Why pay "more" for USED??


Ok, I know you must be thinking this thread is titled wrong, but I just came across an Ebay ad where a pair of B&W Nautilus 802's sold for $8,101 used! To make matters worse they were all screwed up. It has pics of the midrange cabinet all scratched and the ad says the tweeters are dented. I'm beside myself on how someone could spend "over" retail (N802's retail for $8k) for a pair of used speakers that are f'd up anyway. If your spending $8k on speakers don't you do some research first??
Don't believe me? Here's the ad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1226445468
mcoker
I have to agree with Macm that something doesn't smell right. However, I really don't believe the seller's were trying to cheat since they included and honest and very detailed discription of the speakers. I thought it might be shield bidding. That's when one person bids a low amount and his "buddy" bids a ridiculously high amount to ward off other bidders. At the last minute the high bidder cancels his bid and the low-ball bidder wins. But if you look at the history it didn't work that way. Who knows...
Look a little deeper. There is another auction on eBay for a pair if 802'2, a pair of 805's, and a HTM1 all NIB for $8k no reserve. It is hard to understand how one would pay so high for damaged speakers when so much more is available in another auction. I agree with Macm - it looks like shill bidding to me.
I watch eBay quite frequently, looking for a "steal", and often notice items going for well above market for new. I even saw an email from a retailer who sells on eBay to a bidder that bid above what the retailer sells the item for new (smart marketing). I have found that, for midfi consumer electronics, you can go to www.pricescan.com and find what the item is selling for new on the net.
Cheers.
It seems to me thatthe "Buy it Now" feature on eBay is agreat addittion. If something has a fair (or even cheap) Buy it Now price, and it is what you want, just get it, don't screw with the auction. Of course, you may not be able to get a real "steal" but it seems thise things are pretty rare anyway.
Some guy was just recently selling a pair of Nautilus 803s on eBay that he claims he paid something like $6600 for new. His "buy it now" price was the $5000 new list price. It was not a dealer, just a dishonest person.
I check out E-Bay sometimes as well as some other auction sites in regard to this insane hobby of ours. I think this site is the best hands down! However, I would like to add the following. Even on this site, there are those who simply want too much for there gear. I don't want to get into trouble with anyone, so I won't be specific. But right now on this site in nearly every category, there are asking prices that are actually offensive in my opinion. The best advice I can give to you all is this: Don't even respond to the seller. Just ignore there auction or classified ad, and they'll get the point soon enough. I realize that it is the right of the "seller" to ask for any price they want, but it is also your right as the "buyer" to beware and ignore a ridiculous if not laughable ad/auction when your experienced eyes see one.