World's Largest NIB Vintage Audio Collection!

[thefragger]

I can't help but think that this is maybe the contents of a Stereo shop that shut down near my school over a year ago. From the street looking at the storefront, all you could see were boxes.

I think it was called The Oshawa Stereo Shop. I remember reading on here about people who had actually been there, and the owner was asking a lot for the stuff they had.

 

[MKReid]

I can't help but think that this is maybe the contents of a Stereo shop that shut down near my school over a year ago. From the street looking at the storefront, all you could see were boxes.

I think it was called The Oshawa Stereo Shop. I remember reading on here about people who had actually been there, and the owner was asking a lot for the stuff they had.

It is from that store. The video is from inside that store. I'm just glad I got to go before it shut down, it was quite the experience just to be in there and speak with the owner.

Mike

 

[elrod]

What's with the tag on his hat? That was driving me nuts watching the video....

 

[thefragger]

It is from that store. The video is from inside that store. I'm just glad I got to go before it shut down, it was quite the experience just to be in there and speak with the owner.

Mike

Bummer, I've only ever seen it from my seat on the GO bus.

 

[spl225]

I've been in there. Stumbled upon it on my way to the dump a few (probably 3) years ago. Can't remember if the guy in the video is the one I spoke with or not....think that he is though. Very friendly.

As for valuation, I don't know why anyone would call them "dicks" since they are not scamming anyone by selling stuff that wasn't NOS as NOS. There prices to me are VERY high for the mid-level stuff they have. He has tonnes of mid-level dual cassette decks. NOS or not, they are probably worth $20 each, tops IMO.

They seem very content to slowly liquidate at higher prices and that's their choice. Why that's bad karma I don't know, its a business model.

Anyhow, just being in the place and staring at the boxes was an experience.

Mike

They're dicks because their prices are not just high, they're ridiculous(pun intended). They know that their stuff is not top tier yet still worshipped by some folks for some reason and from that standpoint, they figure they can get any price they want for it. They would make plenty on each sale if the prices were cut in half. They're gouging and gouging is unscrupulous. So, from that point of view, they're dicks.

 

[MKReid]

They're dicks because their prices are not just high, they're ridiculous(pun intended). They know that their stuff is not top tier yet still worshipped by some folks for some reason and from that standpoint, they figure they can get any price they want for it. They would make plenty on each sale if the prices were cut in half. They're gouging and gouging is unscrupulous. So, from that point of view, they're dicks.

Not by any free market definition of gouging are they gouging. Most price gouging laws apply only if a) there are emergency situations which would place an undue need on consumers to purchase a good (say bottled water before a hurricane) and b) the goods are necessary items.

Neither applies here. This is simply the case of someone who saw fit to buy a whole bunch of surplus electronics in the '70's, '80's and '90s from distressed sellers and hold on to it for a long time. They spent their money and took a gamble that they would make a profit in the long run.

No one is being forced to buy. No one needs anything that the seller is selling. If you don't like the price don't buy. Given the relative desirability of what the seller has and the fact that the seller still has considerable stock after many years says to me that most are excercising their right not to buy very effectively.

Its capitalism at its best IMO. I never fails to amaze me the entitlement sentimentality of many users of this board, as if its their right to be able to get good deals.

Mike

 

[fdejong]

Not by any free market definition of gouging are they gouging. Most price gouging laws apply only if a) there are emergency situations which would place an undue need on consumers to purchase a good (say bottled water before a hurricane) and b) the goods are necessary items.

Neither applies here. This is simply the case of someone who saw fit to buy a whole bunch of surplus electronics in the '70's, '80's and '90s from distressed sellers and hold on to it for a long time. They spent their money and took a gamble that they would make a profit in the long run.

No one is being forced to buy. No one needs anything that the seller is selling. If you don't like the price don't buy. Given the relative desirability of what the seller has and the fact that the seller still has considerable stock after many years says to me that most are excercising their right not to buy very effectively.

Its capitalism at its best IMO. I never fails to amaze me the entitlement sentimentality of many users of this board, as if its their right to be able to get good deals.

