Should listings include the age of the item?

Member "Buconero117" responded to a Blue Book question (Newbie question - Equipment with good resale value) as follows with emphasis added that he felt the Blue Book values are overstated:

"For the major brands the general rule on fair used value, assuming a fully functioning unit that is less then ten years old, is 80% of the original MSRP (sales tax excluded) less 40%. This translates to $480 on a MSRP of $1,000. Once the unit is over ten years old, every year older would add an additional 5% discount, per year."

The above mentioned "80%" goes along with what member "Glenhifi" says about "off list price", and a strick reading would suggest the MSRP at the time of purchase should be used to calculation the value.

Elizabeth, just to be clear, you think the only people here are original owners or flippers? I'd have to disagree.

The amp I currently own is 19 years old, I bought it used, not from the original owner. My preamp is around 7 years old, I bought it used, not from it's original owner. The same can also be said for my speakers and turntable. I am not a flipper, I have owned this gear for over a year. I am not the original owner, nor did I buy used from the original owner. I hardly believe that I am in the minority here on Audiogon.

I can try my best to approximate the age of gear I posess, some I can ID by the serial number. Sometimes however, one just does not know how old a piece of gear is. If I do not know the age of an item, does that mean that I can not sell it? I think not, that's just illogical.

I do agree that there are much fewer pure hobbyists here today than there were years ago, but economic turmoils have been reflected in all facets of our society, not simply on Audiogon. Buyer Beware is more imporatant now than ever before, but I suspect it will only get worse until the bottom finally falls out.

This is a flipper, get yer facts straight!

Who are so-called "flippers" harming? Are "they" inflating prices or somehow hoarding rare gear? No, due to readily available market info they can't. "They" do however provide a "feel good" benefit to Serious Audiophiles who are insecure enough to need to invent a less worthy sub group of "people who often sell things to other people and maybe make money from the transaction." The need to establish one's self as a "Taste Meister" based on hanging on to your precious hifi because you like it seems silly...I've owned certain vintage guitars or amps for 40 years or more, or newer hifi things I found didn't suit my tastes, and from time to time wanted to move a few on to somebody else to fund something different for myself...some things have surprising "market based" increased value, and man did those guitars become pricey! YEAH. However, the new owner is likely happy happy happy. Nothing is sacred and the "Flippers" keep the FREE market supplied with things...although my taste and hands-on musical skills do actually make MY gear opinions Extremely Important...so there's that. With so many variables in used hifi gear market there is no specific or even general "bottom" to be falling out.