Reason for selling is...

My reason is always, "I'm not worthy of such a fabulous component."

Most of us have been sellers from time to time and I buy to try. It is not necessary to list the reason for the sale, it only diminshes your credibility because first nobody cares, second the piece should sell based on its own merit and finally if I'm interested I'm just very happy that you put it up for sale. Even if we assume the product is inferior just because it has been put up for sale, that assumption should be quickly dismissed based on the fact that most experienced audiophiles know that it comes down to system compatibilty but it could possibly excel in someone elses system. One mans trash is another mans gold mine.

I have sold in the past and in most cases it wasn't because I didn't like it in my system but at the time Audiogon was an excellent site to sample many products over the years and if your curiosity was sparked about something else it wasn't all that difficult to turn gear over. I lost very little money doing this and more importantly it was alot of fun. In todays economy one might want to do more research before buying because reselling could prove to be more difficult.

I'm the OP, and I certainly didn't mean to start a flame. I fully expected, making what I thought was an obvious point, that buyers would nod and move on, and that sellers would at least pause and consider my point. (I also fully expected posts from people who (1) can't read; (2) can't write, and (3) can't think; so thanks guys for not letting me down in that regard).

I was simply making the point that Audiogon transactions are just like buying used cars. There's a radical asymmetry of information between buyer and seller. The seller has a significant information advantage over the buyer; just wait until cars from NY and NJ start showing up in used car lots. That being so, it seems to add insult to ignorance to give a reason for the sale, since buyers have no independent reason to believe it, and every reason to doubt it (i.e. the seller is trying to make a sale after all).

However, I do stand corrected by the good folk here who claim to be trying to be helpful and upfront - I'm sure you are. But, no offense, why should anyone believe you who understood the transactional logic? Just disclose the item's true condition, and let the buyer make a decision without having to second guess your motives.

Those buyers who say they really want to know the reason for the sale: well, I really have nothing to say to you.

Happy buying, all!

I guess it depends on how you view the whole transactional process here between fellow members. I probably would not have a transaction with you based on your point of view. I view this site as a way for me to improve my system and try different equipment without taking any significant financial loss on a change of components.

Along the way I have had interesting discussions and transactions with other like minded hobbyists. I want to talk to the person selling and ask them why they are selling in order to figure out what they are about. I may have talked to some that were intentionally deceitful and succeeded in deceiving me along the way.

I may be wrong, but I hope you are far off the mark in comparing what is going on here to buying and selling used cars.