Are high end gear sales down or not selling at all?

[thethrillfactor]

Is it me or are sales really down?

Going by the classifieds and Ebay it seems there are a plethora of things for sale but no one is buying?

Were so many people buying things on credit? Or have people really stopped spending?

I know its scary for us to think about these things, but i remember thinking last year that the WTB list was almost triple the size of what was being sold.

[HobbyCore]

Ebay has become a ghost town. They've completely ruined their service in so many ways it's unbelievable.

Most things I buy/sell, including gear, go nowhere near ebay. Niche forums (such as GS) and craigslist are much quicker sellers with significantly less hassle.

[gwailoh]

Originally Posted by HobbyCore

Ebay has become a ghost town. They've completely ruined their service in so many ways it's unbelievable.

Hallelujah.

Yet the lack of buyers hasn't seemed to impact the prices which sellers are seeking. Have a look at this: Neumann Vintage U67 Microphone w/ Power supply & box - eBay (item 150334233912 end time Mar-29-09 18:35:36 PDT). As if, dudeman.

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by gwailoh

Hallelujah.

Yet the lack of buyers hasn't seemed to impact the prices which sellers are seeking. Have a look at this: Neumann Vintage U67 Microphone w/ Power supply & box - eBay (item 150334233912 end time Mar-29-09 18:35:36 PDT). As if, dudeman.

I noticed this as well. Some people are holding fast and others are looking for the quick sale. It will be interesting to see as the year goes forward as unemployment continues to rise if it finally busts the bubble of the vintage market as people start unloading vintage gear all at once.

I do feel that we've reached the cap for certain things. I don't see the Pultecs going higher than they are now, especially when the new reissues are released. Same goes for Neves, 1176's and the like.

Microphones are harder to gauge though.

[Led]

I've seen some good deals on stuff that is boderline high end, but the primo pieces are still going for stupid prices here. An original Sta-level went for a little over 4K AUD the other day.
I've passed on 2 pieces that were offered to me at what I would call good prices but still not bargains. I have a fair cash reserve, but with things the way they are I'm not making any big purchases at the moment. This time last year I wouldn't have blinked at dropping 4K on a good piece (if it was worth it to me) but for the first time in years I'm not booked months ahead so I'm playing it safe. I'd rather come out the other end of this with the setup I have than keep buying now and if it all turns to sh1t have to sell things. I think overhead and expenditure management is going to be the key for me atm.
On the plus side I have a nice tan and am the fittest I've been for years...

[gwailoh]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Is it me or are sales really down?

Going by the classifieds and Ebay it seems there are a plethora of things for sale but no one is buying?

Were so many people buying things on credit? Or have people really stopped spending?

I know its scary for us to think about these things, but i remember thinking last year that the WTB list was almost triple the size of what was being sold.

Just spoke with my ex, a professional eBay reseller. She says that sales dropped dramatically last November and remained very slow through the beginning of this month. The last two weeks have been better, but not back to last year's level. She sells clothes, not audio. The eBay market though does seem depressed.

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Led

I've seen some good deals on stuff that is boderline high end, but the primo pieces are still going for stupid prices here.

Ive been watching as well to see if prices get good on the better end of the spectrum but I haven't seen sh*t...

I was hoping this economy would help me fill some holes out but Ive been buying dynamic mics and small things like that I need instead.

Bought an e906 last night.

Looked at Thrills 230, but bought the e906... Not that Thrills price isn't good, its just not "this economy" good!

I have yet to find a steal but theres an LA2A for 5 grand in the classifieds.... NOTICE- if anyone wants to spend 5 grand on a serviced with records original LA2A from the period where Babcock owned the rights, prior to Putnam but NOT a grey face- PLEASE PM me cause this stuff is silly!

[The MPCist]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

I do feel that we've reached the cap for certain things. I don't see the Pultecs going higher than they are now, especially when the new reissues are released. Same goes for Neves, 1176's and the like.

Microphones are harder to gauge though.

I think in the next year or so, we'll see everything starting to drop as people need cash and find keeping certain equipment a burden.... I see boutique audio, and all of pro audio come to think of it, will see a drop in sales ... which might translate to price adjustments that work in our favor...? Who knows....

The hard times are just around the corner and hopefully something can be done about it... God help us all...

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by The MPCist

I think in the next year or so, we'll see everything starting to drop as people need cash and find keeping certain equipment a burden.... I see boutique audio, and all of pro audio come to think of it, will see a drop in sales ... which might translate to price adjustments that work in our favor...? Who knows....

The hard times are just around the corner and hopefully something can be done about it... God help us all...

The economic downturn of the industry isn't 'about to happen' in the future, it started very subtley in August of 2007 and has progressively gotten worse every quarter since then. Things are in the thick of it...five and a half feet under so to speak. It's got to hit bottom sometime, and probably soon (I hope by the end of Summer, but I could be wrong).

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Is it me or are sales really down?

Going by the classifieds and Ebay it seems there are a plethora of things for sale but no one is buying?

Were so many people buying things on credit? Or have people really stopped spending?

I know its scary for us to think about these things, but i remember thinking last year that the WTB list was almost triple the size of what was being sold.

Have you been on another planet or did you know that money is tight for normal humans right now? .

TH

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by oceantracks

Have you been on another planet or did you know that money is tight for normal humans right now? .

TH

A High End Gearslut is not a normal person.

He is abnormal, superhuman. The financial problems of the world do not creep in our bubble.dfegad

(Of course i know dude, i just wondered around here if people were at all holding back because of it).

