2. misc-audio
  3. 134802-75518

Is Agon becoming the eBay of audio?

I realize that this has been dissed before.
FWIW I'm a regular window shopper on Agon and have noticed a trend by sellers to misrepresent their wares and disregarding Agons condition rating guidelines in higher frequencies.  More listins stating item as"new" when item is obviously not and asking for top dollar. As of late for example an ad was placed for an item as "new" when owner admits that it is 1.5 years old and has at minimum 200+ hours of use. This in itself would be rated a 9/10 at best by the Agon rating system. Sellers are more defining and rating their product based on cosmetics than on functionality. For those buying it is increasingly important to do some deep research and close inspection of represenation pictures by enlarging available pictures to avoid disappointment. 
It is my opinion that buyers should not let emotions or immediate wants sway their common sense. At first sign of questionability be prepared to walk away.
Let the buyer beware

128x128gillatgh
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
The OP states:

" As of late for example an ad was placed for an item as "new" when owner admits that it is 1.5 years old and has at minimum 200+ hours of use. This in itself would be rated a 9/10 at best by the Agon rating system."

I agree this is not a "new item" but just look at all of the forum statements about break -in time. Also, consider that a lot of high end equipment will last for many many years and I judge an item that is 1.5 years old with 200 hours on it to be practically new. As a matter of fact I would wonder why the person is selling it as it is just getting broken in. The only way to demonstrate an item is new is to show the unopened factory carton. Why would anyone sell something that's never been opened (although it does occasionally happen)? I'm not disagreeing with the OP but I have sold equipment that looks brand new without any scratches or imperfections but has some years on it. So how does one determine how to rate it?
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Isn't there a 10/10 rating as well as "New"?
mauidj
127 posts
 
Never had so many flaky buyers as I have recently. All they want is a huge discount then they never even complete the deal. cannot believe how much time I have wasted recently with these people.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Agreed on the huge discounts some members are trying to get, I will not use the term buyers for them as not one of them have ever ending up buying any of my goods but some have surely wasted a lot of my time as well.

Eventually everything sells, if it is a great item and price is fair it will sell to a sensible decent  member sooner or later.

At least I have never had anybody "buy" and then back out unlike eBay which I have had happen way too many times to recount!
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,879 posts
 
I’ve sold a number of items this year; there are still high quality buyers and sellers on audiogon; it’s still a good marketplace. I do find that I have to price items a bit lower than I would’ve in the past. And there have always been tire kickers and low-ballers; I make it quite clear in my ad wording that I have low-to-zero tolerance for this, and I don’t give them the time of day if they try it anyways.

I remember when the site redesign some years ago was such a huge issue; unfortunately we lost a lot of traffic here that didn't come back. However, now that all the kinks/bugs have been sorted, I really like the end product. 
More to discover