Well I'm at it again trying to add to my system. I just picked up HSU sub's from marketplace and the guy said he was piecing out his equipment. He has an Emotiva xpa 5 gen 1 that he said he would be selling. After looking at it I noticed on the 1st channel the rca was a little crooked like it had been whacked once. What is this worth. He said he didn't know what he would ask but said he paid 800. I don't wanna offer something lowball and p him off but I also want it as cheap as possible. What would you guys offer?
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Based on the other post about repair, I'd probably investigate simply disconnecting/disabling the one channel (so it cannot trip the circuit) and consider it a 4 channel amp ... if a 4 channel amp would be of reasonable benefit to you.
I expect to pay about 60% for any used gear (which would price it at $480),then discount it $100 for the missing channel ($380),then it is a fairly old unit (I know it was sold in 2008),so I would probably be looking at $300-$325 as the most I would pay.
There are some serious Emotiva fans-boys out there, so he may be able to get more
from someone else.
As far as pissing him off, it is not uncommon for someone to have an unreasonable expectation for the worth of his gear, and I have a strategy for that (this is no deception or trickery, just a fair-minded approach that allows me to sometimes, get what I want without anyone feeling abused):
Explain as I did above how you came up with the price you are offering. Comment that he may have been expecting more, and he probably can get more if the right buyer comes along, but after you took a good look at it you are willing to pay $XXX.
See how he responds to that if he is feeling violated then follow through with ...
*This is the part that prevents it from falling into a low-ball category!*
Just say:
I would be happy to have it for $XXX, but I appreciate that you may be able to get more for it; with the right buyer you probably can. Consequently, what I can offer is that I be your "backup plan". IOW, my offer stands for 2 weeks and if you have a buyer offer more, then you're good. But if you don't, my offer stands. Just let me know if it sells, or, at the end of two weeks, let me know if you want to sell it to me. After two weeks, I need to move on and find my next amp.
I don't know how that concept sits with you, but it works for me:
1) Rarely do I "need it today" so waiting 2 weeks is not a problem.
2) I take the attitude that if he can sell it for more to someone else, "good for him"! I'm good with that.
3) It gives him time (assuming no buyers) to realize he thinks it is worth more than it is and get comfortable with selling it to you for a low price.
4) Probably the worst aspect is knowing someone else might low ball him and he might come back to them with a price $25 above your offer as a better option than selling it to you.
For a reasonable man, your relation with this person should still be in-tact. You are not saying he is crazy for thinking it is worth $500, you are only saying what it is worth to you, and even then, you are clearly not being pushy or trying to manipulate him - you are offering him the security of having it sold (if he is willing to accept your offer),so he is in charge!
Paramount to this approach is your willingness to "leave it to fate" whether or not he gets the buyer that will out-bid you. For Emotiva, there are enough fan-boys, and plenty of people will look at the older, heavier, and hotter generations as being worth more than the newer generations - cool, let them have it!
If it doesn't pan out, for new gear, I would look at the Outlaw 5000, followed by the Outlaw 2200 Monoblock (especially if you can divvy the load between the AVR and 2 or 3 monoblocks)!
