Secondhand deals

All this talk of dealers and their margins has got me interested in other routes of purchasing (online/second-hand).

Can anyone put together an "idiot's guide" of where to look and what to look out for ?

I've been looking on the hififorsale and ebay websites for second-hand gear, but having never bought any, I don't know what the pitfalls are I should be concerned about (i know e-bay can be plagued by unscrupulous dealers and people paying over the odds for their kit).

Cheers

 

a few sites to get you started ...

Sounds Of Music

Midland Audio Exchange

The Emporium

Hifi For Sale

Moorgate Acoustics

Hifi Corner

Audio T

Audio Excellence

KJ West One

Walrus

PJ Hifi Guildford

Loud & Clear

Movement Audio

Musical Approach

Audio Designs

Vickers

Audio Salon Hifi shop

Guildford Audio

 

don't forget central audio:

http://www.centralaudio.co.uk/

 

Hifi Choice Forum

Paul Green Hifi

Radfords

 

Batfink, in terms of not getting ripped off from a private seller/ebay, just use commonsense.
Like, ask if you can demo it and/or you want to pick it up personally; pics; receipts if any; age of component; how many previous owners; phone up the seller; consistent ebay +ve feedback etc

Also, buying off forums like these from sellers who have been posting for a while is more likely a safe bet, and often great deals to be had w/o the hassle of ebay

It's only when it comes to cd players would I probably go for ex-demo, rather than private sales. Unless, again if it's from a well known forum member.

HTHs

 

One more:

Lintone

 

There's more choice than I thought!

I'd be more likely to go into Lintone than buy online - or do they offer better deals online ?

I'm still unsure about buying CDPs secondhand due to the moving parts and the chance for things to go wrong. I think Amps should be ok, speakers are still a maybe (and are scheduled for the next upgrade, hence the reason for this thread).

 

I bought a second hand set of speakers from Lintone.

Originally I found them on the internet and sorted out final price etc. and then picked them up and paid for them in store.

If it helps, Lintone also gave me a 12 month warranty on the speakers which reduces the risk a bit

Andrew

 

Lintone are one of my favourate dealers, no bullshit and plenty common sense.

 

I wouldnt worry about second hand speakers so much. Its pretty easy to hear and see damage, a safeish second hand bet normally IMHO.

CDPs? well, if you want to play it safe its good to get a recent transport mechanism. An older DAC shouldnt have reliability problems (sweeping generalisations, but thats what this thread is about!) Then again we have Nsherin who bought a new NAD CDP and the transport went faulty within 1 year..

NB If you live in the north east its worth going into both Lintone's (metrocentre and gateshead) as they have different used stock. It always suprised me there are/were no other decent hifi dealers in the north east! (has it changed?)

 

No.

 

I no longer live in the north east due to lack of available work, but my parents still live there, so I pass through often enough. Never tried the Gateshead Lintone though and I always thought the kit sold secondhand in the metrocentre wasn't that great - it tends to be very vintage whereas I'm looking for stuff that is fairly recent and has just been superceded in the last couple of years.

Eg. I would be willing to pay up to £500/600 for either new speakers or new amp (ex Cyrus 6, MA Silver S5), but what bargains could be had secondhand (ex. Arcam A85 went for £480 on ebay yesterday - is that a good s/h deal ?)

 

Hi,

More sites to look at.

Heatherdale Audio

Connoisseur Audio

Oxford Audio

Trading Station

Also Batfink, there is a shop in Darlington called Hifisound. It's on Larchfield road. It has a wide range of hifi gear from old classics to fairly recent stuff. Not on the internet but have an ad in Hifi World.


SCIDB

 

Hi Batfink.

I personally believe that its a hi-fi myth that more recently produced hifi is better.

In terms of objects with moving parts - like a CD player, buying more recently made items can sometimes make sense (in terms of reliability)

..but on the other hand in SOUND terms, a 15 year old Naim pre-power bought for 400 pounds will IMHO crap all over a 500 integrated that is perhaps now selling for 350-400 used..

