what can reasonably be expected of a seller?

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.  Also is falls in the buyer to do their due diligence.  When I sell. I always make sure the unit works as advertised, period.  I specifically encourage buyers to come personally, listen to the unit, past and take it. That way, no complaints. 

I am not a store, and therefore I really don’t want to be treated like one.  Returns are not something I want to deal with.  Some think that they can buy it just to evaluate the sound and if they don’t like it, return it. Nope!!!

i make absolutely certain it works well first. 

But that’s me. 

I had a buyer of my Mark Levinson ML3 amp (that I regret selling) come by, listen to the amp for about an hour, pay for it, only to tell me later that the person he sold it to told him one channel didn’t work. I didn’t know my buyer was a flipper.  I told him to bring it back and I would connect it, and test it.  If it didn’t work, I told him that was on him because it worked well when he picked it up.  The new buyer could have shorted the output failing the amp.  I don’t know.

The unit failed six months before, was repaired and also upgraded professionally, both of which was listed clearly in the add.  I was using the amp for months after repair also.  I only sold it because I had too much equipment around.

it worked better than new.  

I didnt know my buyer was a flipper and that He sold it to . someone in Singapore.  

The guy actually wanted me to take back the amp that they broke which was working great when he picked it up.

also shipping it to Singapore could have damaged it.  I dint know how he packed and shipped it.

if it was local I could have diagnosed the problem and repaired it. I’m sure they shorted the output and fried some output drivers and maybe some pre drivers of which I had many spares. 

Anyway, I don’t like dealing with flippers for anything.  

When i sell, it works period.  And I will always allow the buyer to come listen personally.  

Life is is too short for non sense, and karma is real. It’s just not worth it to me.

enjoy

Sigh! I need a new phone.  This typing with one finger just doesn’t work well.  I type the word, it reads correctly and when I move on it changes the spelling.  I need to slow down.  Sorry 

I agree with everything dill said. I have had three transactions on this site where I was the buyer. I bought a used McIntosh tuner from a seller who lives here in southern California. I was able to see and hear it before purchase. It was exactly as represented. Then I bought a used McIntosh MR71 tuner from a man in Milwaukee. It was as represented, and was in pristine, museum quality condition, Finally I bought a new pair of Martin Logan Summit X speakers, new in the box, from an authorized dealer,  also in Milwaukee. I think these speakers are the best bargain I have found in 38 years in this hobby. The ML's were selling new a year before for $15,000 or $16,000. I paid $8,968 total, delivered to my house. I don't know if you like the electrostatic sound, but if you do, Martin Logan's are a nice blend of electrostatic sound along with traditional drivers for the woofers. And they came with a full five year warranty!

Not so easy in many cases to rip open a stored piece just for buyer. If fact it can be a royal PITA for seller. Buyer can whine that it’s unfair BUT ....would buyer be willing to post a non-refundable deposit up-front in case buyer walks away from an otherwise reported solid piece. Buyer can’t put their finger on the scale and assume some form of special treatment either .

The tie-breaker in general, is that’s what the member feedback is for .... full stop. It represents a proxy for honesty and accuracy that can now provide reliance on it for buyer. .

if seller does not have a solid track record on AGON , EBay , CANUCKAUDIOMART and other audio forums then its poker shoot at best and caveat emptor

. But a solid feedback score speaks volumes and should provide enough information to buyer and an inherent reliance about the reported condition of the unit for sale..... full stop again.