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Auditioning Used Equipment - Am I crazy ?

I reached out to a well respected dealer to see if I could audition an amp they had advertised on one of the used gear websites.  This amp sells for over $20k and they were asking around $10k.  This mfgr only has 12 dealers nationwide.  I've heard their extreme high end equipment at shows but not this particular line.  To my surprise, the dealer responded No.  The unit was already boxed up to ship (hasn't been sold yet) and they wouldn't set it up for me.  So my questions are:

Am I crazy asking to audition a component priced at $10k ?

For any dealers or dealer salespeople, is there a dollar amount where u turn auditions down at ?  What is it ?

For consumers, is there a dollar amount that you would buy a component and roll the dice without auditioning it ?

Thanks !

 

greenngoldcheesehead
limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,286 posts
 

I don't blame you,I have been burned a few times with used equipment,and at a 10k asking price,I don't blame you. 

immatthewj
1,783 posts
 

@immatthewj the fact the unit was $10k is what blew my mind.  This isnt a mCIntosh where you can go anywhere to hear it.  Who the heck drops $10k on a used product with extremely limited distribution / demand  that they've never heard besides a flipper ?  I get the points some are making that the dealer may not make as much on used - but then do you want $10k of cash sitting out there for 4 months ?  No.  You want to churn and burn.  Makes absolutely no sense.

I am in 100% agreement with you on that.

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,578 posts
 

Who the heck drops $10k on a used product with extremely limited distribution / demand  that they've never heard besides a flipper ? 

Someone who has heard the item elsewhere and knows he wants it.

russbutton's avatar
russbutton
420 posts
 

@greenngoldcheesehead Hasn’t anyone ever lied to you before? The dealer didn’t want to audition the amp for you had other reasons than just being snotty. He may have a new amp to sell you with a higher profit margin. Or he may be holding it for another customer who is willing to take it without audition. Or... think of any number of selfish excuses. Clearly your business isn’t important to him.

Keep in mind that being an hi-end audio dealer is an inherently shady way to make a living. You're buying and selling extremely expensive products to an insanely nit-picky crowd. No shortage of neurotic customers demanding only the very best and changing their minds at the last minute. Selling to this market involves a whole lot of BS and nonsense in pitching their products.

I have no advice to give to anyone who buys gear at your prices. I would *NEVER* drop that kind of loot on an amp, even if I had it to spend. Some of the very most extraordinary sound I’ve ever heard in an audio presentation was a pair of properly set up Dutch & Dutch 8c loudspeakers. They retail at about $15k, but it’s THE WHOLE SYSTEM - amps, active crossover, DSP EQ, DAC... Just add a digital source and you’re done. No need for exotic loudspeaker cables, cable lifts, piles of hardware littering the end of your room. Just two speakers on stands, power cabling and hard ether cables going to them. Add your digital source and you have a complete audio system, clean as can be.

I recommend you reach out to Dutch & Dutch and arrange an audition. They’ll bring it out to the house! Guaranteed to blow your mind.

coppy777
136 posts
 

I’ll bet you are attracted because the price is below market. My guess is the dealer took this unit in for trade and may have more in it than he’d like. He boxed it and priced it low to sell on the net and wants no hassle. Figures the brand will sell itself at the right price. Right or wrong, he’s there. Move on. This amp and dealer aren’t the only fish in the sea. For that money lot’s of great amps for sale.

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