Do you buy sell trade gear?

[pewternhrata]

Most I see on here is all about purchasing new equipment. Curious how many people are buying used, thrift stores, garage sales, auction sites, Craigslist, etc.
I rarely buy anything new, look for deals and end up upgrading or just replacing gear.
Integra for $80, mordaunt short 902s I picked up for an entire $30 anthem blx200 for $20 just to name a few. Ive def gone through my fair share of pieces over the years, buying selling and trading, usually don't end up too much at all out of pocket, well aside from the svs ultras (even those were b-stock)

 

[Pogre]

Craigslist is a little scary, but I'll buy speakers if I can test them out. I got my first real sub from craigslist. Electronics I prefer to stick with someplace that has at least a 30 day return policy or something like ebay's buyer protection.

I've bought a couple of refurb receivers from AC4L and had no problems with any of them. I'll probably continue to buy their factory refurb equipment. The units show up packaged well and look (and smell) brand new. The last one I bought I took advantage of a promotion offering a 3 year warranty on an SR6011,

 

[lovinthehd]

Sometimes I buy used stuff, picked up a used avr for my workshop from AH classifieds not long ago. I tend to use stuff rather than get rid of it, at least while it's functional. Nearest metro area, only 250,000 pop., is 40 miles away so not a lot of craigslist stuff in any case.

 

[pewternhrata]

I haven't bought from them...yet, good to hear no issues, some of the deals they have seem too good to be true.

Craigslist I always check the vibe of the seller, a lot of good deals I've turned down. I try to stay away from people who don't seem to have any audio knowledge, and def when they come off sketchy. I bought a denon dvd2900, the belt was loose so it had issues opening and closing, I wasn't aware of that (easy fix).

The Integra was a shot in the dark $80 shipped. Wouldn't power on (noted by seller) ended up being a loose connection on a board.

 

[Masher59]

I bought a set of used Salks but Jim had them already and had went through them and checked them out.

 

[lovinthehd]

I haven't bought from them...yet, good to hear no issues, some of the deals they have seem too good to be true.

.

I've bought from A4L several times and even when I had some issues with bad Denon refurbs they were great to deal with (not impressed with D+M refurb outfit). Like any deal, you just need to make sure you're comfortable with terms and live within them....

 

[MrBoat]

My current system is either used or DIY. I had a Denon 3805 given to me and then I found another in as good a shape for $75 so I picked it up.

Where the DIY plays into this is, when I see a price too good to be true, I then figure out what I will have in it if I have to refurb it myself, or if I can use some key parts for a project, perhaps. With speakers my first question to myself is; "Can I still find the drivers if they are blown, or, what do surround/recone kits cost?"

These days, I'd rather build kit speakers than buy used. It's like the fair price of a good used legacy set but everything is new. I'm not a trader or a reseller so if I buy/build something it is really something I want and intend to keep, although, the first pair of bookshelf (Classix 2) speakers I built, a friend really wanted them for his wife and he ended up paying me what they cost plus my time and finish work. I didn't want to charge him that but I didn't really want to sell them so he insisted.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

I buy used, do DIY, and if the product merits it, occasionally buy new.

I am not very good at selling stuff, so I mostly accumulate. Bad habit, I know, but that's how it is on my planet.

Worse, my Test Equipment is worth more than my HiFi (although it cost me less), all bought supposedly to "save money" with DIY. I'm building gear I don't need "for the enjoyment of the hobby".

So, most of you are more sensible than I. But I can't change, and life is too short to fight your own nature.

Regards, Everyone.

 

[Darenwh]

My receiver I purchased new, Pioneer purchased from Costco for a great price. Other than that all is used. I usually look for Estate Sales with good equipment. My current system is composed of Phase Tech Velocity 12's and Velocity center with some older AR being used for surrounds and a Phase Tech Subwoofer (10" ported) and a JBL HTPS-400 subwoofer (12" Sealed). All in for my speakers I am at $350 for decent equipment. A little under a grand for everything. I feel I am taking less of a risk with estate sales and even if I do get something that does not work out I am not out much in the end. Some of this stuff can get very expensive. Getting a good discount helps.

 

[j_garcia]

I've bought plenty of used gear, usually speakers, but usually from people I know. Current mains are all brand new from GR, but have a bunch of others that were used, both ID and DIY. I will usually check yard sales if they seem to have audio stuff but true value finds aren't that common. Great deals on truly good gear require some patience.

 

[Darenwh]

That's why I like Estate Sales. The way they are advertised (estatesales.net) gives you a chance to weed through them to find sales that actually probably have equipment and often even give you an idea of what the equipment is.

 

[Auditor55]

I mostly sell gear on Craigslist. Although I purchased an Ipod and a cellphone on CL once before.

 

[panteragstk]

I don't mind used or refurbished stuff, but it depends on what it is. I won't buy refurbished computers or parts as an example. Too many bad experiences.

A4L has a good rep so I'd buy from them, but used speakers aren't something I'd purchase without being able to listen for a while due to the fact that some people push things too hard.

I don't typically sell stuff due to the fact that I'm not going to get anywhere near what I paid. My Onkyo 809 would be for sale if I thought anyone would give me a decent price for it. It's just too old/big for me to use.

I keep things till they break typically.

 

[2channel lover]

I bought my B&W804s as floor models...technically used, 20 yrs and still going strong. My rotel CD was new b-stock.

Most everything I've sold has been to co-workers or friends.