[Ericus Rex]

Why do people ask these questions when inquiring about a 'for sale'?  Does it matter?  If I want something and you've got it for sale then I don't care why you're selling (of course I ask if there are/have been problems with the unit) and I don't care how many have owned it prior.

Can someone explain this for me?

[rollo]

 Curious minds want to know WHAT is replacing said component so they can consider that. Silly insecure buyers.


charles

[zybar]

Only reason I care about first owner status is that warranty coverage sometimes only extends to the 1st and 2nd owner.

As for why somebody is selling...unless it is somebody I know, doesn't matter to me.

George

[Phil A]

I agree and understand about the warranty issue.  I think that some people have been burned and are insecure and assume there must be an issue.  I've heard of things and have had problems in shipping things (to me) and people unrealistically expect someone can be responsible for everything until it gets to their door.  I, for one, don't have the patience I used to have.  I don't sell as many things as I used to.  I end up rotating them to the secondary basement or bedroom systems and a product isn't worth it to sell, I end up giving it to someone I know.  By the time I rotate components between systems, there usually isn't much of great value left to sell all that often.  If I see something I want, I buy it and don't have a problem with most people.  It isn't that often that I buy used things either.

[Letitroll98]

1) The more owners of an item the more opportunity for abuse i.e. original owners having purchased it new are more likely to care for and maintain it, subsequent owners having purchased it used care less for it and are less likely to treat it carefully.

Additionally, the closer you can get to the purchased as new experience, the more likely it will be cared for.  So if the used item has the original box and owners manuals, I have more confidence in it's condition and it will be valued more highly.

2) "Why are you selling" goes to condition as well.  If strapped for cash and you need to sell items, you may be less likely to fully disclose any flaws.  If replacing with the manufacturer's new model, the owner may have been very happy with the product and you can expect it to perform well.

These questions are valid to ask and anyone unwilling to answer sends up a big red flag to me.

[chadh]

For any given used item, most potential buyers have never heard it.  The seller's reason for selling then can perform the same function as a review of the item online or in a magazine.  If the seller is moving from the item for sale to some known quantity, then the buyer has a credible signal that one person finds the known quantity to be better value in some way.  Perhaps the reveals that the item for sale is likely a piece of crap.  Or maybe it reveals that the seller needed to spend 27 times as much money to find something better sounding.

Obviously, there are questions of the seller's credibility.  Personally, I never bother asking why someone is selling because it's so easy for them to trot out the line: "I found a killer deal on the best amp in the whole world.  It's a marginal upgrade from the amp for sale, but the deal was so sweet I couldn't pass it up."  And I've never seen anyone write, "I'm getting rid of this amp because it sounds so horrible."  But for people who are more trusting of their fellow audiophiles, there may be real review-like information available.

Chad

[Phil A]

I prefer buying and selling locally, if possible.  Some people are just silly.  I went out of my way to take a CD player to someone (met him halfway vs. coming to my house) and was in constant contact and the person ended up telling me he didn't want it for some silly unreal reason.  In those instances when I do sell stuff, I list as much info as possible in the ad.  If I get silly paranoid questions (like I posted the 3 allowable free pictures on Audiogon - i.e. is it really in the advertised condition and wanting more pictures), I just politely tell them they are more than welcome to come over or if they are out of the area and know someone in my area to have them look at it and test it for them.  Someone questioning the condition when you have a decent amount of feedback is a red flag to avoid.  Anything can happen in transporting it and you can't control what the shipping company does.  I'm also to the point that I'll give a couple of reasonable options to pay and if that isn't good enough, they can look for another unit.  Too many special conditions requested is a signal to send them to the next seller.

[Ericus Rex]

The only reason that makes some logical sense to me so far is the warranty explanation.  But precious few warranties are transferrable to subsequent owners.  Any aspects of abuse should be disclosed in the condition of unit and covered by the blanket 'have you ever had any problems with XYZ' question and photos.  A nefarious seller will not be 'outed' by the question.  And there really isn't a good answer for the 'why are you selling question' is there?  The only answer that wouldn't sound too bad is 'I need the money for doctor's bills' or 'selling for the widow of a friend' and both of those situations gives the buyer alot of leverage for negotiation.  The fact is we all like to try lots of equipment and our systems and ears are highly subjective.  Some pieces work for us and some don't.  That doesn't mean the item won't be wonderful in the buyer's setup.  If we ask the right questions before buying then there is no need for silly questions.

What got me vexed on this issue is a WTB ad on Audiogon for a Music Reference RM-5.  "Looking for a good condition model from a first or second owner."  Now folks, that preamp hasn't been produced for twenty years now.  What are the chances that a first or second owner still has their unit and is just now willing to sell it?  Seems awfully silly to me when a mint unit that happens to be owned by not the first or second owner might be available.

