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


I buy and sell gear "on a whim" and have done so for 40 years. Mostly high-end tube stuff that I get an itch to move from my rig to make room for other high-end stuff that I have been dreaming of.  It's fun and gives me a fresh faces to fall in and out of love with.

Lately I am having a really hard time getting any serious offers above 1/4 to 1/3 of retail- actually zero offers over that. And winter is the time of year gear sells. Once the sun comes out things get really quiet.  Not terribly long ago I could ask 50% of retail and get serious offers pretty close to the ask.  

I am especially having trouble selling ARC gear. It's prices are steadily collapsing. On HiFi Shark that stuff sits for close to a year (or more) before it moves.  For example SP 15s are under 2K now. They were selling (not asking) at 3K a year ago. It took me almost a year to sell a new-in--box I/50 for $3000 (!)   Ref 75s are moving under $3000 and TMR will only offer 2K for one of them. The older stuff is selling in the hundreds not the thousands. Top-Of the-line stuff like Reference 10 preamps are moving under 12K (asking is around 17K) 

I recently sold a Bryston BR-20 brand new in the box and it took me 7 months to get 48% of MSRP.  This is NEW stuff- not somebody's junk. 

My guy at Magnepan told me their stuff is really moving slowly as well. He blamed it on the political environment. ARC is pretending all is well but I have a little birdie inside there that tells me their stuff is stagnant as and dealers are actually cancelling orders. 

Now, assuming you are being honest and not "fluffing the market" with bullbleep because you have something for sale and hoping for the greater fool,  are you seeing/experiencing the same thing I am experiencing? 

NO RETAILERS PLESASE- you guys tend to "exaggerate" to put it kindly- plus most of us here at AG know who you are and your 1000s of posts are a big clue. 

Signed/ Depressed about my favorite side gig. 

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xyesiam_a_pirate

Break out Ocaams Razor, stare in the mirror and shave that beard of rationalization off.  Aside from politics having little place here IMO the Dow and such always goes up.  Always a winning side up top.

To quote Warren Buffet "Price is what you pay, value is what you get."  There is simply a lack people interested in your gear, no matter how dear to you.  The SF Bay CL is loaded with unreal bargains and HI FI Shark should have an alcohol interlock ;)

Please also consider relative budgets and goals.  I recently picked up a pair of VS VR4 Gen 2 (DAMN GOOD) for 1000 delivered.   What made my existing  amp sound better:  Those speakers on NAW (normal a$$ wire lol about$) or a pair of 1000 cables laying on the floor?

As always does your system make you smile?  Happy Listening

…but wow..what dangerous fun it is surfing the SF Craigs L…. good lord…

These are very uncertain times for most people. Multiple industry layoffs, stock market is volatile, impact of tariffs uncertain. For most people, luxury items aren’t a high priority right now. I do understand many of you are comfortable retirees and can buy sell these for pleasure but significant part of the demographic aren’t going to do that in current economic conditions.

Ya, I always come here for financial guidance, political insight and the latest medical breakthroughs. Such a diverse demographic, how could I not?