Anybody having trouble getting near-your-asking-price for used gear ? (Plz. no hype)

I think there are multiple issues all culminating into what can be happening.

Brand stability issues, like mentioned above with Audio Research can have a large negative effect on a particular brands secondary values.  Owners want to ensure there is service, support and parts available after the purchase down the road.  Especially since this is an expensive hobby.  The opposite side of the spectrum may be a company like McIntosh.  If the glass on a 50+ year old amp/ preamp needs replacing, or if the unit needs servicing, the manufacturer still can provide those parts and services.  That carries a lot of value to people.

Shipping costs have gone insane the last 5-ish years.  What would cost $60 to ship 5 years ago is double that.  Some larger/ heavier gear can now be several hundred dollars to ship more than a few states away.  Buyers take that into consideration, as well.

Some gear is just more commoditized, like DAC's, for the most part.  Those things are being churned out by everybody and their brother.  Stuff like that just lowers the price in the secondary market incredibly fast.

I'm sure that are more issues, as well.

@gordon

Yep….. it’s at a 50% haircut threshold where success to sell generally facilitates buyer interest IMO

MY TAKE:

(1) there have been numerous too-oft repeating threads in most of the major audio forums, with certain types trying to bless forum buyers with arguably insulting low-balling offers, as a perfectly benign and acceptable behaviour, and a gross failure to gauge the audio forum court of public opinion fallout . And these bidders are complaining to be shocked with umbrage when they get blocked out .

(2) Anecdotally, around 50% off the MSRP price-when-new for quality hi-fi gear (… a fine but important distinction…) appears to be where many sales are made. Asking prices on ads edging higher up appear to linger a lot longer and many ads become stillborne.

Mid-fi or Lo-fi gear is a lot more tepid market, and no surprise if a greater discount is the key to getting it sold

And cheaply priced counterfeit made-in-China originally flooded on Ali Baba …. Good luck.

I don’t sell a lot of items, but when I do it usually goes for 50% - 60% off MSRP. The selling price can be lower if the item is more than a couple of years old or modified. To sell quickly I include shipping and other fees in the selling price.

Until recently, if I am purchasing new and have an item to sell, I try to trade it in with the purchase. Lately Dealers have been less lenient with reimbursement for trade-ins, so I have gone back to selling used items on Audiogon.

Most of my late purchases are from TMR. You always get peace of mine doing transactions with them.