Widow calls. Audiophile died. I need your help.

[tcdriver]

I need your help. Yesterday, I received a telephone call from the wife of an audio friend. She called to inform me that he had died. Long story short, she is left with a lot of audio gear that she will never use and that she wants to move along. She asked me if I could help identify the value of the equipment. She sent me a list of items.

My problem is that I do not do much buying and selling and the gear in question is way upscale (high end) compared to what I usually work with. i.e. The cables alone in his system cost more than my entire setup.

So, my question, based on your personal experience: what is the best way for her to sell the gear? What is the best advice I could give her? Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.

 

[highping]

Sell it on ebay with a reasonable reserve. You can direct her on the best way to ship the items.

In other words, let the "market" determine it's value............

 

[Oerets]

Not knowing your location. Check and see if there are any online auction companies local to you. Most will come take pictures and handle getting paid. Hefty 30+% in fee's but they do all the work.



Barney

 

[woofmytweets]

hifishark.com is a good resource

 

[markshan]

"Widow" still fit person who can handle moving all of this stuff herself, or "widow" can't get across the room without a walker? The real question isn't where to find the right info (you already know far more than she does), the real question is how much time/energy can you devote to the project, and what (if anything) do you hope to get out of it?

 

[colohiker]

You might check into Audiogon.com. Seems to cater to higher end equipment.

 

[tcdriver]

Thank you for all the responses, so far. I appreciate all your good suggestions.

"Widow" still fit person who can handle moving all of this stuff herself, or "widow" can't get across the room without a walker? The real question isn't where to find the right info (you already know far more than she does), the real question is how much time/energy can you devote to the project, and what (if anything) do you hope to get out of it?

I do not expect to get anything out of it. The widow is in her early seventies. I do not know if she would be up to lifting and packing some of the heavy tube amplifiers.

Not knowing your location. Check and see if there are any online auction companies local to you. Most will come take pictures and handle getting paid. Hefty 30+% in fee's but they do all the work.

Barney

Located in the SF bay area. I will look into local online auction companies.

 

[tcdriver]

You might check into Audiogon.com. Seems to cater to higher end equipment.

Thank you for the suggestion.

hifishark.com is a good resource

Thank you for the suggestion. I just found that website this evening.

 

[4-2-7]

Located in the SF bay area. I will look into local online auction companies.

I'm close to you and might be able to help out but I'm not big on selling either, when I do it's mostly to other AKers here. What the components are would determining my knowledge about them and their value, but we have AK to ask once known.

 

[Montycat]

Good on you for helping as it could be a lot of work.

Is the selling of this going to have a significant impact on her wellbeing? In other words is she doing ok or does she need the money? It sounds like she knows it's potentially valuable stuff but you will have to offset reward vs. time and effort required.

 

[blhagstrom]

Google and eBay completed sales search are your friend.

Once a ballpark value is known, local sale through craigslist avoids shipping and fees but comes with strangers. If the gear is serious high price and you list expected price, that should keep the riff raff away.

If it isn't a mountain of gear, the effort isn't too bad.

If I die tonight, my wife will need to fly in my buddy to flip it all!

 

[xero-D-hero]

If the old audiophile was anything like me,somewhere on his computer is a folder (or folders) that catalog his entire collection of gear w/purchase prices included.

The widow may not even know about it if she looks at that sorta thing as "snooping" or such,if they (he) had a computer,it could definitely be worth doing some sluething.

Now whether that relates to what one can get back outta them on the market today,well that can be hit-or-miss for sure.

But yeah an Ebay listing place may be a good place for someone like her to contact,that or someone who specializes in estate sales or such.

FWIW

Bret P.

 

[vonclod]

I see some pretty cool stuff that goes on consignment at my local shop, some of it from estates..let them do the work. I'm guessing a 70 year old widow might not be interested or up to the work involved with ebay transaction's.

 

[RuffzGuts]

Makes me think it would probably be a good Idea for many here to fill out a log book on the value of their equipment, its hard enough off loading gear when you know what its worth, particularly when you have a large collection...young or old, **** happens...all the upgrades and restoration work is often worth a lot more than past ebay sales etc...people not in the know wouldn't understand this.

 

[tcdriver]

Makes me think it would probably be a good Idea for many here to fill out a log book on the value of their equipment, its hard enough off loading gear when you know what its worth, particularly when you have a large collection...young or old, **** happens...all the upgrades and restoration work is often worth a lot more than past ebay sales etc...people not in the know wouldn't understand this.

