AudiogoN Forums: I don't get it

I don't get it

I breeze through the Agon classifieds every few days and am absolutely astounded by the number of listings of equipment that is "less than 1 year old" and in many cases less than 3 months old. The implied financial hits are staggering. I have developed a number of theories:

1) The equipment is being bought by store/distributor employees at or close to wholesale and being flipped at no loss or maybe even a profit.

2) Audiophiles have some sort of obsessive-compulsive disorder that forces them to continue to change out components irrespective of need or cost.

3) Audiophilia(?) is like being addicted to herion, every day you need a new fix because whatever the last addition did for you, it wore off and something new is needed.

4) Some audiophiles have way too much money.

Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the chance to buy equipment at a discount as I generally can't bring myself to pay retail for most of this stuff. However, I'm curious why all this nearly new equipment is here.

Thanks

Wstritt (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-19-01

Responses (1-16 of 16)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

12-19-01 Imo, 1-3 are all correct, especially #2 and #3. Drubin

12-19-01 The answer is (5), all of the above. there is of course aa ( ... Craigklomparens

12-19-01 I think its a combination of all of your theories, but i thi ... Mg123

12-19-01 ...i think you're already know. that's why you've just lited ... Marakanetz

12-19-01 I think that numbers 2, 3 & 4 are all quite valid. number 1 ... Sean

12-19-01 I might also submit that used equipment, appropriately chose ... Jvogt

12-19-01 Three cheers for wealthy equipment rollers! 3728slingshot

12-19-01 people get bored with the means way too soon and reviewers ... Ljgj

12-19-01 All of the above + 6 (?): mismatches. we buy cause it's a go ... Gregm

12-19-01: Smwdrtwin
I used to wonder about the same thing until #2 and 3 took hold of me and I became a seller of some new barely used expensive equipment. Then I understood the ads that claimed "10 hours use" "barely broken in", etc. Ultimately, I was able to build a system that I am very happy with after trying new, demo and used equipment at home in my system and then selling what I didn't need or want. The overall cost to me still represented a savings over retail when I add up the cost of the purchases that I kept.

There is no way that a retail store would have allowed me to have extensive home demos of all kinds of equipment, so I am happy with the process and happy that A-gon exists for crazy people like me (us).
Smwdrtwin (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

12-19-01 I vote for all of the above! some people have more control t ... Lak

12-19-01 I took months comparing two preamps and finally put them bot ... Blkadr

12-19-01 Another point that could be added to your list is: 5) mist ... Garfish

12-19-01 Wstritt: the title of your thread is obviously incorrect. y ... Cornfedboy

12-20-01 I think 2) and 3) hold true with a bit of "mismatch&quo ... Tk4qmmt

12-21-01 I'm quite an addictive sort, but i've never tried "heri ... Subaruguru