A trend I've noticed in ads.

Overall, with stuff that I've BOUGHT it's all been great--the products and the communication.  In fact, I've never done a deal here that hasn't worked out.  I've had gear that didn't like--never any fraud or undisclosed issues/damage. 

Some adds of stuff I want but haven't bought seem to have funky sellers behind them.   Sellers who won't take an offer within 90-95% of ask, yet they want offers and don't say "firm" or I don't have much room.  I've had plenty of offers come in at 50-75% of my ask and always respond.   

Someone above mentioned the seller who is moving, <100 hrs, etc.  I hear that.  Yet, I also try to understand when a seller is trying to be honest in justifying their price.  

On the Audiogon grading scale, "New" means sealed from the factory.  Never opened.  That seems simple enough to understand.

"10/10" means less than a year old with NO signs of use or wear.  

It shouldn't be that hard to determine if your gear fits these descriptions, but some people do seem to have trouble with it.

But when I get stuff from the manufacture I always open the box and verify that it’s there/correct. Such as I just ordered a pair of high frequency diaphragms for a pair of speakers that I have. When I got them I opened the box to verify that they were correct but I’ve never installed or used them. I would still want to list them as new.
I guess I would explain in the ad that I opened the box but they’ve never been installed…

Deceptive and misleading advertisements are all too common everywhere on the Internet. Even on eBay and Amazon. I’ve been burned and both of those portals have supported the seller - because they get paid by them. There is a plague of cowards on social media- not just the keyboard warriors who live here and elsewhere for the sole purpose of creating acrimony, but those who lie, steal and cheat without any consideration of the damage they do to others.