Mike

+1. Nicely put!

 

[jsisk]

One of their NOS items, I bought in 1981 for $900. They had it listed for $1,400. Based on inflation, that $900 is now equivalent to $2,200. Seems like their price is about right for the few really good pieces. Original price times 1.5 - I only wish they had some new '69 Vettes for 1.5 times the original selling price.

 

[62caddy]

Its capitalism at its best IMO. I never fails to amaze me the entitlement sentimentality of many users of this board, as if its their right to be able to get good deals.

Mike

...until the shoe is on the other foot. :yes:

+1

 

[spl225]

Not by any free market definition of gouging are they gouging. Most price gouging laws apply only if a) there are emergency situations which would place an undue need on consumers to purchase a good (say bottled water before a hurricane) and b) the goods are necessary items.

Neither applies here. This is simply the case of someone who saw fit to buy a whole bunch of surplus electronics in the '70's, '80's and '90s from distressed sellers and hold on to it for a long time. They spent their money and took a gamble that they would make a profit in the long run.

No one is being forced to buy. No one needs anything that the seller is selling. If you don't like the price don't buy. Given the relative desirability of what the seller has and the fact that the seller still has considerable stock after many years says to me that most are excercising their right not to buy very effectively.

Its capitalism at its best IMO. I never fails to amaze me the entitlement sentimentality of many users of this board, as if its their right to be able to get good deals.

Mike

I understand your business man/capitalist point of view, but where does that "entitlement sentimentality" stuff come from? I know they don't owe me anything. I don't want anything they have and certainly wouldn't buy from them even if I did. They have the right to sell their stuff for whatever price they can think up, but their mentality is the same reason why high-end audio salons have become far and few between- instead of giving people a good deal, they give them the dick.

 

[mech986]

I understand your business man/capitalist point of view, but where does that "entitlement sentimentality" stuff come from? I know they don't owe me anything. I don't want anything they have and certainly wouldn't buy from them even if I did. They have the right to sell their stuff for whatever price they can think up, but their mentality is the same reason why high-end audio salons have become far and few between- instead of giving people a good deal, they give them the ****.

Business aren't in the business of giving good deal unless the market tells them 1) they really are charging too much (supply and demand) and 2) there's competition for the same items for less price.

So where is the rest of the market inventory of NIB stuff like this, even mid fi? Pretty much only on Ebay and even then, few and far between.

When a brand new, NIB, unbuilt tube piece (Dynaco ST70, Eico HF86) or some other item (like a Marantz receiver for example) gets auctioned, over the past 5-10 years, there are people who are willing to pay for them, and sometimes to headscratching levels. That's the market helping to determine the price

When Audio Research sells an amp for boo-coo $1000's of dollars, is that really worth it or have they convinced you that since it costs so much, it must be worth it?

These guys are pricing where they want to, and the market will tell them if its worth it. If it doesn't sell, they'll eventually drop the price to move it (assuming they want to move it). If they don't, they'll be stuck with them or they'll sell it, simple as that.

No business can stay in business giving "good deals" unless that price covers their cost of business and generates a profit. Without profit, the good deals will soon end and the company will go bust. Not a good business model.

Doesn't matter what we want or what we think a business should do. The only thing we can do is encourage a business to do things as efficiently and as cost effectively as possible so as to have a low operational overhead, to allow for the lowest possible prices while still making a decent profit.

That's just the way business works. Otherwise, they're just subsidizing your spending habits.

 

[c-atle-79bay]

So not to prime this ebay dude's pump, but he has a NIB accuphase e202 right now. Yes expensive, and I wonder, would you be better off with a unit that has been in use and in good condition if you really just wanted to plug and play and leave as is? And I'm already playing the "Honey I'll sell everything else speach"

 

[KiM3Ce]

I'd love to get my hands on an Accuphase T-100 tuner but it's no fire sale. I've seen their stuff on Ebay. Auction market, fair enough.

 

[Thocom]

Lol, this thread is about 4 years old.

 

[c-atle-79bay]

And the funny thing is this guy has been trying to sell this accuphase for about that long. Or he had more than one.