The swindle continues...
- Thread starter beatcomber
- Start date
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Nothing new. I get constantly disgusted with the prices at thrift shops and pawn shops but the occasional gem keeps me coming back (that and the $1 CD bin.)
Just yesterday I saw a pair of cherry Polk RTi towers - I think they might have been A5s - in a pawn shop in actually decent shape but missing a few trim bits for $700...!!!!
Seriously? I can get brandy new ones delivered to my house for less than that... step away from the crack pipe... Also consistently any AVR new enough to have HDMI is priced at $90 or thereabouts...
Just yesterday I saw a pair of cherry Polk RTi towers - I think they might have been A5s - in a pawn shop in actually decent shape but missing a few trim bits for $700...!!!!
Seriously? I can get brandy new ones delivered to my house for less than that... step away from the crack pipe... Also consistently any AVR new enough to have HDMI is priced at $90 or thereabouts...
Yeah, seeing more and more of that in my area. Old or new, thrift stores believe they've struck gold. On an unrelated note, a local CL seller is asking $1200 for a pair of Sansui SP-3500's.
The big question is with a price like that, will they sell? If they do, if someone pays that, it'll continue!
Biggles
The big question is with a price like that, will they sell? If they do, if someone pays that, it'll continue!
Biggles
beatcomber
AK Member
I can't blame a thrift store for trying to maximize their income... it's goes to funding charities after all... but jeez louse, do some research before putting that kind of a price on an item!
The poor-quality printing on the carton is a dead giveaway that this is cheap made-in-China crap.
The poor-quality printing on the carton is a dead giveaway that this is cheap made-in-China crap.
GD70
Lunatic Member
They look PURDY! That's why!
Who knows, maybe the other side of the box has the original $1499.99 price printed on it, so they figured they're marking em way down. 
gladiator335
MRTI
Note the picture of Stradivarius violine on a box. For this price it whould be included.
SimplySound
Kent Engineering & Fondry
Guys, what the heck, they come with the original packaging!!! 
sans-culotte
Active Member
There's a fairly decent thrift store just down the street from where I live. They've had a few interesting audio pieces in there. I never moved on any of them because I didn't need to but, no one is ever going to get a "great deal" from them. Conversely no one is going to get badly ripped off by them neither. They seem to be rather fair - that in and of itself is becoming increasingly rare as to be refreshing.
Most vendors in my neck of the woods seem to do (what passes for) "research" on a piece of gear these days (i.e., they look on Ebay). That has led some vendors to arrive at rather preposterous conclusions concerning the dollar value of their goods. There is, to my mind, no more a skewed "marketplace" than Ebay (with the possible exception of Craigslist).
Most vendors in my neck of the woods seem to do (what passes for) "research" on a piece of gear these days (i.e., they look on Ebay). That has led some vendors to arrive at rather preposterous conclusions concerning the dollar value of their goods. There is, to my mind, no more a skewed "marketplace" than Ebay (with the possible exception of Craigslist).
beatcomber
AK Member
Only the finest injection-molded plastic was used!
beatcomber
AK Member
Actually, eBay's completed auctions is the most accurate way to determine current market value, but you have to have some basic understanding of condition, product version, etc. to correctly interpret the data.
ggizzy
EMI extraordinaire
I've had a lot more luck at Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity Restores. They seem to price things fairly. Especially at the Restore. They move so much product through that they are usually eager to make a deal or get rid of something if it's not moving quickly.
At least, that's my experience in this part of the country.
At least, that's my experience in this part of the country.
That and only look at completed auctions, not active ones with no bids and/or BIN only...
beatcomber
AK Member
:yes:
Did you let them know? I've gone into thrifts and saw obvious errors in pricing on stuff like this and will speak with the manager. Let him know that I have some knowledge about this stuff, that they can find completed prices on the auction site, etc. Usually they're very appreciative of the info because after all they want to sell the item. It does no good to anyone for it to sit around for ages because of a pricing error.
The speakers in question would have to be very bad indeed to sound worse than some of the old ARs and other relics many of the jaspers around here are so fond of.
michaelhigh
mind's eye music
That. :yes:
Lots of good sites like this one will give even a fricking saleslady at Goodwill enough info to work with. :yes:
They're just hoping someone is lured into their money trap (with the promise of good intentions of course!)... :thumbsdn:
Zonker92
All shiny and chrome
Damn; some coffee just went up my nose.
CH46E
Active Member
This is going to go over like a lead zeppelin! LOL
GD70
Lunatic Member
You must have heard really bad out of repair old AR's.
