The 5 stages of making a bad audio purchase

Funny post!

But one of the steps that has yet to be addressed here is: Internet Window Shopping.

At what point does one go through this stage, or like myself, I am constantly in this stage no matter how content I am with my system.

Perusing EBay, Craigslist, Audiogon, USAudiomart, Audio Trader Asylum and Facebook groups for used audio gear.

There’s a reason they call it Audio Porn. My name is Lou and I’m an Audio Porn addict. When I get bored looking through ads, I’ll go to Pinterest to look at Audio gear and peoples stereo setups.

I can spend hours looking at images of audio gear and system set ups, because while it’s about the music, it’s also about the gear and how it looks in your room. That adds to the overall enjoyment of the hobby.

Part of the chase can be the most fun. I like really rare gear, the stuff no one else has, so I’m constantly on the lookout for it. Cause if you find it, you gotta strike while the iron is hot and buy it. 
I’ll keep my eye on EBay auctions or other ads and if I want something bad enough I’ll enter 30 or more bids in $1 increments on eBay, in order to dissuade the competition from bidding; thinking that, if others look at the auction and see 30 bids for something maybe they will think there is too much interest in it and won’t bid on it. I thought it was a clever idea at first, but the more experienced Ebayers will see right through my ruse :)

Anyone else share this affliction? If so, where are you on the AP scale. 1 being not so much, 10 being totally addicted to the hunt for used gear.

I believe Internet window shopping for audio is probably a whole different psychosis best dealt with in another thread, that crosses over into this thread when you finally pull the trigger; often purely out of emotion, boredom, retail therapy, etc.
:-) :-)

To EBM; I too have only made great purchases....that includes 5 sets of speakers, 3 receivers, 2 complete home theater systems and 2 amps sitting in my basement while 3 sets of speakers are on my main listening room rotation. They were such great purchases can’t bear to let em go.

to Tom6894; I agree system matching is critical....but I Like Vodka. Am I doomed never to get the most out of my system?

to Elliotn  ewcombjr; you pose the ultimate conundrum: if most home listening is done under the influence of some substance, then that is the only way to audition new equipment. But if you then buy that equipment:
- could someone question your purchase stating”what we’re you thinking, were you high?
- if you then listen to the purchase stone cold sober and it doesn’t sound great, will you forever be chasing that initial high?

I have made some purchasing mistakes in my time.  I remember an "audiophile" CD player which I bought for 40% off, the Muse Signature 9, somewhere around $2000 back in the 90s.  It was awful, cut off beginning and ending transients.  I guess I bought it because my analog would always beat CDs in the 80's and 90's.  Worse than my Sonys and Kyoceras. 
I bought speakers in the 80's and 90's that didn't suit my electronics but I sold them for minor losses.  Most recently I purchased some SR products which were more playthings than sound enhancements (I love SR duplex outlets, fuses and HFTs).  Got 80% of my purchase price back.   So, we all make mistakes along the way to building a great audio system.  My equipment is mostly 13 to 30 years old with only cables and tweaks which are recent purchases and my new DAC, the COS Engineering D2 as of yesterday.  
Yes, that expensive CD player purchase bugs me even today.

No matter the topic on here...eventually the discussion goes sideways. Sometimes funny, sometimes sadly. BTW, IMHO YMMV so CBD, FWIW.