HAVE ALL SALES STOPPED ON AUDIOGON ???

It seems that many are dismayed, for lack of better description, that equipment loses value so fast. That is understandable to some extent. Tens of percent in a very short time may be hard to swallow. However, for most, this is a hobby. Unless you are in this to make money, investing for a great return. Hobbies are just like this. Waste of time and money. Hobbies give you satisfaction in some other way and you pay for it by buying stamps, amplifiers, paintings, or simply by spending your time doing macrame. If we think of this as a hobby, we should accept that we lose money and that is all. If we cannot sustain it without getting frustrated with our purchases losing value, we have picked wrong hobby.


That all has not much to do with the title of this thread, but with some sentiment voiced in it.

I have gone on record stating many times in recent years that after purchasing my dream integrated amp, speakers and CDP that I was DONE with the upgrade bug.  DONE !  Famous last words.  Just added an Equitech Son of Q and a new CDP to the main rig in the past 2 months.  But I didn't buy either of those units here but it was due to timing and availability. 

I don't want to think about how many times I've raided my savings account and MM fund for 'discretionary' audio purchases.  I'm sure I'll be wondering where all that $$$ went when I retire.  Oh well.  YOLO

@hifijones your nickname is very apt. :)

Chasing the Dragon. 🏃‍♂️😬

Back in the day.....
In the 1990s and 2000s we could buy and try used gear and then sell what didn't work out for about the same money we paid for it.  A lot of used equipment changed hands in those days and it was certainly a fun way to try new stuff without much risk.  In the last 10 years, the ability to quickly sell used gear for anything close to what was paid has diminished.  In most cases, you can either sell it fast at a significantly lower price or let it sit for awhile to get a better price.  This is what a buyer's market looks like and it really should not be a surprise.  

Look at it this way.  How many new amplifier models has Pass come out with in the past 10 years?  Not to pick on Pass, but this has happened throughout the industry where manufacturers continually try to both upgrade their line-ups and generate interest with new models so there is simply more and better gear available.  On top of that, the digital industry has exploded with better and better sounding gear coming out almost monthly.  As a result, the market is flooded with fairly high quality used and new gear that is available to an audience that most here believe is diminishing. 

I suspect the viewpoint that there are less buyers is mostly true because some of the more active "audiophiles" around here have matured their systems to the point where they don't need or want further upgrades, others have "retired" from the hobby or at least downsized due to age.  The infatuation with great sounding home audio we grew up with in the 60's and 70's has given way to a generation that is more interested in whatever can be played from a cell phone or thumb drive and listened to through ear buds.  Not all of the younger folks look at things like that but it is certainly a viable, less expensive, and more portable way to enjoy music than spending a lot on a large home audio system.  In addition, with the retail model moving away from brick and mortar, and towards on-line sales, and the savvy sellers offering trial periods or 30-day returns, it is easier than ever to audition new models with the only risk being restocking and return shipping fees.  The times have changed. 

In summary, I believe folks will continue to be interested in high-end audio, and that internet sales of used gear will continue, but we have ridden the big wave.  The sky is not falling but the economy of more available gear and less buyers is our new reality.   Just my take on things.