Best Place for Pre-Owned Cables


I'll start by saying I hate buying audio new.  Many dealer margins are 50%, almost all 40% or more.  I especially dislike buying cables new.  I think I have maybe one or two I purchase new in my system.  I'm constantly looking on A'Gon for cables ( I need speaker cables) and any place else I can think of.  Anyone have any other sites they can suggest?  I've looked on usedcable.com but their prices are absurd.  Most of the stuff they have is YEARS old.  They're selling AQ speaker cables that were released in 2004 at 50% of their new price.  To me, anything that old is scrap.  I might entertain amps/preamps of that vintage but never digital (it's like buying a ten year old PC) and rarely cables.
I haven't found another good site (Audiomart is mostly an overlap of A'Gon) but I thought I'd ask.
Thanks in advance.
ihmeyers

Showing 5 responses by uberwaltz

Mind Ebay, as discussed earlier is maybe not the best place for sellers of cables unless you truly are just trying to get rid of your older cables from an upgrade and not too worried about fetching top dollar IN YOUR POCKET.
Approx 13% commission once ebay and paypal have done with you but it is a worldwide marketplace so thats the trade off right there, millions of potential shoppers.
I really like buying and selling right here on Audiogon to fellow audiophiles but in reality it has nowhwere close to the potential market.
So you pays your money and takes your choices.
No, I think you missed the part where I agreed with you, likely such an unusual event it did not compute!

And as for Top Seller, right back at ya!
Since the dark ages when eBay did not even have pictures.

Oh sorry its not a strut your stuff topic, my apologies, on with the show boys and girls, nothing to see here.
GK
I think the OP was inferring that cables are not cheap on eBay for us to buy as sellers add on 13% to try and make up the fees.
This maybe the case for some dealers but I have definitely not found this to be true from the true private sellers.
As you very rightly say it is a buyers market period right now!

Example
Just last night I purchased a pair of 4m long Nordost Red Dawn speaker cables, these are current and list at $1559 for 4m length.
Seller had them listed at $499... I bought and did not pay even that as eBay were having one of their 15% of everything promo nights so I actually only paid $434 shipped...for a pair of near $1600 retail cables.

Now if you are looking for an exact make, model of cable you may have to just keep looking and if you cannot wait then eBay is not the place to be, me I do not have much more to do with my time whilst listening to music than to scour fleabay, craggylist and Agon!

Guess that's why I am always broke!
Sometimes I have not found what I am looking for right away but nearly always eventually.
If in a rush then yes might not work out that day for sure.
And just avoid the dealers!
Most private sellers who like myself just sell their older cables once they upgrade are more willing to cut a deal on price.
Never be afraid to message them and ask!
Seriously?
You do not peruse eBay??
Best cable bargains I have ever had have been found there. And that's a lot btw.
Yes, yes I know there are a lot of fakes too but they are usually pretty easy to spot with an ounce or two of common sense.