[penthouse-D]

Why are these speakers SO hard to sell??

[es347]

Oh I don't know.  What's your take penthouse?

[penthouse-D]

Gee, I don't know. That's why I asked the question. I have had a pair on Audiogon and here for nearly 2 weeks in BRAND NEW condition and not one response. Even at nearly 50% off. What's your take????

[timind]

A few years ago I had a pair of VR-1s. No trouble selling those.

[Delacroix]

I don't think it's 'these speakers' as much as it is any audio component you try to sell at the $16k price point will require a special buyer. If anything, I expect large ticket items to take more of a hit, %-wise, on a used sale than more ordinary fare. I know we all like to get most of our money back on anything we sell but there is always some suspicion about MSRP in audio and even more so with some high ticket items like speakers. I don't know even know anyone who paid MSRP for any high ticket item. If your version is not the absolute latest version too, that will hurt the price.

I sold a $1k item on A'gon a month back for 40% of its MSRP, which I priced to be lower than other listings at the time and even lower than its Blue Book value. I wanted to shift it and it sold within 10 mins going live, after two views.  I wondered if I'd underpriced it but other versions at $100 more sat there for weeks, so I guess I hit the sweet spot for some buyer and it was not worth the hassle of waiting longer for a few more bucks. Over multiple sales, I don't think I've ever quickly sold anything for more than 50% of its list price. Am not recommending this for you or even saying your price is unfair, I don't think it is, but if I was spending around $15k on speakers today, there's some real bargains to be found out there and you are competing for a relatively small number of buyers. I think this is what's happening here.

[pardales]

Its not the brand. Tough economy right now. Hard to sell much of anything over 1K these days. Under $500 stuff sells pretty quickly though. Again, tough economic times for disposable income/luxury items.

[es347]

Gee, I don't know. That's why I asked the question. I have had a pair on Audiogon and here for nearly 2 weeks in BRAND NEW condition and not one response. Even at nearly 50% off. What's your take????

My take is that whether it's a VSA speaker or a Wilson, at $15K you're going to be hard pressed to find a buyer in these economic times.  It's not exactly what you'd call a seller's market....my take.

[WGH]

I always figure the resale value of audio equipment is close to zero. All my amazing, exciting, new, expensive (to me) equipment eventually gets recycled to my woodshop for a few years and is then practically given away to friends for a pittance. It is just the cost of life and OK with me.

At the $15,000 to $20,000 range there are a lot of choices, people with this much disposable income may have problems but money is not one of them. At the last RMAF I listened to both the VR5's and the TAD CR1's, I stayed in the TAD room much longer. If I had $17,500 for toys then $37,000 would not be a stretch.

On the practical side, almost zero new homes are being built with rooms large enough to do the Von Schweikert speakers justice, many people are downsizing, I know my clients are.

Hang in there, Christmas bonuses are going to burn a hole in somebody's pocket.

Wayne

[penthouse-D]

It's funny, I traded up on some expensive McIntosh gear and sold some pieces the same day I listed them at about 30% off retail. Somehow, I suspect it depends on how desireable the item is. The market is very efficient.. I'm extremely disappointed.

[es347]

Yeah but you've got some killer monoblocks there sport!

[rlw3]

i have some interconnects on offer at around 45% of list hardly any interest. Makes me worry about the health of the dealers, manufacturers, and the entire industry/hobby

[michaelhigh]

I always figure the resale value of audio equipment is close to zero. All my amazing, exciting, new, expensive (to me) equipment eventually gets recycled to my woodshop for a few years and is then practically given away to friends for a pittance. It is just the cost of life and OK with me.

At the $15,000 to $20,000 range there are a lot of choices, people with this much disposable income may have problems but money is not one of them. At the last RMAF I listened to both the VR5's and the TAD CR1's, I stayed in the TAD room much longer. If I had $17,500 for toys then $37,000 would not be a stretch.

On the practical side, almost zero new homes are being built with rooms large enough to do the Von Schweikert speakers justice, many people are downsizing, I know my clients are.

Hang in there, Christmas bonuses are going to burn a hole in somebody's pocket.

Wayne

This very reason is why you'll always find me buying cheap and cheerful. I rarely sell, I always buy inexpensive, time-tested and true icons, and always repair anything that breaks down rather than unload or give away stuff. I have a modest collection of vintage classics, all sound excellent and I'm sure my day will come when things begin to give up the ghost. I have roughly 6 mid-fi systems (and then some extras) to listen to till I give up the ghost. I ought to outlast them all...We're talking Marantz, Sansui, Kenwood, Thorens, AR, ADS, Klipsch, Infinity, Ohm, Polk, Harman Kardon, Crown, dbx, Yamaha, Philips, all well-known, respected brands (we're not talking about BPC, I collect good silver gear and the heavy rule applies here).

[es347]

"we're not talking about BPC, I collect good silver gear and the heavy rule applies here"  you lost me there Mike..

[Hesperant]

You know, I have VR4Jrs and Unifield 1s.  These things are heirloom items.  I remember my Techniques, Pioneer, and DCM days with a very fond heart.  The VSA speakers I have now are without a doubt quite the improvement.

In an economy where people are having problems buying food there will always be the issue with selling what is considered non portable luxury goods.  High end speakers are always considered heavily.  Wealthy people tend to try to keep that wealth.  While this is a very blanket statement and obviously does not describe everyone we cannot forget that a small portion of people and even smaller portion of wealthy people are aware of the great beauty that is VSA (No I do not work for them).

Hesperant

[jjc1]

I must have missed something along the way. What ever happened to the "$3,750 speaker that sounds like a $15,000 speaker"?  The only ads I see now are for the "$4,500 spaeaker that sounds like a $15,000 speaker". It seemed much more appealing as the $3,750 speaker considering that there are very few places fo audition.

[es347]

I'm pretty sure that they have said the RMAF show price of $3750 will be honored through December but you'd best call VSA to confirm that.  I attended RMAF this year and it was obvious that the VR33s can hold their own against speakers in the $10K+ range.  What was amazing to me were the number or rooms making very poor sound.

[BigSwede]

I must have missed something along the way. What ever happened to the "$3,750 speaker that sounds like a $15,000 speaker"?  The only ads I see now are for the "$4,500 spaeaker that sounds like a $15,000 speaker". It seemed much more appealing as the $3,750 speaker considering that there are very few places fo audition.

VSA has said repeatedly that the $3750 price was an introductory price.

[JackD201]

Check out the FB page, I believe there is a holiday season promo.