The bad paint job doesn't necessarily mean that the performance will be affected, but I would avoid purchasing an expensive item if the listing is poorly done from a technical standpoint unless it's a fantastic deal. These are maybe 30% off from brand new 8040Bs and you have no idea if they're clapped-out 16-year-old (Dec. '04) party speakers because the seller doesn't provide any details about how they were used. There are markings on the screws that could indicate that the speakers have been taken apart or they could just be corrosion.
If you're in the market for these and you're willing to take a risk, you're better off naming your price and shooting over an offer, or finding another pair with a better provenance somewhere else. Looks like used 8040B pairs are regularly going for $1,200-1,300.
