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Why so many amplifiers for sale?

I remember not so long ago when these things were the hot ticket item, touted by all the reviewers as the next-big-thing, giant-killer, blah blah blah. Once again, all of the hype proves to be just that, and now I count literally hundreds of them for sale. So what's the deal? Nobody likes amplifiers anymore? Moving onto some other world beater of a component, I suppose? Go on, tell me it's just because so many of them were sold, hence the vast sea of available product on the used marketplace. I don't buy it. Just like everything else, they've come and gone. Their fifteen minutes of fame are now over. CD players, too. Have you seen how many of those are up for sale? Tossed into the classifieds like a weathered mistress. I knew it was coming, and that's why I've been sticking to singing in the shower. None of this fly-by-night hobby plunging for me. I'm much too smart to get caught up in that.

And by the way, am I still in business? I've been e-mailing myself all week, and get no response.
boa2
phd
1,008 posts
 
Jayctoy, as we approach summer, sales do slow down. Audiogon's bread & butter is through sales and advertising. The forums are a by-product as well as a courtesy to its members. Without sales the forums may not exist at all since they generate no income but they do stimulate alot of interest & possible purchases. But more than that they keep members connected.

Garyk, its undeniable, trying new gear is fun & exciting. I don't even keep the same car for more than two years as its traded in on something newer but different. But for those that hang onto the same gear for any length of time, more power to you.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
You guys all do realize this was a tongue-in-cheek thread, right?
phd
1,008 posts
 
TVAD, I thought it was an a foot & ankle thread, boy was I wrong. I'm just fooling with you. A few serious posts can stimulate a few more less serious answers and you & I just proved it.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
buying any component runs the risk of being disappointed with it. the conditions for engendering confidence that one will be satisfied with the sound of a component before a purchase are not usually present.

hence, one takes a chance and the result is components for sale.
kt_88
242 posts
 
If you don't mind, and I'm definitely wading in here.....

I have a few ideas here ( not necessarily bright ones )

1. Amps are like anything else for sale. People are always buying and selling. To ask " why are there so many amps for sale? " Is somewhat like asking " why are there so many cars for sale? " Don't you think?

2. People make mistakes and buy an amp that is not what they though they it would be. So they sell it, usually for less than they pay it. This to is a mystery to me. Sellers ( in general ) Think they should get close to new asking price. But the buyers on the other hand think, they should only pay 30 cents on the dollar. If you list a well known amp for 75 or 60 cents on the dollar of list, it ain't moving on agon! But if you list that same amp for 50 to 40 cents on the dollar, people are wetting their pants and hoping the thing is still for sale when they send you a e-mail.

3. We never seem to be satisfied. It never is enough! That seems to be the way Americans are. That is why there is such a thing as a pair of $1000, $20,000 or even a pair of $200,000 amps in the first place. This one really puzzles me. As a person that has been to countries where people will eat bugs for lunch an feel satisfied. We Americans seem to think that there is little that will to satisfy us. We have unsatisfiable desire to have more than we really need. Have we lost the meaning of contentment?

sorry just rambling I guess.......
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