Are Fall Sales Leveling Out in the Used Market?

Maybe.

Given supply chain disruptions continuing, I'd not predict the shift you describe. If anything, I'd expect the used market to shift toward sellers.

The housing market appears to be cresting its top and that may be trickling into audio.  

Audio sales is very seasonal, with summer being the slowest.  The market is simply starting to wake up from summer.  

The 2% got theirs from 45 and continue to prosper until new tax laws are passed. Notice the recent crop of hyper-expensive cars on the street? What about the new McMansions cropping up in older areas of town? The winners are finally working their way down to their music systems, where the high end options abound and their end goals may be affected by pricing that I consider outrageous but they consider showy. So it’s time to unload the old Levinson gear for some new Soulution? We commoners get the good deal on the Levinson or ARC or speaker we always admired because it’s OUR TURN! Yes, the used market is becoming more reasonable now. Let’s see what happens after the chip shortage wanes. We’re going through a transitional time in the world of economics and anything can happen at this stage in the history of capitalism. Fasten seat belts!

Buyers are trying to get their dream systems before the sky falls.

That is totally me! I have this feeling like financial conditions are going to go through big changes. I want to get my system the way I want it ASAP. Could be entirely wrong, it's just how I'm feeling. 

...it seems at times that those who've lusted for their "End Times" have become impatient waiting for That Asteroid, so have put some moves into motion to make an equivalent that will be much like previous efforts...

Ill conceived, bad for most, disarray of a level uncounted apon, a tar baby that will stick to all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4gME2g40uA

...see you at the camps....;)

....if the weather co-operates, the bicycle's tires hold up, the SPAM is edible...

Hello,
I just ordered some new gear. I found out that Harmon who owns Revel, ML, Arcam, JBL and a few others are raising their prices 10% October 1st. They are not the only ones. All the companies are raising or have raised their prices. This will definitely have an impact on the used market. If you have been holding out on getting certain gear especially new gear you might want to pull out your credit card. 10% is a big jump and this might not be the end due to the cost of raw goods. It’s time to take some of that savings and pull the trigger before you get priced out. If you need any gear in the Chicagoland area this store has a try before you buy policy. https://holmaudio.com/
They just got in the brand new PSB T600 and B600 speakers. These are great value for money speakers and the fit and finish is amazing. 

I’m just noticing better quality inventory lately than over the past year- many Pass, Vac, Aesthetix, Coda, etc. Last year it was one or two questionable amps and some McIntosh collectibles at 300% over value.  
So some are saying these are the result of people trading up when their new inventory came in. I’d imaging a small percent from downsizing after fed money tightened up. I hear you with the traditional fall market too-agree completely. Tubes are also a fall favorite to heat things up so typically more SS comes up.

Good luck to all, feeling blessed through these odd times.

There's definitely been a push to get gear up on agon just this past week. I've been seeing inventory that I particularly want showing up and I check often so things do look to being up for sale. 

The "preowned hifi" market is beginning to thrive again - it may be seasonal but I suspect that it is also a consequence of extensive delays in the product supply chain. The chip shortage is another phenomenon entirely and that may not abate for several years.

Zero Fidelity thinks prices will increase and remain at the new level after the increase. I haven't examined the used market to know whether there's more supply, less demand, than earlier this year. But, if the HiFi market generally trends the way the car market has, we may see price increases and shortages for new equipment, which may affect the used market. 

What no one has said is the elephant in the room IMHO: We're all getting older. I'm seeing more ads for systems that were left behind by a deceased spouse or downsizing due to a change in lifestyle and/or dormicile.

In my own case for instance, I live in WA however next month I have to travel to FL to help my sister with my now deceased parent's condo. A big part of that is picking up my pop's hi-fi gear... VPI, Sota, Levinson, Meridian, Pioneer, Jadis pre and amp and a pair of B&W Matrix 800's.

The turntables and electronics I will most likely upgrade my system with but WTF am I going to do with those huge B&Ws??

https://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/691bw800/index.html

They won't work in our current home, which we love, and which we're planning on being in for another 5-8 years. Putting them in climate controlled storage for those 5-8 years will run me $7200-$11K in fees!

I also collect Lionel trains and we're seeing the same thing in that hobby. Premium collections coming on the market because folks are selling their dads', grandad's or uncle's old trains...

But to get back to the OP's comments, I agree with your observation that there's more coming on the market these days. So keep that in mind when you buy those huge floorstanding speakers: What are you leaving your family to deal with??


Happy listening.

If you buy now to beat inflation you are on a fool's errand.

You buy when a real need arises. Or you burn money.

All the hobbies boomers enjoyed are dying off.

Anyone who is married (or single) and owns collectibles should have
written instructions on how to liquidate these items and about
what to expect to get for them. 

If I could predict the economic trends I would writing for Wall Street
not reading audio forums.

Hello,
Musicfan2349. Sell them to a local Hifi store. They might gouge you but it costs you nothing. Plus they have the means to deliver it to their store. Another option is have them trucked out by freight. Florida is notorious for having nothing going out. Some drivers go empty to Georgia to pick up a load. You might want to check with Hifi stores in Georgia. They could get it delivered for $1 a mile. And maybe you can trade for a kickass cart or cable. 

I agree with Chorus on the legacy issue associated with left-behind stereo gear when an audiophile departs for that big listening-room in the sky. You can see it every day - family members/heirs generally have little use for most possessions of any category (except true luxury items). I'm going to make an assumption that most of us own stereo systems/electronics that represent a total outlay of over $20,000. I plan to leave some of my gear to friends, although many of them are aging out also. I have sold some major pieces this past year while the vintage/used market soared, realizing that once I'm gone, even my nicer stuff will be fodder for bargain-basement deals. Leaving written instructions that give approximate valuations can help the executors of estates navigate through the complicated arena of selling off electronics that a large segment of the population has no idea of how to use properly.

Wow! Never seriously considered it but 700,000 dead Americans of which 300,000 are male and maybe 10% own "decent" stereos. Can we figure 1% are serious "audiophiles"? 2%? That's about 6,000 deceased audiophiles this year just from Covid.
The whole concept is fascinating and needs closer inspection.

I've given up guessing....

Fred,

Agreed. But curious about why only 42.8 % of people dying are male?