Sorry for the rant   

[nrenter]

I always post a personal narrative in any for-sale post. I believe it helps the buyer feel more "at ease" with me as a seller. Irrational? Maybe. However, would you rather purchase a piece of equipment from someone that has posted a personal narrative, or someone who only posts "Paypal (adds 3%). No Returns."

You don't sell the steak, you sell the sizzle. 

[mix4fix]

I end up giving it to someone I know.

You have anything???

<nudge-nudge, wink-wink>

[Wind Chaser]

I've been asked, and on occasion I have asked those same questions and I'm not the least bit put off by them, especially when it comes to used cars - but rarely with anything else.  Sometimes curiosity is aroused for different reasons.  IMO it's not something that the seller should feel put off by.  It's all about being straight up and the buyer (hopefully) getting the whole story.

[roscoeiii]

As I have mentioned in positive feedback I left for people I have had financial interactions with here and elsewhere in the online audio world, one of the great side benefits of these transactions is getting to know another audiophile. And by asking why the seller is selling, I might get an idea of a potential upgrade down the line.

Having had items damaged in transit, I'd be willing to pay a bit of a premium for a first owner, as that means that the item has likely taken less abuse at the hands of UPS. And on the subject of UPS folks, always be sure to get those shipments insured for the price you paid! Insurance and tracking numbers do a lot to help maintain good relations between buyer and seller when shipping goes bad.

[rockadanny]

I care very much if original owner.

1. Original owner means gear has been shipped only once (if not in for repairs): shipping can be very hard on gear, even if packaged well.

2. Owner knows full entire history of gear: knows whether or not item was originally sold as demo or "B" stock; knows how gear was used/stored; and knows about all repairs and modifications done. I value this knowledge greatly.

I don't care why they are replacing. We all replace gear.

[Phil A]

You have anything???

<nudge-nudge, wink-wink>

It's possible after an upgrade or two there may be stuff that will only collect dust

[satfrat]

Curious minds want to know WHAT is replacing said component so they can consider that. Silly insecure buyers.


charles

Fact is if everyone would simply read The Trading Post Circle guidelines, they'd see that such questions are in bad form to begin with and should have enough class not to go there in a post. Besides, there's always a PM to the seller available to them anyways. HERE are the guidlines:
 
"Keep replies to adds positive for the seller.  Posts like:  "what are you replacing it with,"  "this other component is better,"  "here is a better price," or "this products sucks" may be removed.  Sellers may contact me to remove any off topic or negative posts in their sales thread.  Negotiating should be done through private messages or email.  Discussions, comparisons, etc. between the for sale item and another should be handled through PM, email or the other circles."

With just a little posting consideration and liberal use of the PM option, this thread should really be a nonissue. If stating the obvious makes me the AC Police,,, so be it! 
 
Cheers,
Robin

[jtwrace]

If stating the obvious makes me the AC Police,,, so be it! 
 Cheers,
Robin

You are the A.C. Police.  I tend to think of you as the stealth A.C. Police.   

[roscoeiii]

A very good post Robin. Very frustrating when a thread is used for questions that are more appropriate in a PM.

[Stu Pitt]

I always ask how many previous owners and why are they selling.  I also list this info when I sell - not that I buy and sell very often. 

How many owners tells me how many times it's been shipped around.  CA to NY to TX to wherever else probably takes a toll.  If the unit has been passed around, it raises red flags.  Maybe there's something wrong with it, but not outright?   Does the 3rd owner really know the unit's history?   I ask for serial numbers and ask the manufacturer, but that's not fool proof either. 

As to why selling, maybe there's something wrong with the gear.  That's my way of kind of getting in writing that nothing's wrong with it.  I also ask if anything is wrong with it, but the more ways I ask, the easier it can be for someone untruthful to slip up. 

I have no problem with it didn't sound right in my system, I bought it to try it, upgraded, etc. 

If someone doesn't want to answer an honest question, I'm done with it.  It doesn't take very long to answer how many owners and why selling.

I see how those questions can get frustrating with tire kickers asking a million questions and not buying though. 

[Don_S]

I think the temptation to ask questions can sometimes be the result of lazy sellers. If ads are minimalist it makes me wonder if there is a crime of omission and arouses my curiousity.

Sometimes the reason for selling is suspicious (to me) all by itself. "Only one month old.  New-in-box, never opened. Bought the top-of-the-line XXXMK2 SS monster monoblocks but woke up this morning and decided to go all tubes."  Wish I had enough money to be that.........   My purchases all come with careful consideration and planning for the future.

I frequently list my reason for selling.  Many times the reason is to get a later model or move higher up the same line. I think that is positive for a sale.

[mix4fix]

It's possible after an upgrade or two there may be stuff that will only collect dust

Upgrade the amps...