Just generalisations, but when it comes to picking the best of older hifi, there's gold in them thar hills..

Good luck anyhow
Cheers
Chris

 

There's a good selection of places cropping up here. Moorgate seems to have the best selection/value from initial views.

Are there any pitfalls I should beware of when buying (and are the dealers open to negotiations like they are with new gear) ?

 

Hi Batfink,

When looking at 2nd hand/ex dem stuff from a dealer, always ask about any warranty that is included. This can vary from none to a few years. Ex dem stuff should carry a full warranty. Also ask about if they offer a money back system if not satisfied. Is there a cooling off period? Be wary of being offered a credit note instead of a refund. This isn't always a problem but it's best to known these things before you buy.

Note the description of the item. If you buy unseen there could be a chance you are not going to be happy with the goods. Most shops will sort out problems.

You may be able to get a shop dem or even a home dem, depending on the item & cost.

Check to see if the dealer is a member of BADA. This will mean that if you buy from a dealer across the country & the item goes wrong, you can take it to your nearest BADA dealer to get fixed. I think this only applies to new & ex dem stuff. This doesn't mean non BADA dealers are no good.

Some items are open to negotiations so don't be affraid to ask. Always ask about postage costs.

Buying from a dealer should give you more legal come back if anything should go wrong.

SCIDB

 

EAT THIS!!!!!
http://www.acton-gate.com/specials.html
http://www.adverts.hififorsale.com/home.asp
http://www.audio-excellence.co.uk/bargains.txt
http://www.audiovenue.com/trades.asp
http://www.audiodesigns.co.uk/specialmain.htm
http://www.audio-t.co.uk
http://www.audiosalon.co.uk/
http://www.audioconsultants.co.uk/

http://www.centralaudio.co.uk/
http://www.connoisseuraudio.co.uk/page2.htm
http://www.cornflake.co.uk/

www.emporium.dircon.co.uk
http://www.englishaudio.co.uk/
http://www.englishaudio.co.uk/xoffer.html
http://www.exdem.com

http://www.hicam.co.uk
http://www.hificorner.co.uk/
http://www.hifiguy.co.uk/
http://www.hifi-stereo.com/Preowned.iaw
http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/classads.html

http://www.lintone.co.uk/pre_owned_nav_page.htm
http://www.loud-clear.co.uk/offers.htm

http://www.matrixhi-fi.co.uk/acatalog/index.html
http://www.demon.co.uk/moorgate/forsale.htm
http://www.midlandaudiox-change.co.uk/
http://www.mountainsnow.co.uk/bargains.asp
http://www.musicalapproach.co.uk/sales

http://www.noteworthyaudio.co.uk/Offers.html

http://www.oxfordaudio.co.uk

http://www.progressiveaudio.co.uk/used_stock.html
http://www.preloved.co.uk
http://www.petertyson.co.uk/

http://www.rayleighhifi.com/specialspage.asp?first=true&pagetype=specialspage
http://www.retroreproduction.com

http://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/stockclearance/stockclearance.html
http://www.soundcinergy.co.uk/exdemo.htm
http://www.signals.demon.co.uk/index1.htm
http://www.soundsexpensive.com/
http://www.soundsperfection.co.uk/used.html
http://www.sounddrjuleshifi.co.uk/
http://www.sounds-of-music.co.uk/main-pages/second-hand.htm
http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/stoneaudio/classifieds/

http://www.ultimate-sonics.com/pre_owned.htm

http://www.vickers-hifi.co.uk/retail/frameset.html

http://www.walrus.co.uk/sechand/sechand.htm

 

from the moorgate website...

is this anyone we know?
cheers



julian

 

Bl**dy hell Danza, that little lot should keep me going a while.

 

Hi,

Sounds like some dodgy geezer to me. I would give him a wide berth to be safe.

SCIDB