Stupid Asking Prices- Why Don't Sellers Read Audiogon The Blue Book First?


I’m amazed at the prices most people ask for used equipment. I frequently see 15 year old tube gear with 2000 or so hours on the valves offered for sale at insane-nobody-is-that-stupid prices. Frequently the seller lists the original retail price of the item in the ad then asks 1/2 of that- imagining that it must surely be worth at least 1/2 of retail right?

I’m perplexed as to why a seller does not consider the reliable Audiogon Blue Book as a guide, and consider the condition of the gear as a factor in resale value.

I have also seen sellers refuse an at market offer and say "for that price I’ll just put it in my storage place" while it further depreciates.

Is it that most guys with high end gear are rich enough to ignore the value of moving money because their sense of value is offended?

Asking for a friend......😎

 

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Most sellers do not want to know what the kit they paid MSRP for is now worth significantly less- much like people who buy new vehicles who may not know how much less their brand new vehicle is worth as soon as they drive away from dealership

"I’m perplexed as to why a seller does not consider the reliable Audiogon Blue Book as a guide..."

     Isn’t the AudiogoN Blue Book a pay-to-play (gotta have a subscription/membership) affair?

                                         My guess: they’re a cheapskate!

people can ask what they want, the market will clear for an item if it is priced right, or, even if it isn’t

people without an accurate sense of what is a fair price for something they want to sell try to sell stuff all the time, for all sorts of things... cars houses boats bikes jewelry

key is - there are often equally uninformed people on the buy side too (or someone who is simply not price sensitive and wants the item) ... so for used audio gear, like all the other things, it just takes one buyer willing to pay

There are "dreamers" on every sales platform. I don’t think it’s too bad on audiogon, overall. And the bluebook itself wasn’t a great guide - though it’s been years since I had access. The bulk of data lagged behind recent trends (usually trending down), so the book’s "value" was usually too high to actually move gear. So I found no value in BB access. Maybe that’s improved, but hifishark seems like a better tool anyways, and it's free.