When is used used up?

Rant: old crap listed "AS NEW". One problem with buying used is knowledge. If you do not know when a product was manufactured, you are blind.
Finding out, or knowing is very important when shopping used electronics. When I see an ad for a product, and i know it is 25 years old, I just have to laugh at the seller making comments like.. hardly used, or, like new. The best, most recent ad that makes me barf was for an Aiwa cassette deck. The model in question was made around 1982/1984. So this item up for sale is over 25 years old. If it was sitting around, it is junk, if it was used all that time, it is worn out! no way are parts available, and no way is any of the rubber stuff, belts gonna work more than a few days.
So this item is really just junk.
Or any product.. It seems finding out how old the item is can be difficult, and often the seller just makes stuff up. I bought a Furman, the seller said it was only about 18 months old. Inside it has a manufacture date, FIVE and a half years old. It is just human nature to bend the truth. but when the bending is ten years.. twenty years.
Way too many items are things like this. Ten years old and eight owners.. found it in a rummage sale, it came from a hurricane, got washed off, dried out and hey! it works.
So the quality of the seller is just as important as the item, if you want to get a fair deal, and not a mistake. I try to buy from folks who post, besides just buy and sell. That is why AudiogoN is so much better that eBay. You can get a glimpse of the seller.. sometimes. At least heree on the goN'.

If it was sitting around, it is junk, if it was used all that time, it is worn out!
Elizabeth (Threads | Answers)

I'm just curious for your opinion on a Yamaha cassette deck I've had since I purchased it new in mid 1980s (I'd have to do some research to get the exact year).

It was hardly used in the past ten years, but it did work perfectly. It has been boxed up for the past five years.

Would you say this unit is junk?

If so, would you explain why you have this opinion?

Thanks.

TVAD-- I defer to the responses of Elizabeth and Stevecham.

TVAD-- I defer to the responses of Elizabeth and Stevecham.
Garn509 (Answers)

No deferral necessary. I was asking Elizabeth.

OK, Tvad, no question it is old, and may become junk with a few hours use. (since NO parts will be available to fix even simple items like a belt or pulley) It has rubber belts in it that drive the mechanism from the motor/motors. Do you think those belts are going to just not age? IF they are made out of a synthetic (it would have to be a $$$ Nakamichi), maybe they won't break right off. but do you think it is fair to list it "as new" and NOT reveal that it is in fact AT LEAST 15 years old?
And that NO specialty parts are going to be available?
That is the problem.
If you DID say this machine has sat for 15 years with little use etc, then I guess a buyer can make a fair decision as to whether they are going to take the chance. It is when a seller does not reveal the 15 year age, just "looks great" that it becomes a shady deal.
Personally I would NEVER buy a 15 year old mechanical device EXCEPT a turntable and that only if it did not have an idler wheel design.. (only because the motor does just one thing..and the plain bearing in a turntable is pretty indestructable.)
Something like a cassette player, a video recorder, An open reel machine, a CD player.. hah... I would surely pass. I want stuff that works.. not a new project.
And, finally (deep breath here) IMO any cassette deck is junk because it it a dead format. It belongs out there with eight-track machines, Beta video machines, laserdisc players, 78 rpm turntables.. this is, of course, just my opinion. Some folks lives may revolve around restoring and using eight-track machines...
I've thrown away my cassette players, and tapes, thrown away my Beta machine and tapes, thrown away the VHS machine and tapes, thrown away the LD players and laserdiscs.
Thrown away generally means gave away to a Goodwill. Where folks can buy junk and have a seven day return on all electronics (since they pay maybe $5 to $20 bucks.. it ain't a big risk.)
I hope this clarification answers your query about your cassette deck?