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What's going on with the audio market?

Recent retail sales reports are very bad and I am hearing that sales for audio equipment have been nonexistent over the past few months.  I also see more dealers putting items up for sale here and on other outlets.  Even items that have traditionally sold quickly here are expiring without being sold. 

To what would you attribute the slowdown?  Have you changed your buying habits for audio equipment and, if so, why? 
theothergreg
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 

Truth or dare, if everyone who visits this site answers three questions, we may have an answer. What is your age? At what age did you begin to seriously exercise your purchasing power on audio?  How many more years do you plan to commit serious money to the hobby?

61, 35, 4 

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
@dgarretson ,
55
27
0

If anything, I have been taking money out of my system lately. I'm done.....yeah, I've said that before. However, I just don't have enough time to listen to justify the expense anymore.

Also, I've noticed that this past year has been the worst seller's market that I can remember in decades. Selling is becoming so difficult that it is eliminating buying, for me anyway.

I've been buying/selling on Audiogon for over 15 years now, and AudioMart for a decade before that. The audio market today is stagnant.
I'm not sure if it's dwindling interest or the economy, maybe both.
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 

@jmcgrogan2 

So between us, we have 54 man years of active purchasing, with 4 to go. We're 93% finished with heavy buying.  Anybody else?

dbtom2
382 posts
 
60, 59, ?

I'm keeping the faith. Learning as much as I can. Shopping to get a feel for prices. And dealing with my denial about my hearing loss.

Lately? Mostly listening. I want to replace my entire system but every so often I hear the kind of music coming from my speakers/headphone that makes me ask myself, "Why bother changing anything?"
asp307
159 posts
 
Small sample size thus far but I’d venture to say you guys have "been there, done that."

I have two friends with good systems but they do not feel the need to continuously tweak/upgrade, or they may want to but spend discretionary income elsewhere.

I have other friends that come over for dinner/drinks and we end up in the music room. They love the sound but when they start asking about price they are somewhat turned off.

Telling them you got a great deal on a phone-pre at $2,750 is like telling them it was $25K...same reaction.

I have become numb to some prices and I find my price search range increases little by little each search.

37, 15, ?

I say 15 because I put a nice Sony separates system together with Pioneer 3 way speakers and Monster Cables..not bad for that age.
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