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Audiogon Ethics

I have been an Audiogon member for a couple of years and am very fond of the idea that we are building a community of audiophiles based on trust and honesty. I recently saw a sales ad for a piece by a member who I sold an identical piece to a few months ago (I can't say it is my original piece but it would strike me as odd that someone would own two identical units). If the seller is indeed advertising the unit I initially sold him, he is misrepresenting the condition of the unit (e.g., implying that he purchased it new and that its age is less than it actually is). My question to everybody on this list is what, if anything, to do about this?

I am concerned about the implications of dishonesty for our community of audiophiles in general. I believe this question merits discussion among members. I look forward to your responses. Thanks.

Volker
drv
unsound
7,344 posts
 
Perhaps we can all protect ourselves by posting serial numbers on all items listed for sale or auction? This would also monitor items that have mysteriously disappeared. In those cases where someone has had an item refurbished by the factory or other means, let them provide documentation.
sc53
722 posts
 
I agree w/those who say you can't be sure the guy doesn't have two, or even more, of the same units. I have met at least two guys on this site who constantly buy and sell stuff and make a little money in the switch. I'm sure they have owned the same piece twice or have had two of the same pieces at one time, some people really enjoy the experimenting w/new stuff and the bargaining and small profit-making they may be able to pull off. I myself have bought and sold quite a few pieces, large and small, over the last year, but have not made ANY money in the transfer, oh well. I haven't lost too much, and every piece was something I wanted to try.
drewfidelity
178 posts
 
The foundation of our community is built on trust. We are lucky in that our hobby is limited in so far as the high end audio community is limited. Having had the opportunity to participate I have found, as most of us have, that my 9/10 is another participants 10/10 and that, for the most part, the descriptions of products that I have purchased or traded for are within a reasonable variance of their stated descriptions.

As far as outright lying is concerned, this should be first verified, then the participant should be given an opportunity to retract his or her statements or reconfigure price on the product to bring it in line with the actual condition of the component. If no solution is found, then it should be reported in negative feedback in the individual's my feedback section. I have sold equipment to people who immediately list it for a higher price than I sold it at. This does not bother me because I was satisfied with my deal, or I would not have completed the transaction. That is different from outright lying, assuming that their is no outright lying in the new sellers advertisement.
ljgj
955 posts
 
What is the guy's username? I'll ask him.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
Last year, I got well and thoroughly ripped by several A-gon members when I made a post that pointed out a misleading ad by a dealer. I nevertheless agree strongly with you that we, as fellow audiophiles, need to maintain a level of fairness and integrity in our dealings with one another.

My suggestion is to first contact the person in point and share your concerns. Tell the person that you feel ethically obligated to others who use A-gon to make the truth known. Give the person a fair chance to respond to your E-mail, because it is possible that the person may have another unit for sale, and not the one you sold to this individual.

If the person makes no attempt to be forthcoming and honest about this matter, then I believe you are quite correct to inform your fellow Audiogon readers.
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