Buying Used Speakers

As a seller, speakers are by far the worst item to sell.  When we say things like fully tested and performs flawlessly, I can tell you at least what I mean.  I connect them to my system and put them through their paces.  I listen to tracks and check if I hear static or distortion.  If everything checks out....it is fine.  These are speakers.  They are not that complex to test.  Incidentally, I do the same thing when I test gear.  Need to test all inputs and outputs and make sure everything works.  DACs and servers are most annoying things to test.  

That said, speakers are hardest item to ship.  I have had two issues in 5 years which is higher than on any other product type.  In one case, FedEx beat the hell out of the box and the base of the speaker was damage.  This was $150 item that was easily removed and replaced.  The other, FedEx beat the hell out of the box and a glued piece of wood came loose inside and knocked a wire loose on the crossover.  In that case, it was an inexpensive repair.  Both cases, I covered it. Clarify what happens with your seller if something goes wrong.  

Other notes.  I would want to see them in original packaging and depending on the type of speaker, might insist that it ships freight rather than UPS/FedEx.  I would flex on this if you were buying from a very reputable seller that has purchased packaging materials from someone like ULine or has it professionally packaged by FedEx.  Then if anything happens you have a checkmate on the people at FedEx and they have to pay the claim.  

I have absolutely no problem driving from New York City to, say, Ohio to pick up speakers I want. I know more often than not people generally don’t have a problem with FedEx or UPS, but if you’ve ever had a problem trying to collect on an insured audio shipment, you know how vulnerable to mumbo-jumbo fkery are. I don’t want to be a lawyer to get my money back on a lost or destroyed shipment. They don’t like to pay.

Buy speakers in your region of the country and...

A) You get your item on your timetable

B) If you’re going to pick up in, say, Pittsburgh, take your lovely spouse with you and spend a day doing whatever it is you do in Pittsburgh.

C) A $79 hotel stay, some gas & a day or two out with your friend, kid, S.O., etc still beats a fingers crossed 8 day $500 delivery fee- and you’re still on your schedule to hear those speakers you really wanted.

D) I’m not a believer in shipping speakers. You want them shipped right? Common carriers do a fine job with big, heavy, well packed fragile items, but thats a prohibitive expense.

I don’t feel this way about buying modern components via shipment. USPS has been absolutely 1000% spectacular over my entire time as an audio enthusiast. In terms price, time, value, tracking and safe arrival- I can’t ever say the same for audio shipments with UPS or even worse, FedEx.

I bought mine from a store that I'd been going to for decades with a strong reputation that given your s/n you probably know. The last pair of 2.4s they had were first sold months before I came in and found them, in the finish I wanted, no less.  Some high powered attorney with more money than time wanted the latest in speakers so I picked up his 3month old trade for less than half price. I think they wanted the space as home theater had become their main focus. I'm not a big believer in divine intervention, particularly in audio but this still seems pretty miraculous to me.

I have bought speakers and audio equipment from different people on the site .Sometimes things don't last,sometimes they do.Your buying used so beware.Also if possible pick up the speakers yourself...you can get to hear ,them and check them out ,first hand.When ever audio equipment is shipped it can get damaged. I worked in the old PO and saw first hand how packages are handled. I unload trucks.I also worked for UPS in the claims dept ,so i know about damaged equipment, first hand.

Every speaker I’ve purchased the past 35 years has been used. Never had a problem and purchased much more expensive speakers than my budget could afford because I bought them used. I didn’t have $10k, what they sold for new, but I had 3k, and the seller ended up taking my ESL’s for an $1800 credit, so $1200 out of pocket for a $10k ESL was a no brainer. But no ESL I know of lasts 50 years! You’re lucky to get 20 years out of an ESL.

And word to the wise: I’d only ship speakers via ground freight.  Shipped and secured on their own pallet. Will cost you a bit more than FedEx or UPS, but worth the peace of mind not being destroyed in transit!