Buying Used Equipment on the Internet

I've purchased all but my source used. I've turned over my system twice buying  used gear at a fraction of the new price and never had an issue. My advice buy used locally  i.e. how far you are willing to drive so you can test drive the used gear before purchase and pay a return visit if needed period, amen. Now I'm a jersey guy so I'm in a predominantly urban/suburban setting which makes this process easier.  Know the brand up for sale and only buy gear with a  good reputation for quality and performance. You may not get the brands you crave but you will get great gear nontheless.

A cautionary tale for you.   As a recent college grad I bought used Adcom gear, (highly recommended), many decades ago  and  for a third of the new price I might add,and Snell c2 mk.2 speakers as well. First day I attached bare speaker cables to the used Snells and the  Adcom 200 watt amp turned it on and woops I shorted out the amp as my bare speaker wire hit both of its terminal's lesson learned don't use bare wires it only takes one thin strand of copper to crash your amp. Lucky for me Adcom was located around New Brunswick NJ a short drive from home. They told me to bring in the amp with some donuts for payment and fixed it while I waited. I had that gear for 40 problem free years!  Sold it just to try something else which was a used a Technics integrated sug700 and Canton 9k reference speakers both were just a couple of months old and for a song. I was aware many audiophiles are a well healed, obsessive, and demanding turns out all good attributes for bottom feeders who don't have the denero for high end or even mid fi gear or who are Scottish (which is my case).  

New or Used:

We hear horror stories of unresolved problems, unfortunately sometimes we have to 'blame the victim'.

1. Used:

how old? How heavily used, repair parts available, brand dealer(s), service shop near you?

2. Shipping, Insurance: (item MUST be double boxed or claim will be denied). Take photos, outside arrival, inside, layer by layer.

Seller pays for insurance you request, so any potential claim will be by seller. Documentation of Damage/Improper Packaging by Buyer. Delays, confusion, frustration.

Local Pick-Up Only: use UPS Pack and Ship (you pay, insurance is in your name), Can be costly, but if you want it:.

You give size and weight to UPS, they give you an estimate.

You have seller simply drop off the unpackaged item to nearby UPS in your name.

UPS gives you an exact price, and they are responsible for damage.

3. FUND you PayPal account with your best credit card, thus having their protection. If big purchase, call CC co. and confirm you are covered.

4. eBay and PayPal Protection

Search for 'returns accepted' pay a bit more if not too much

Ask Questions IN WRITING, via eBay, before buying, so you can document seller's answers in case of later problem

PayPal Protection (about 3% add on): Must be an 'Invoice for Goods', NOT 'Friends and Family' (could just be sending money as far as PayPal knows). You can offer to pay the 3% extra to the buyer to get them to agree.

I, my wife, my sister-in-law all have had good support for things gone wrong. Refunds, sometimes free return shipping, not always.

5. Reverb:

same thing, ask questions so you have a record of seller's answers. Reverb helped me with a problem, quickly, choice: partial refund or return. I took the refund and sold the unit to Steve at VAS.

6. US audio mart; Canuck audio mart.

Haven't had a problem, I would read their rules, write them to confirm. Ask seller questions. I have bought from both sites without problems.

Amazon: used or refurbished. (new stuff too).

Right Side of listing: Sold By? Ships From? It is nice to have Amazon in one of those answers. They have accepted many returns, most with simple drop off, unpackaged, and often free return shipping. Always ask seller for answers, their responses tell you something about them.

Pay: via PayPal funded by your best CC. I have Amazon Chase, get 5% off all Amazon purchases, other discounts here and there. No annual fee. I checked with them before buying my Tonearm from Russia. Chase has assured me they will cover a problem.

Warranties:

1. 'Open Box'. Legitimate Brand Dealer? Many times, not always, open box is the initial sales date, and you get maker's full warranty. You must get an invoice stating 'open box'. Most often all you need is a copy of the original sales receipt.

2. Transferrable? Check before you buy. Some are, some not, some easy, some complicated documentation required. My Russian Tone Arm, I called Square Trade, before I bought a warranty for electronics in the price range. Told them: 'no parts or dealer  in US'. They said they would cover  the cost of repair or replacement or full refund. Silk Insulation wore off litz wire: Had VAS re-wire the tonearm, full reimbursement.

 

 

 

 

Most of my audio equipment was purchased used via Audiogon, US Audiomart, Canuck Audiomart, and Ebay. I’ve had good experiences thus far. The best way to protect yourself is to use a service like PayPal which offers buyer protection in case the equipment you purchase is not as represented, or if you’ve been scammed.

Also avoid using PayPal Friends and Family, since it removes any buyer protections that regular PayPal offers. Check seller feedback, and get as much information from them as you can regarding the particular piece of audio gear you are interested in purchasing. This should include as many photos as possible as well as a piece of paper in each photo listing the current date so that you know that the photos are recent and not taken of someone else’s listing for the equipment (as part of a scam - this has been happening a lot more frequently over the past few years).

I do it all the time and yes, it’s can be a crap shoot. The biggest advice I can give you is look at the seller’s history, if there is none or very little forget it. Beware or listings where the gear is shown in a cellphone screen shot. Ask questions. Ask about how it’s going to be shipped, asked that it be double boxed. Be wary of sellers that are overseas or prices to go to be true. These are a few of my deal killers. With experience, it can be rewarding and you get get great deals from fellow audiophiles that are honest and truly care. Good luck. 

Do your due diligence and you will be fine. My last buyer was very reluctant to send money via friends or family or bank transfer. I spoke to him as many as 5 times before he felt comfortable sending money. My last four sale transactions were all over $10K and all of them were either using friends n family or bank transfer. Communications is the key in cash equivalent or any transactions, you can easily pick up red flags in conversing with your buyers or sellers.