Wow, everything posted for sale is ''light use''??

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.