He did have a list, thirty items, of the equipment but there are no values attached or what he paid for the equipment.

I'm close to you and might be able to help out but I'm not big on selling either, when I do it's mostly to other AKers here. What the components are would determining my knowledge about them and their value, but we have AK to ask once known.

Thank you for the kind offer. I may be in touch, depending on where the widow wants to go with this.

Good on you for helping as it could be a lot of work.

Is the selling of this going to have a significant impact on her wellbeing? In other words is she doing ok or does she need the money? It sounds like she knows it's potentially valuable stuff but you will have to offset reward vs. time and effort required.

I am not well apprised of her finances, however; I do believe that she will be financially OK whether or not the gear is sold.

Google and eBay completed sales search are your friend.

Once a ballpark value is known, local sale through craigslist avoids shipping and fees but comes with strangers. If the gear is serious high price and you list expected price, that should keep the riff raff away.

If it isn't a mountain of gear, the effort isn't too bad.

Yes, I have tried Google and ebay for price information. On some items the information is easy to find, however: some of the equipment is somewhat esoteric and I can find nothing.

If the old audiophile was anything like me,somewhere on his computer is a folder (or folders) that catalog his entire collection of gear w/purchase prices included.

The widow may not even know about it if she looks at that sorta thing as "snooping" or such,if they (he) had a computer,it could definitely be worth doing some sluething.

Now whether that relates to what one can get back outta them on the market today,well that can be hit-or-miss for sure.

But yeah an Ebay listing place may be a good place for someone like her to contact,that or someone who specializes in estate sales or such.

FWIW

Bret P.

Fortunatly, there is a list of components but, I am pretty sure it does not include everything. There is also a sizable record and CD collection.

I see some pretty cool stuff that goes on consignment at my local shop, some of it from estates..let them do the work. I'm guessing a 70 year old widow might not be interested or up to the work involved with ebay transaction's.

That may be the best option. Finding the right shop would then be the task. If anyone in the San Francisco bay area knows of a good shop that could do this, please let me know.

Makes me think it would probably be a good Idea for many here to fill out a log book on the value of their equipment, its hard enough off loading gear when you know what its worth, particularly when you have a large collection...young or old, **** happens...all the upgrades and restoration work is often worth a lot more than past ebay sales etc...people not in the know wouldn't understand this.

Yes, I agree with you, however; I have yet to make my list.

 

[4-2-7]

There is also a sizable record and CD collection.

If anyone in the San Francisco bay area knows of a good shop that could do this, please let me know.

My main record store buys large collections of music as well as equipment to sell. He even has a guy that gets some of the equipment serviced and cleaned up. He doesn't really need classical as it doesn't sell but if there is a big mix of genre he would be interested in equipment and music.

 

[markshan]

Thank you for all the responses, so far. I appreciate to good suggestions.
I do not expect to get anything out of it. The widow is in her early seventies and not too fit.

Located in the SF bay area. I will look into local online auction companies.

That is probably your best bet. This project would be a lot of work for you.

 

[EastPoint]

If it's audiophile stuff, in San Francisco, just Craigslist it at 90-100% of eBay value. Shouldn't be too hard to sell. No fees, no shipping.

 

[sheltie dave]

An auction house or consignment at a stereo store commonly takes a 30% to 40% nick of the gross.

For high flying gear, Audiocircles and AA are quite good at moving discounted high end gear. You can discount it by 20% to 25%, and it will fly out the door.

You need to know the condition, operability, and if possible the # of years in service. With good photos, you can move the gear with a minimum of heartache for the widow.

Shipping is a cinch - you find a good UPS of Fedex store, and let them exclusively pack and ship. All of this is on the buyer...packing instructions, payment, insurance - everything. It works out quite well.

Move it all to your house if possible, so you don't have thirty trips back and forth. Work things out with the wife so you can keep a piece or two. One thing to note early on, cables generally don't bring much money.

If you get greedy and hold out for top $$$$$, it will spend a lonnnnngggggg time at your house. Good luck with helping.

 

[tcdriver]

Thank you all for the additional suggestions. At this point, she has not asked me to help her sell the gear, only to provide some price estimates, which I have done. I will also pass on your selling suggestions. Thank you all.