with "lightly" used NOS tubes. |
This means they used it with a light on. |
I'm lucky if my rig gets used once a week spring though the end of summer. Then it's 10 hours a week tops in the winter. |
Im in the same boat as Donjr. Once spring hits Im outside all the time,rarely turn the rig on. Summer comes its so hot in my house I cant sit and relax. Never have used my system for background music,if I cant sit in the sweet spot for awhile it aint going on! Basically have moderate use in the fall/ winter. I feel comfortable saying my equipment has light/moderate use when I sell. |
Same here, light use in general. I refuse to even run in cables because I won't add time on my tubes, I cook them 1 album at a time.
Also, light use means just that with most audiophiles who try a lot of different stuff and do a lot of trading. That is the case with me. |
For some people I suspect light use means they didn't prop their car up on their monoblocks while changing a tire. There are those who have systems in vacation homes, some who have very little free time ( more money than time), and those who don't listen much because their system doesn't engage the listener.
For the most part, I would expect a really good sounding piece to be listed as "heavy, heavy, use-- it sounds so good I can't turn it off." Be forewarned, if I sell a piece as lightly used, you don't want it. |
I love the sellers trying to unload a CD player (yeah, a CD player) that they paid like $20,000 for a few years ago for $12,000. WOW. Try $2,000 maybe. Who is buying these CD players that cost as much as a car???
Take almost ANY decent DAC around $2,000-$4,000 range with good hi-rez 24/96k or 24/192k files and listen to it DESTROY that CD player ALL DAY LONG and twice on Sunday.
This is the reason that many hi-end stores stopped even carrying them and hi-end manufacturers stop making CD player at all. Wadia (one of the "leaders" in digital according to many), stopped making CD players alltogether, as well as many others.
My local hi-end dealer says they are taking LINN DS units under $3,000 and going head-to-head with $10,000+ CD players all the time.
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The beaten up, heavily used stuff is sold on EBay. |
