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

I stay out of the churn...unless it’s some thing I’m curious about.

..then I get ’interested’...

Even stuff like speaker stands, which sound the same for 200 years, sell for 40% after a year. 

I enjoy conversations like this because they're real and raw. I work in the industry marketing/PR and also buy, sell, collect and flip gear.

The Manufacturers

These guys keep raising prices beyond what's reasonable. There's quality gear from China at a fraction of the cost. I have been given discount from manufacturers I work with up to 60% discount off MSRP That is not all the time but I know they can give out 40% discounts like candy. They still make money. The markup is huge.

The Dealers

Dealers are in weird situation. Some of them are really greedy and can't be trusted. And on the other hand some of them are just fighting to make money and that little bit of profit they make has to go to paying their entire operation and their employees and business costs. And they're probably not selling as much as you and I would like to believe. They also get squeezed between internet competition and manufacturer price controls. Many manufacturers strictly enforce minimum pricing, even in the secondary market. It's a rough business for these guys but they don't get a lot of sympathy because there are guys who are just greedy in the industry.

The Market Reality

If you can get 50-60% of MSRP, consider yourself lucky and take the money. Equipment is only worth what someone will pay, not what you paid. High-end stuff sits because sellers want 50%+ but there aren't enough buyers willing to pay that for very expensive gear.

Some equipment I've had priced at 40% of MSRP sits for a year with no bites. Sometimes you need to cut losses and move on, or drop your price just enough to close a sale. Waiting for "the perfect buyer" creates a stagnant market.

Research Your Pricing

Check Hifishark or eBay for actual selling prices over the last couple years. The lowest recent sale is probably your new comparison point. With certain equipment (like Bryston), some brands just aren't as popular and will be harder to move regardless of price.

Economic Reality

This hobby's high-end is for the one percenters. Who can justify amplifiers costing as much as cars or cables as much as vacations? With today's cost of living, discretionary income is rare. The political climate makes people nervous and tightening their wallets.

I'm planning my own purchases carefully, looking for 40-50% or.more. We need to be flexible and realize this isn't an investment - like cars, you rarely get your money back.

Audio equipment is overpriced relative to manufacturing costs. The market is correcting itself. Seasonal factors and economic conditions always affect sales. If you want top dollar, be prepared to wait. If you want to sell, be realistic with pricing.

At the end of the day, this hobby is about enjoyment, not making money Or recouping your investment. It's the price of admission to play with the best equipment made and is not for people who are looking for returns on the price to play. Manufacturers and some dealers are greedy. The secondary market isn't - your wallet tells us when prices are too high.

@cyackulic  You have the best post in this entire thread.  Nicely done.

I always sell locally. I don't like paying fees for ads & selling on sites that want a piece of my money. Recently I've had two ads up for nice speakers for a fair price, and no bites - save for the #@!&% that generously offered to pick them up & take them off my hands, for free.