Why are my Speakers not selling? (UK)

[MattHooper]

In my experience, selling used stuff, not audio related, there are only two ways of selling:
- fast and cheap
- fair price but slow
2 weeks don't seem much to me.
Second to this, pics also help. Yours aren't too bad, but not too good either imo. My tricks were a lot of light and clean pictures (=without other stuff on sight)
Ah, posting a thread like this could also help

Yup.

I’ve sold quite a bit of gear. But I find it a hassle generally and I don’t like to sit around waiting wondering if somethings going to sell.

So I’ve always made sure that I’ve bought my secondhand gear at a really good price, I’ve played with it for quite a while and for that I’ve got my money worth. So I will sell it for the same price. I bought it often a little bit less. I will look all over the place to see what the price has on the item and I will price it just a bit below that so they can advertise lowest price. I’ve waited a few days to sell anything.

 

[Doodski]

Do you think so? Nowadays most amplifiers are capable of handling 4 Ohms and most speakers sold nowadays are 4 Ohm speakers.
That's how I think it is anyway. But I could be wrong.

Lots of those big surround sound receivers are not 4 Ohm rated. People run 4 Ohms. What happens with 8 Ohm rated amps when running 4 Ohm speakers is the voltage amp section of the amp transistors and resisters overheat and they bake the PCB and any capacitors in the vicinity. So it might require several years of this if it doesn't overheat right away and damage is sustained and the unit needs service. I've seen it many many many times. That is why I am very cautious about telling people to use 4 Ohm speakers on 8 Ohms and 6 Ohms rated amps. At best they should be advised that if they run 4 Ohms speakers that there may be damage in years to come. That way ASR does not get a bad rep/rap for giving poor advice.

 

[JSmith]

Any help would be gratefully received

You could also list at;

UK Audio Mart United Kingdom and Europe's Newest Online Hifi, Audio & Home Theater Classifieds

United Kingdom and Europe's Largest FREE Audio/Hifi and Home Theater classifieds site. Buy, sell, and trade high end audio and Home Theater equipment. For enthusiasts, hobbyists, and casual listeners.

www.ukaudiomart.com

JSmith

 

[pseudoid]

I would list the speakers here in the "Audio Equipment For Sale or To Buy" section of the forum.

+1

 

[Adaboy4z]

I've had items sit for months then sell at the price I was asking for. I sell at a price that people will pay compared to other listings. Patience.

 

[Mart68]

Sorry to say it, but is not UK in a difficult pass: bad economic results, some riots?
I have read that 1/5 of the UK population is under the poverty level.
If you can, you may wait for better days.

That's relative poverty i.e income under 60% of median income - currently the median income is $3000/month. It's a wealthy country.

 

[DanielT]

Lots of those big surround sound receivers are not 4 Ohm rated. People run 4 Ohms. What happens with 8 Ohm rated amps when running 4 Ohm speakers is the voltage amp section of the amp transistors and resisters overheat and they bake the PCB and any capacitors in the vicinity. So it might require several years of this if it doesn't overheat right away and damage is sustained and the unit needs service. I've seen it many many many times. That is why I am very cautious about telling people to use 4 Ohm speakers on 8 Ohms and 6 Ohms rated amps. At best they should be advised that if they run 4 Ohms speakers that there may be damage in years to come. That way ASR does not get a bad rep/rap for giving poor advice.

You have a point. I'm not a home theater guy so I didn't think about AVRs.

 

[restorer-john]

I have some Sonus Faber Lumina II that I am trying to sell on ebay. Getting watchers & views but no queries or sale. I am looking for some idea/views what I am doing wrong? They are less than a year old and in perfect condition, what can be wrong?

Pardon our interruption...

Any help would be gratefully received

Everything sells when the price is right.

Personally, I think you are asking too much for a pair of small, 2 way 150mm, secondhand speakers with no warranty, especially if you want a quick sale.

First search result shows this:

Sonus Faber Lumina II review​

An affordable yet stunning standmount speaker from the Italian mastersTested at £999​

I'd reduce them to £450 and put £400 as auto accept on the offers.

The margin on new speakers is high, usually 40%. You're trying to get likely more than dealer cost at £699...

The most I've ever paid for 2nd hand (even perfect in their box as new, current models) is about 40% of current retail. Usually I have paid less than a third (33%). Sometimes way, way less.

 

[Moonbase]

Some good points. I will redo the photos and try some of the other sites too. Not sure on the price lower just yet. There is another private advertisement for £100 more.

 

[DanielT]

Everything sells when the price is right.

Personally, I think you are asking too much for a pair of small, 2 way 150mm, secondhand speakers with no warranty, especially if you want a quick sale.

First search result shows this:

Sonus Faber Lumina II review​

An affordable yet stunning standmount speaker from the Italian mastersTested at £999​

I'd reduce them to £450 and put £400 as auto accept on the offers.

The margin on new speakers is high, usually 40%. You're trying to get likely more than dealer cost at £699...

The most I've ever paid for 2nd hand (even perfect in their box as new, current models) is about 40% of current retail. Usually I have paid less than a third (33%). Sometimes way, way less.

Sounds reasonable with that kind of pricing on used speakers. Then it depends on the brand, model and whether they can be sent in a package or not.

