What's going on with the used audio gear market?


OK, maybe I am unrealistic but I've bought and sold audio gear for the past 25 years off and on for my personal use  as I change out or upgrade.  It seems that a reasonable expectation is around 50% of MSRP or somewhere close. That has been what I've always sold for and bought for. Now I see stuff priced at 80-90% of MSRP. I am talking about things that are not really statement products and can be a few years old and they want 80%.  I just don't get it, this stuff for the most part depreciates rather quickly due to the advancement of technology. Is this a hold over from the Covid Inflation effect on supply and demand? I guess that supply and demand will eventually sort it out. 

128x128fthompson251

agisthos said "Yes there has been a distinct slowdown in the last month or two. The rush to hoard and accumulate that was peaking 4-6 months ago has abated, for now. Its not just audio, seems to be in all sectors, collectable cars, houses e.t.c"

If Mecum Auctions is any indication of the collectible car market hard to see the slowdown in that segment , a few examples of winning bids from watching a re-run of the Aug 19-20 auction in Monterey - 1971 Plymouth Cuda - $1,000,000; 2017 Ford GT - $925,000; 2 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 469s - $400,000 , and $300,000. Seems rarely that any of the cars at their auctions aren’t purchased , and for significant dollars

ghasley -  the Chicago School of which Milton Friedman was the main voice have been the minority economic theorists since the early fifties.  Remember how FDR was going to ruin the economy?  And the post-war "giveaways" (GI bill, subsidized housing loans, etc) were going to ruin the country.  And how spending after the 2008 recession was too high even after it was cut in half from what was originally proposed .... the recovery was going to be "too fast" and "inflation rampart".  As if John Maynard Keynes never existed, much less the majority of economists who found considerable truth and value in his analysis.

@harrylavo 

It's not only the used audio market that could collapse...but if it does, it's likely to be temporary, and it's likely to recover.

The recovery is usually triggered by an increase in spending as those with capital seek to take advantage of lowered prices and others suffering and misfortune.

Such is the economics of market forces, and the laws of supply and demand.

 

Economics seems to be so ridiculously complicated with an almost limitless list of variables that hardly anyone seems to understand it.

Let alone make reliable predictions regarding the future.

 

Most of us can only look at historical patterns and try to make a vague sense of it.


2008 was a big moment for the entire western world.

 

Anyway, so far, so good - John Maynard Keynes has been the man.

Possibly the only one.

 

Keynes was a member of the Bloomsbury group...sort of early 20th century hippies including Virginia Woolf, her sister Vanessa Bell, and other writers and artists. Cool. Also, used car prices went up as new cars started having trouble getting parts (electronics from Asia mostly). Has nothing to do with inflation being a cause, but the result is inflationary. Note that free markets always fluctuate and if you didn't know that you are living under a rock, and used bargains are still out there if you know what you're doing...also great new stuff from companies like Schiit and others are amazingly good for the money.