Audio valuations

The only thing that keeps an item from selling in any economy is that the price is too high for the market conditions.  That could be from too few buyers, an off brand, an item on the back-side of its life span or that it's a  buggy whip for sale.
The biggest problem is the initial mark-up on audio gear when new.  The first buyer, if he/she doesn't keep that item, typically loses 1/3 to 1/2 of what they paid in a year... sometimes less time than that.  I buy all top shelf equipment (readily recognized brand names), usually demo or single owner and typically pay about 40% of the suggested retail when i get it.  So, when I go to sell it, the downside is hundreds, not thousands.  But, there are plenty of folks who buy a preamp or amp for $10,000 and don't recognize it's worth about $7,000 on the second day they own it (particularly when warranty is not transferable), and it goes down from there.  Please tell me honestly how many of you have purchased used items on a regular basis and have made substantial profits on them, or even broke even on a regular basis?  This is a spendy hobby and making the right choice the first time, and holding on to your gear is the least expensive way to play in this arena--at least I have found it to be that way.

Without prejudice to its noble intent, this post is functionally elusive , rather useless IMO , for numerous reasons. The key one is the arbitrary and fluid pricepoint peg that is totally variable and dependent in lockstep with the economy.

Simply put:

-- in economic "good times", resale prices are comparatively "generous" and arguably inflated as buyers ride the "Good Times" wave;

-- conversely in economic "poor recessionary" downturns, resale FMV prices are dramatically reduced as buyers toss around nickels like they are manhole covers.

The best way to find the real price is start high, and slowly lower the price until it sells. THAT is the right price.
Economic conditions, and good or bad luck may also intervene.
I mean if the item has one (or a few) person(s) looking for it, the item can sell at a higher than normal price.
If no one is looking for it.. Then it may not sell at all!

I had a Audio Research SP-10mkII I put up for sale here.
(I also had a SP15 which I thought was far better sounding, so off with the SP-10)
I got it cheap, and listed it for $2,200 at 7AM. Within thirty minutes I had FIVE requests to buy it... by 7:30 AM CST.
The going price was $3,000.
I was satisfied, I had no need to chase the money.

Patients timing and compromise 

I always look at hifishark and ebay's completed sales before I buy or sell anything.