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  3. 135539-76532

High End is Dead?

Browsing used audio sites such as Audiogon and the Marts, high end gear ads are dominated by several dealers. Non-dealer ads are usually people trying to push 15+ year old off-brand junk at 60-70% of MSRP (when they were new). They don't sell anything. You could slash Wilsons, Magicos, etc, 50% off retail and no one will buy them.

No one buys if it costs more than 1k. It's not that they're not interested -- the ads get plenty of views. It's that the asking prices are just way over the ability of buyers to pay. Fact is, if you see a high end piece for sale it's probably by a dealer, often times trying to push it at 15% off retail because its a trade in, but also often they are taking a good chunk off the price 30, 40 sometimes 50% off. They can be famous brands with a million positive reviews. No buyers.

Are we just poor, and that's all there is to it? 
madavid0
lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
" the eccentric stamp collector is likely mourning that this new generation has lost its desire to send communiques ..."

Stamp and especially coin collectors probably don't care if there are new ways of communicating or if the U.S. Mint is minting new coins, they're content with the pleasure and satisfaction their collection brings because of the rarity and value in their collection.  Stamps and coins appreciate with time.  Same can't be said of HEA gear. 

Trust me -- we ain't mourning.
fleschler
766 posts
 
Wrong, I was a big stamp collector until the 1980s.  I loved the engraved stamps for their artistic merit.  Now, especially U.S. stamps, are photographs with self-adhesive backs, printed with a row of plate numbers which make buying sheets rather than blocks of old, collectables.  A sheet often has four or more pictures on it rather than a continuous loop of engravings.  I don't want to be a sheet collector and don't value the mere photo stamps versus the personally engraved stamps.   
lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
@fleschler  are you in mourning?  Maybe you should switch to coins.  I've sold most of what I had collected (primarily U.S. coins and large currency.)  Helped pay for my audio rig.  I have a few stamps but quite honestly, I could never get into stamps.  Like you, I enjoy collecting for the artistic qualities.  I think coins are miniature pieces of artwork, especially coinage between 1700 - 1922.  Some coins and bills (educational series notes) can be quite breathtaking.  
fleschler
766 posts
 
Thank you.  I'm not in mourning over the situation as I am primarily into music, with 42,000 records and CDs as well as a mastering engineer for local orchestra and choirs.  Music is my primary avocation since I was 3 years old.  Coins are also nice but there are so many commemorative issues that I lost interest in collecting them decades ago.  
craigl59
306 posts
 
flescher
42,000 records and CDs! How do you store and access them? Only have about 2500 CDs and find it is necessary to spend some time with organization -- even though they are all ripped in JRiver. Hardly ever need to access the original source.
You must have a warehouse somewhere. Or, perhaps, some hired musicologists to help you with playback.
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