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

Mostly used. Heck, I used to save up to buy kits.  Anything from Heathkit to Hafler to Dynaco.

Those were the days.

Although I bought everything new, I never bought anything unless the seller guaranteed me I could return it.  I’ve left a lot of very disgruntled dealers in the lurch.  

I once returned a Mitsubishi turntable. The dealer picked up the turntable and threw it on the floor, screaming “another MitsuTurkey!”

I have a truck and trailer, took psych time off of work or adopted a baby gov gave me 3 month paid va ka. Went from cali, wow diesel costly, to east coast.picked up alot of used stuff infinity irs v,mcintosh xrt 2k ,legacy valor ect all 30 cents on $ . Fed ex runed my wilson max and evolution acoustics  mm3 with fork lift through crate. So if I can go get it I do. Got a usaid grant for speaker therapy psych treatment will publish results next month and of course it's a double blind non biased study. If you are one of the kind audiophiles I met in my travels ,thanks for the therapy. I do get open box on occasion.   I don't mind resoldering boards,recapping from digikey? And reforming measuring speakers and replacing.  Enjot the therapy.😃

Not only do I normally buy used but I keep my gear for a long time, because I buy good stuff that I like (not a reviewer). My core system is 35+ years old and plenty satisfying and easily takes me away to a nicer place. I just can't listen to any newer high-end stuff because that WILL show the deficiencies and interfere with my journey. A few years ago I was stupid enough to let a friend put his new 10k+ interconnect in and, ever since, I've lusted for that sound again. Unfortunately, that interconnect alone costs many times the total cost of my system and is neither cost-effective nor in any way affordable. Gotta dream, though!!!

For my primary system, I bought used Moon 700i when new North Collection came out. Used Vandersteen Treo CT speakers, used Mola Mola Tambaqui Dac, used Grimm MU1 and new Nordost cables. I built my Roon server.

My second system was all new, Peachtree Gan400 amp with preDAC and PS Audio AirLens and Laiv Harmony Dac with Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers w/RAAL

People have upgrade fever and I bought my used system for around 60% of MSRP in mint condition. When I sell them, I will not lose much investment money.