No problems @dyl71 , I try not to read too much "motive" into posts here and I don't need to defend Audiogon since they are what they are and have done quite well on their own.
@elizabeth 's post below is a good example of "what the market will bear." Around here, there have historically been seasonal swings, with certain times of the year being better to sell stuff and other times being better for buyers. There have also been ups and downs relative to the economy and for other reasons. I seem to remember it being pretty tough to sell expensive stuff here in 2008/09. Right now, for whatever reason, sales seem to be in sort of a lull where the items being sold either need to be in relatively high demand or priced competitively, or else they just sit. Being patient is ok for some sellers who can afford to hold until a better sales climate comes along. Other folks who need the money will have to reduce their price until the market, or the perfect buyer, decides it is low enough. |
Unfortunately I have to disagree on that the majority are asking too much.
It is only the poor market that is driving prices down.
I do not consider at all that 55% of new price for a popular in demand item that is only 3 months old is greedy.
But the amount of either lowball offers received or just plain apathy was an eye opener.
Sure if you list it cheap enough then it will sell and if you do not have much money in it or you just REALLY need the money right away then fine.
But the vast majority I believe are in similar position to myself at upgrade time in that I need a fair price for my old items to go towards my new items.
And we could argue all day on what constitutes fair price.....
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With respect, "fair" listing prices don't seem to have much to do with selling used audio gear, which seems to be based more on what the market will bear at the time of sale than on any subjective idea of what constitutes a fair price. If a seller chooses not to part with their stuff for a price below what they believe is fair, then the consequence is that they wait longer for a willing buyer to come along. It seems to be really that simple.
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Agreed Mitch
And everyone is going to have a different viewpoint of what is fair.
Sometimes the right buyer for the right item can appear instantly. Other times it may be 6 months IF you are holding firm on what you consider fair.
Still back to the initial OP.
Sales are still VERY slow on the gon more is the pity!
I have sold way more gear on eBay than here which as duly noted carries a 10% fee AND 2.9% PayPal fee.
But at least they have sold although I was successful in some clandestine pm exchanges to direct a couple of interested parties from eBay to here instead.
However you cannot count that as a success story for Audiogon, rather my tactics.... Lol. |
I believe there is more to the current lull than our typical seasonal swings, or economic conditions, and that the high-end market may indeed be shrinking as @cooper52 pointed out earlier in this thread.
The point is that the market does seem to be shrinking and we can point to any number of factors affecting it. I'd put market-saturation at the top of that list, followed closely by an aging constituency (I guess I fall into that category) and then the fact that HEA doesn't seem to be attracting a younger following. My recent visit to the California Audio Show in Oakland was a bit of an eye-opener in that regard: I'd guess the average age of the attendees on the day I was there was somewhere in the late 50s.
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Maybe all us aging boomers have money to buy NEW.
Worry about the next gen, Those folks have no money to spend on this hobby.
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I certainly have some funds to buy new but it's not kind of funds to be able to buy what I would want to. Besides, I might be interested in particular older models.
As for younger people, quite a number of them do have money, they just mostly spend it on other things or invest or save. They are also with some exceptions digiheads. When you are outside analog you are unlikely to become true audiophile. Someone would take this thought further - not only analog, outside of tubes there is no audiophile land. |
One possible factor could be the rapidly changing technology. Some gear can be outdated before the year is over, sparking interest near the end of year for some good deals.
Hard to pull the trigger on something if a successor is already announced soon after a component is released.
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I'm new on here, but trying to buy something - I've asked (probably dumb) questions of the seller, but no replies. Granted, I asked about shipping cost which is probably some kind of taboo, but I'd like to buy! I can't make an offer when shipping could be nearly half the price! |
jerrysfinger
The only dumb questions are the ones not asked imho.
If the seller cannot or will not give you a very close real shipping cost provided you have given him your address or at least zip to get in the ballpark then there may be some reasons.
Could be busy or maybe does not want to deal with a new member?
However in my opinion you should probably just move on as yes sales are darn hard to come by and sounds like they do not deserve your business.
There is NO excuse for just ignoring anybody no matter what their train of thought maybe, I have sold items to a number of new members with zero feedback and had no issues at all.
Good luck.
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I have found that it's not the sellers fault about not answering all the time.....I have had the Audiogon system so screwed up that it will not let you answer.......I was down to my last two days of a sale and couldn't answer any Audiogon e-mails.......I'm sure I lost the sale over that.....So keep trying......Will |
Uberwaltz/autospec, thank you I thought be I was committing some kind of Audiogon faux pas by asking. He has my zip etc, I just don't want to get hit post purchase with a $350 shipping charge! |
I guess there could be an email issue although I have not had any problems, have been getting emails regular.
Jerry, if he has a email problem then you could just try just replying direct to their ad with a public reply so that they and everybody should see it, be polite but state your facts.
Good luck
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I sold a Benchmark DAC3, Benchmark AHB2 amp, and Audience 1+1 V3 speaker for 60%-90% of what I paid. This was in the last 60 days. I guess if you have in demand items and the overall cost is not prohibitive your items will move for a good price. |
Uberwaltz,
Added a public friendly 'nudge' to say he has a message. Hopefully he wants to sell to someone even if they have no feedback (he has 1 - everyone has to start somewhere!). I know that if I was selling an item worth that much, I'd be all over my messages! |
Hope that works Jerry.
Although tbh I have come across sellers on here who just do not seem to care about selling at all.
I have had instances where messages not replied to and even ignored with the public nudge, then it is just time to say bye!
Good luck!
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My most recent experience on here suggests that some members just do not truly want to sell their item at all.
Without naming I found an integrated amp very interested in here at a fair price, cross checking on eBay showed same amp/seller but $200 LESS than he had on here.
I sent a message asking if he could do a better price right here as an eBay sale would cost him near $300 in fees alone and as he was already $200 less there they could afford to cut a break on price here AND still net more for their item.
Their reply was terse and simply said they thought my negotiating tactics were very strange!
Say what? I was trying to get the guy some more money, and save myself a few dollars I admit, but how odd!
Some people just cannot be reached it seems!
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I see a lot of the same items listed, relisted, relisted again, etc. I remember seeing this one ad for a pair of school bus yellow Wilson speakers. I have seen the ad for 2 years and the picture is of them in the guys garage next to his Porsche. The ad always says Porsche not included. Honestly, how many of us want school bus yellow speakers in our living room? Perhaps that is why they haven't sold. Also, the price was rather high and he kept mentioning the custom paint job on the speakers. |
