Why pay "more" for USED??

The other day on eBay a used single CD of Overtures with the NBC Symphony conducted by Toscanini went for $35. I think it sells for $13.99 at your favorite record shop.

Some things have gone for more here. Back when HCM Audio first started auctioning those Krell-Soundstream DAC-1 converters they would consistantly go for $250 here and $150 on eBay.

I also decided for fun to demo some of those new Zu Cables being auctioned on AudiogoN . At first Zu Cable was using Audiogon and eBay. I got a pair of the Oxy-Fuel interconnects on eBay for $45 (List is $90). They've been going for around $65 here. I also got a 10 meter pair of the Julian speaker cables on eBay for $90. Two pairs went here for around $155 (List is $240). Consequently Zu Cable has not been back on eBay since then. I must have gotten them for less than their cost. I've tried the Oxy-fuel interconnects. They are very good even for the $90 list. The high's are very clear. A little light in the bass, but still good detail. But what do you want for the price? I would put them in the class with the $200 Nordost Blue Heaven. I have not demo's the Julian Speaker cables yet.

I watched this auction also. Macm, bid history is suspicious, but I can vouch for the sellers. They are first class and would not try to manipulate the process; check their eBay feedback. I bought a pair of B&W CDM-NTs from them last August and later bid on a pair of N804s that got too expensive for me. I traded multiple e-mails and a couple of phone calls with them and found them to be professional and sincere. I suspect that we are simply dealing with an uninformed or trouble-making bidder (ZERO feedback). This guy will probably run away from this deal. I expect to see item re-listed shortly because the deal fell apart. I do find the second place bid a little curious though. This bidder has some auction experience and still tried to overpay.

I have to agree with Macm that something doesn't smell right. However, I really don't believe the seller's were trying to cheat since they included and honest and very detailed discription of the speakers. I thought it might be shield bidding. That's when one person bids a low amount and his "buddy" bids a ridiculously high amount to ward off other bidders. At the last minute the high bidder cancels his bid and the low-ball bidder wins. But if you look at the history it didn't work that way. Who knows...

Look a little deeper. There is another auction on eBay for a pair if 802'2, a pair of 805's, and a HTM1 all NIB for $8k no reserve. It is hard to understand how one would pay so high for damaged speakers when so much more is available in another auction. I agree with Macm - it looks like shill bidding to me.
I watch eBay quite frequently, looking for a "steal", and often notice items going for well above market for new. I even saw an email from a retailer who sells on eBay to a bidder that bid above what the retailer sells the item for new (smart marketing). I have found that, for midfi consumer electronics, you can go to www.pricescan.com and find what the item is selling for new on the net.
Cheers.