Previous Ownership...does it matter to you?

This is something that drives me nuts! I like to try different gear. I have purchased numerous pieces of equipment to try them out simply because I have heard excellent things about them and I may keep them 6 months or so. A Coda CSIB Integrated is just one example. I only buy gear that is in excellent shape (I don't care how many owners it has had) and I sell it in the same condition if not better. So somehow my ownership of the item has tainted it in some manner? I don't give a hoot if ten people have owned it. What matters to me is the condition. How is a piece any better if only one person has owned it or worse if three people have if it's in excellent condition? It's used gear and you are saving a ton of money (usually) over new.

I have a Plinius integrated for sale right now that is a current model that is less than half the original price and people act like since someone owned it prior to me It is somehow tainted and to be avoided. It's an excellent amp! It's in like new condition......it's less than half price! I don't get this obsession with "Are you the original owner?" or "how old is it?" Who cares! If I had held equipment I have tried to the same standard, I wouldn't have tried so many different pieces of gear. Geez, get over it folks. You're buying something used in "X" condition at a price much lower than new. What more do you want? As you can tell this obsession with ownership drives me crazy!

As far as Carfax goes, it's not always accurate.  My father in law backed into someone in his corvette.    He didn't want a repair / accident record so he paid for both repairs and neither car had adverse Carfax Data. 

I have a friend who is a bodyman and it happens occasionally with collector cars.   Its not 100% accurate 

There are several retailers, in my area, that specialize in used equipment. They generally have service departments and only sell equipment that would be rated a 7/10 or better. Their prices are also somewhat higher than online or private sale. I have had excellent luck. I have no idea of how many previous owners.

I have also had excellent luck buying demo units from reputable retailers (Music Direct, Audio Advisor, etc.) and factory refurbs from Cambridge Audio which are probably customer returns.

Yes I’d like to know if it’s the original owner, or how many owners the piece had. If it was a demo. Absolutely. I have bought used gear and demos in the past without issues but full disclosure is always the best policy. 

About half the gear I’ve bought over the last 5 years is used. I’ve haven’t yet (knock on wood) had a bad experience. I have walked away from a few deals when my intuition told me something was fishy.

To me the first thing I look for is a sense of integrity from the seller. If I know a seller has lied to me or skirted the truth, I’m out. No matter how little the lie, without confidence in a buyer’s word, I’m gone.

An example, there was a guy selling an item some distance away for a very good price, third-hand. I asked for pictures. Pictures were great. However, I know the pictures had been modified to cover up some cosmetic blemishes. I passed. If the supplied pictures had been un-modified (showing the blemishes), I would have gladly completed the deal. 

After that, it’s condition (both cosmetic and functional). Pluses are original packing materials. Modifications are red flags (unless a vintage item where a refurbishment is appropriate).