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

A High End Gearslut is not a normal person.

He is abnormal, superhuman. The financial problems of the world do not creep in our bubble.dfegad

(Of course i know dude, i just wondered around here if people were at all holding back because of it).

The problem is that many of us have been hit so hard that there is not much to hold back...if you have kids, the choices have gone from "Do we get the good ice cream tonight or the generic?" to "We don't need no steenking ice cream."

That puts a new mic or comp in a different universe for some....(although the doctors and lawyers on the Paul Reed Smith Forum keep uploading shots of their newest aquisitions, apparently in true Slutz tradition).


TH

[tmcconnell]

I've recently sold several things for prices that seemed reasonable. I did not ask top dollar but maybe 10% less than average for the same thing. For some reason all the pro sellers are not dropping prices it seems, so its easy just to drop a little below them. In the last two weeks i sold a pair of km184's (850), a Historic reissue 59 Gibson 335 well used (2850), a four year old long ago retired FF800 (950), a DW collectors series bronze snare (450). All these items failed to sell when I asked for the "average" price - but 10% lower did the trick quickly. There are lots of buyers out here but its a buyers market. Cash is good.

Ebay's done fine for me lately. What worries me is that there seem to be no deals available on the stuff I want to use the money for. The manufacturers seem to be living in 2007! .. and the retailers are caught in the middle. imo. t

[Led]

Round our place at the moment 'high end' is the German beer on the top shelf of the client fridge....

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by HobbyCore

Ebay has become a ghost town. They've completely ruined their service in so many ways it's unbelievable.

.

Ebay had such a good thing going, and yes, they continue to nickle and dime sellers every week (which has added up to a hefty sum), give buyers more power to screw the sellers feedback rating, and just outright offer little in service (when things go bad) for the fees they charge. They act like a monopoly, which they kinda are in essence, yet their stock price has crashed ($13 today from a high of $56 in 2004?).

Even though you get top price on ebay, after all the fees and such, it's sometimes a wash over Craigslist or GS. Sellers have to continually raise their prices to accommodate the increased fees, etc., and it's become a law of diminishing returns.

I don't understand what Ebay does with all the income they get

[hipass]

I though I saw 2 Pultecs for 12K the other day

[hipass]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

I noticed this as well. Some people are holding fast and others are looking for the quick sale. It will be interesting to see as the year goes forward as unemployment continues to rise if it finally busts the bubble of the vintage market as people start unloading vintage gear all at once.

I do feel that we've reached the cap for certain things. I don't see the Pultecs going higher than they are now, especially when the new reissues are released. Same goes for Neves, 1176's and the like.

Microphones are harder to gauge though.

10K for a U67 that's for a sucker with more money than brains. I would care if Lady Gaga even used it for a dildo at that price!

[Faderjockey]

I know some one who found a buyer for a pair of 22K EQ's..
Some ones got money out there.

[TonyBelmont]

How much did that pair of ELAM 251's go for recently? $75K?

[Steamy Williams]

Originally Posted by hipass

10K for a U67 that's for a sucker with more money than brains. I would care if Lady Gaga even used it for a dildo at that price!

[Peacock]

When ebay intertwined with Paypal everything went down hill. The seller has no protection with paypal.

[AllAboutTone]

I have been doing well with sells on ebay as well as International sells, sometimes those are the best. Ebay has got so high with fees you have to mark up the price of your item.

[Jim Williams]

If you look at auto sales, people are holding on to their cars for 3.8 years, up from 2.9 years back in 2005. I expect to see folks holding on to what they're got rather than buy and sell, buy and sell. This will be bad for new gear brokers and manufacturers, but a possible benefit for repair and rental businesses.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[warhead]

I must be one of the lucky sellers (not on eBay...), although the "bang for the buck" stuff gets more play now, and I've always hung my hat squarely in that arena (as well as high and some low end). High end is asked about, but I see more conversations shifting to "what about the ____" which is like half the price.

If it means anything to anybody, I do see confidence coming back for more people just in the last few weeks.

War

[redrue]

I'll bet there are three sluts waiting in the wings to pounce
on whatever great deals that may come from this downturn
for every one person that is forced to liquidate something
they'd rather hang on to. (in the high-end especially)

Personally... I'm not selling anything until I need money for
food. And even then I need to lose a few pounds so I can let
it go for a few weeks... then I'll eat porridge. That's right, I'll
eat porridge.

[rhodesp04]

depends on your situation and how smart you are with your money...most people in the US are about to get their tax returns but will they do with it? buy stuff? pay off debt? or god forbid save it...

[postman56]

One thing I've really noticed has sunk hard and faster than usual is Digidesign Protools HD items, core cards, interfaces etc. An example 3 HD 1 core cards for $3256K on Ebay this week, and another for $1500.00, that's down substantially.

[woodfoot]

Originally Posted by HobbyCore

Ebay has become a ghost town. They've completely ruined their service in so many ways it's unbelievable.

Very true

The way paypal hold sellers money is a total scam

bastards

[Brad Lunde]

Originally Posted by hipass

I though I saw 2 Pultecs for 12K the other day

That's crazy! Especially when there is Tube Tech PE1c's available for US$2300@. I hope that's a long term collector who's spending 12K.......

I don't know guys, this thread seems kind of down but high end is doing OK I think. Its retail that's messed up.
Brad

[AllAboutTone]

This is not the time to waste money, buy only high end gear, don't take a chance with the middle of the road gear and get stuck with in case it does not work for you, read GS, search learn and listen and lastly BUY !!!!