Buying used vs. New


Does anyone have reservations about buying used?
I used to swear buy it until recently. I bought a preamp that arrived with a humming problem from the transformer because the delivery company dropped it. Fortunately, I had bought it new and the store was able to replace it. I was just thinking, what if this was used, I would be out of luck in terms of getting it fixed. Also, I bought a used piece of equipment on Audiogon a few years ago that is now giving me trouble. It is out of warranty and was fairly expensive, and now has issues. Now I'm seriously considering buying new, even though my money will only stretch about half as far.
fruff1976
Guys, the most bewildering thing to me is that you both keep asserting that I am making a blanket statement. Rereading my last post alone, I count at least four times where I said that there are many exceptions to what is a very general rule. I am truly sorry that you both apparently failed to see this. Which makes the straw man/ad hominem comment in particular especially amusing. Wow. All I can do now is laugh it off and move on, adding only that I sure am glad I decided to become a professional musician instead of a writer. No hard feelings here, I assure you, even for your misquotation. :)
Learsfool, you have subtly changed your position since initially writing on 8/25:
08-25-08: Learsfool
I would say, however, that one should never pay more than half of the original retail price for a used item, the only exception to this would be if it basically hadn't actually been used.

Good to see you are not quite as rigid in your position as you were a few days ago.
I don't care about the rules that Learsfool sets for himself. There are lots of other better informed buyers for my stuff.
By the way, Zu Druids used to sell new for $2800/pair. The revised model lists for $3400/pair. They both sell instantly for about $2000/pair and have gotten that price for more than 2 years that I have been watching. How does that square with "the formula"?
That's a great example, Macrojack. I have to say strong resale of the Druid is unusual in audio, and I believe it's a strong indicator of the dearth of loudspeakers at the $2000 price point with the specifications of the Druid.

In other words, supply is low at this price point, and demand is high. Therefore, the $2000 used price has held up.
I try not to buy anything that costs more than I am willing to pay for it ;?)