Why do people selling on E Bay "USE" Audiogon?

I won't complain because these eBayers have to pay the $2 fee to advertise their wares just like the rest of us ... if you don't like it, ignore the ad but remember the $$$ goes to improve this site which is one of the best of its type on the net. Without cash AudiogoN would not be able to continue to provide the services they do (show coverage, etc).

Please realize that with a seller advertising here, merely comparing an ebay v. audiogon seller becomes meaningless. One could sell at either place and their ethics would stay the same. In order to make any decent guess as to the upstandingness of a gon/bay seller, you would have to explore the motivation as to why someone would ad here and sell at ebay. Anyone who intends on scamming surely knows that a ripoff here has roughly the same (i.e. no) consequence as at ebay. Its really just that they want the more money. The items I have seen advertised here and sold at ebay are mid-fi models that will go for more at ebay, but might hold interest for audiogon audiophiles. Like if I was wanting to sell a pair of B&Ws, I sure as hell would go to ebay, and for $2 little dollars more, might advertise here. If I was going to rip someone off, I would probably sell here b/c the "punishment" at agon is a little easier to get around. I like audigon better as well (especially b/c ebay is soo limited for hifi), but I don't think that is the central issue.

Ohala - your statement "One could sell at either place and their ethics would stay the same." makes the most sense to me. There are saints and twerps on both sites. I don't choose to view each site through painted lenses, I just do my best to try to find good people to trade with on both. Most of the time, it works out well. Audiogon isn't the last bastion of chivalry some think it is, nor is Ebay all buggery.

There are fleas on both of these dogs. I think that you have a better chance of getting good used audio stuff on audiogon as there are a lot more sales by private parties who are actually using the equipment. E-Bay has far more attic raiders who don't have any knowledge of what they are selling, other that its price, and wouldn't know its condition other that it "looks great". But if you know what you want and are really careful about who you are buying from, really careful!, you can get a good deal at either site. Agon is more attractive to me because of its classifieds. I don't find its auctions at all attractive - I think it is used by folks trying to find out what their stuff might be worth.

You take your chances on both sites. I know of one seller with several different ID's that buys someone eles junk on E-Bay, and then puts it up for sale in a fancy add here on AudioGon!