Do you buy new, used or new or used gear?

When I started my HiFi journey all I could afford was used- and I made a lot of mistakes in what I bought and from whom. Thankfully that was 50 years ago and I've gotten better at discerning.

My first new piece was a Marantz 2215 from Stereo City in Detroit. I still remember the box in box packing, the fake wood print on the inner box and the string ties holding the flaps down and the delightful smell of a factory new unit- unlike the old cat piss cigarette smoke yellowed stuff I first had. I was 14. 

My first Wilson's were used, as was my first Audio Research gear- I was so proud to own something so nice. 

Since that time it seems that it's about 60% new and 40% used. I still like the thrill of a well-bought piece I have desired for a long time. I have a list of items I want to own someday and I scour the used market carefully waiting for the right one at the right price to show up.  I've gotten pretty good at discerning which seller wants to get it sold and which ones hallucinate. 

I tend to like gear I can't afford  so I have no problem buying used if it is super clean.   I have bought my last few components new.  All used money from selling other gear, trade in plus cash etc.

I bought my Aurender new with a trade in plus funds from gear I sold.   It was a no brainer at only $800 out of pocket.

I was going to upgrade my turntable but Sota made it easy to trade up a few models.    

Ideally I like new but have bought many, many used components over the years with no regrets , except one amp I got burnt on , died after a short time and was cost prohibitive to repair.  .....not bad out of the many I purchased.   

I own 8 amps and all were bought new except my Krell k 300, which I purchased from someone on Audiogon. Negotiated great deals on most. The only thing I’ve bought off an individual was a pair of BUCHARDT limited anniversary speakers and a Hi Rose 150 transport. All cables new and Negotiated. I have purchased a few items from the music room. 

Mostly used 75%?   Other than a CDP (the used ones i bought came broken) and a Wiim streamer its all used including the Salamander Archetype stand, amp, TT, speakers, tuners, phono preamp.

A mix of used, open box, demo and heavily discounted new.  All my sources were purchased used, mostly on Audiogon and US Audiomart.  I did get an amazing deal on my Lumin streamer on head-fi.org, of all places.  The only things I have purchased new, at retail, are interconnects, most of my power cords and speaker cables.  On the heavily discounted new purchases, there a plenty of dealers out there that want/need to move inventory and are more than willing to work with you.  One of the things that I will offer up to a dealer, especially on an expensive piece of equipment, is to send a check versus using a credit card.  A lot of these folks are giving up 3%-4% when a card is used.  Only once, did I have a dealer say to me that it made no difference and I was more than welcome to use a card.