buying used speakers

I have bought spent over $3K on used electronics bought on-line in the last year. Worth every penny and each transaction went smoothly. Gear in at least as good condition as described. You can definately get a flavor of how the product is by the type of communication you have with the seller by email and over phone. However, with speakers there certainly is more risk (shipping, bad driver, etc.) Then there is the risk of incompatibility with system. Certainly sticking with a known product would reduce that risk, but then how do you find out what that known product is. Some would audition at local dealer; I do not recommend that. Its dishonest and you are wasting their time and money. So knowing what will work in your system is a problem. However, if you stick with well known products, there would be little if any loss on a resale. Also with speakers probably most important to have original boxes. Escrow service certainly is good protection for both parties, but so far have not had any problems. I would recommend watching this or any other site for a few weeks first, you can start to see patterns with sellers over time.

Jsbail: Your questions are too general for may taste. I will say that loudspeakers bought used, are one of the "less sure" things you can do. I've done it, but only directly from the manufacturer, and I also sort of got lucky. IMO, People are much less likely to "go through" speakers for the sole purpose of trying several to see what they like, than they are to do so with electronics. That said, I have NO generalized impressions of "how the buying of a loudspeaker 'works out'", here at this site. I have purchased other items thru here with no real problems at all. However, I feel that trying to SELL something through this site is a real pain, you get tons of lowball offers and harassment, much of it from persons not in the USA, or even in an English-speaking country. I prefer another audio site when I advertise something for sale. Maybe that's just me. You want that troublemaker's name? I don't know the real one, but he called himself "chnupa". Anybody else hear of him?

Thanks to all for for input. Let me be a little less general. I am seriously considering buying a pair of speakers listed for $4000 on this site. List price for the speakers is $7200, and checking around this is what they sell for. They are nine months old and said to be in absolute perfect condition. There is no feedback listed on this seller. If I do this I will use an escrow service so I can inspect speakers before the seller gets paid. Seller will send me close up photos and original sales slip proving age and ownership. I have had great luck buying and selling on this site so far, but have had no transactions this large. Am I insane?

No you aren't, and it sounds like you are just asking this out of curiousity only, and aren't really torn about what to do at all. Good luck, whatever you decide. What speakers are they, btw?

Jsbail- Sounds like you've done your research. I would make sure they are shipped in original boxes and insured. Paying by credit card through escrow service should protect you from most abuses. If you get original (not photo copy) sales slip and photo showing matching S/N, that would be additional protection. I understand your reluctance given the high cost; you might have more piece of mind by talking directly to seller on phone. At that price, he/she shouldn't have a problem giving it out to you. Let us know how the escrow service experience goes if you go ahead. I have not used one yet, but seller I am currently buying a relatively low cost item (<$100) wants to use one at his expense. Go figure. In sum, as Carl said, it seems as though you have made up your mind, and it also seems that you used all reasonable precautions.