Weirdest Question asked when selling gear?

I go out of my way to be polite, friendly, reasonable and professional when making significant purchases of any kind, but as a buyer I ALWAYS ask "why are you selling" and I am happy to answer this question in considerable detail when selling.

How the seller responds -- in their tone as well as their openess with information -- invariably gives me clues to the type of person I am dealing with and their honest perception of the condition, performance and value of the item for sale.

"I love it, its mint but I'm desperate for money or I switched amps and they don't work as well anymore" etc puts me as ease as a buyer and increases the chance of a deal much more than "why do you ask" or any response that smacks of annoyance or none of your business. Does the seller have something to hide?

Why is this such an annoying question? Perhaps someone is suggesting that it is annoying because it is irrelevant -- that it is all too easy for sellers to lie on this question? Now, I really want to buy from you...not. Maybe I just don't get it.

Of course, this question is a separate issue from peoples ATTITUDE and I too reserve the right and delight in choosing NOT to deal with certain buyers.

But you can ask me anything you want about anything. Why would I let that annoy me?

Cwlondon makes a great point. I posted earlier on this tread because the snobometer was pegging big time! This is a problem with high end audio. We don't just see it happen with dealers but now we are seeing it with people who are trying to sell things on the net. If you want to sell you have to make someone comfortable enough to buy. Having said all of that, I have also had some strange questions from people. One guy asked me if I really thought the amp I was selling sounded good. I didn't know what to say other than yes I think in the price range it is one of the best sounding amps. He said okay and bought it. First he trashes it, then he buys it. Go figure.

How about - "Do you accept cash?"

- Dan

Dan- Well do you? lol

Lest we conclude that only buyers make dumb remarks, here are a few of my fave statements made by sellers:

"It has a few scratches and dings but you can't see them." (Huh?)

"I sent it back to the factory for an upgrade." Which upgrade? "Uh, I'm not sure. Some smoke came out of it one day and it stopped working so I sent it in." (Uh, dude, that's a repair, not an upgrade.)

"If you don't know exactly what this amp is going to sound like with your system, you shouldn't be buying it."

"I won't sell you this preamp unless you promise to buy better interconnects than the ones you have now." (Cross my heart and hope to die, sir.)

"I doubt that your ears are good enough to appreciate this amp." (Well, excuse my humble dust. I'll run right out for a new Beltone.)

"Wait, let me get a pencil. OK. Now, itemize all your gear for me in detail and give me the dimensions of your room." ('Scuse me, is this an equipment sale or an adoption hearing?)

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Will