What's going on with the used audio gear market?

The market will set used prices.  My guess is that there are a lot of buyers looking to upgrade to newer used equipment. I wanted Moondrop Blessing earbuds, but the market price for used buds was high.  I bought a pair of open box buds from the distributor, Apos, and got a warranty and comfort that they were in good working condition.  Buying used from dealers has some advantage.  And there are a lot of dealers selling lightly used gear.

Thank you for posting.  I am going to build a system and wanted to save money by buying used but when looking at the price differential between used and new, and the risks, I felt like it was not worth it to buy used.  I feel better about my conclusion knowing others feel the same way and that used prices seem too close to new prices.  

Prices wishful OR actual sales?

hilde45:

Some of the sales listings I see are either greed or sellers who are not clear on the concept of value.

For example the typical asking prices of old production Klipsch Chorus/Forte have increased approx. 300% from 3 years ago.

Are the sellers asking $2-2.5K+ basing the asking price on the price of the "new" Klipsch Heritage line (I don't know - haven't asked them)?

As far as used recently manufactured gear advertised with a 10%-15% discount I would just purchase a new unit.

A lot of people have been hard hit financially from Covid-19, and I'm guessing that this may also play a part.

DeKay

@dekay 

Some of the sales listings I see are either greed or sellers who are not clear on the concept of value.

They are willing to take the risk of an item not selling because they have a price in mind that they want. Who am I to judge that as "greed"?

It's their price -- it's their calculation.

If they get their price, we've established what the market will bear.

If they don't get their price, they suffer the opportunity cost of spending more of their time trying to sell it.

I cannot fathom how greed comes into it at all.