People often don't really know what is reasonable. I suspect they don't want, can or have the energy to check what might be a reasonable price. They are just testing. Here is an example:

Monitor Audio Silver RS6:

New, in 2005, they cost around $1100. So what can you get for a pair of 20 year old speakers? You can try selling them for $760:


Here's another ad. Trying to sell a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS6, during the summer, which is not the best time to sell, for $285. It was on an auction page, with that starting bid. A very well-known place in Sweden, so many people have seen that ad. Although the seller wrote The speakers are completely flawless and in mint condition. Not sold, not a bid:

By the way, If you say The speakers are completely flawless and in mint condition and then take a picture where you see a door molding with scraped paint and a dirty wall behind the speaker, it does not give a good impression.

I know the Monitor Audio Silver RS6 goes for around $230 +/- $10 in Sweden. I know because I've been looking at those for a while. Thought it would be fun to try a couple. But then I want to know what the real selling price is. Not some fantasy sums that some sellers imagine they can get.
As you know, if you figure out what the real selling price is, you can buy and sell at roughly the same price and that I think this is the biggest advantage of used speakers. Fun to have different speakers and test them against each other in your living room, listening room. For me, the only way to really evaluate whether I like a speaker is to test it, against others, in my listening room for an extended period of time.

 

[Hear Here]

There's already a "Make and Offer" option so reducing the price or mentioning possible reduction is unnecessary and looks like desperation! Leave as is, but advertise in other places such as Classifieds on forum sites

 

[kemmler3D]

Some good points. I will redo the photos and try some of the other sites too. Not sure on the price lower just yet. There is another private advertisement for £100 more.

Generally I don't lower the price until my wife has complained about the item still taking up space at least twice.

 

[CapMan]

You could also try HiFi Wigwam if you're in the UK - they have a classified section. Nice people who won't waste your time as a rule .

 

[Hear Here]

You could also try HiFi Wigwam if you're in the UK - they have a classified section. Nice people who won't waste your time as a rule .

HiFi Wigwam is now defunct. Maverick-hifi has replaced it. Also try HiFiForSale. com for free ads. Both only of value if you are UK-based

 

[HammersRocco]

When selling something used, you always encounter the same situation: bargain hunters, tire kickers, hagglers/low-ballers... I had something like a difference experience where ebay proved to be better for me - guess it depends on your luck.

I was selling a Go Pro camera, and in not wanting to deal with ebay, I posted at the "for-sale" chat at work. Men... Tire kickers - people actually wanted me to lend them the camera so they could try it... Imagine, they have it, take it out, maybe even damage it then return it, with a "I actually don't want it". Just thinking about it made me angry. I said NO. Then I was actually "sell blocked" I posted a fair price, especially considering that I was including may accessories that were not cheap... and I charged no sales tax, etc. Guy kept posting "fair priced" items. One of them had a cracked screen! I lost a few, if not friends, I will say work acquaintances for that situation... just made me upset. But it caused me to get inundated with low-ball offers.

Posted on ebay. I actually posted for above what I was selling on the work chat, buyer paid shipping, insurance and handling and handling, sold quickly. It was worth the ebay fee.

You never know. Maybe I was lucky. You need someone that realizes that you are offering a good deal, assumes that you know it and that you won't budge, that tries to keep other reasonable buyers to get it, and, assumes you will reject lowballers. Lots to hope for, but hopefully, someone will see it.

 

[TurtlePaul]

As a seller, you get to choose the price but not if or when they sell.

The buyers get a choice between i) the price they want not knowing if or when you would accept that price or ii) getting it right away at offered price.

There is a cost of speed and certainty on both sides. If you are impatient and need a sale then throw the best price out the window. Top price may be the priority or not.

It shouldn’t be a surprise to you,
but Sonus Faber is a low volume outfit and secondary liquidity is low. I don’t know the UK market but usually hifi specialty sites are better than Ebay.

The flowery prose is useless or counterproductive. People shopping Sonus Fabers know about the cabinets. But getting the name wrong is worse. If someone is searching for these they don’t find it because they are roman numeral 2s and not 11s.

 

[Mart68]

The flowery prose is useless or counterproductive.

Right. That's why it's used to sell pretty much everything from chocolate bars to houses.

 

[DanielT]

The flowery prose is useless or counterproductive.

I have sold around ten speakers in the last five years. I have tested all possible types of texts. Short, long, only with facts, with flowery prose (based on my genuine subjective experiences) and so on. I don't really know what conclusion I can draw. It seems to be mostly a matter of coincidence. Ad out at the right time, with potential buyers who then looked at it.
On the other hand, I dare to guess that well-taken pictures correlate with success, but the sales text itself, I don't know.

An ASR person or let's say an objectivist is not deterred by a sales ad that has flowery prose in it. It may look ridiculous in their eyes, but it does not prevent them from buying if the price is right, or reasonable.

 

[sq225917]

It's summer, hifi barely shifts, wait till October. Mart is spot on, better description, well lit photos ( in use) and an explanation why you're moving on. " I love the SF house sound so much I'm moving up the range"

 

[Doodski]

an explanation why you're moving on.

I never use that stuff. I see no reason to explain my reason for selling. If buyer needs that I just say I am selling them, do you want them? I have had 1 issue when doing that. A Karen was nagging me for a reason. She asked 3 times and insisted that I answer her question. I told her flat out, "I am selling, do you want them?" I let her walk. Bigger fish to fry I think.