Stereo resale value varies wildly.  From vintage McIntosh tube amplifiers from 60 years ago, that might be worth two thousand dollars or more, to modern A/V equipment that the sale of which would barely cover your lunch.  There was a massive sea change around 1980 that changed way mainstream home audio was made. Build quality went down in order to keep prices low during the economic downturn of the 1980s.  Generally, mainstream audio components made after 1980 have a much more modest value.  There are exceptions of course.  

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If you'd like to see if we are interested in purchasing your gear, send us a message.  

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Selling To a Reseller 

 

A reseller (Austin Stereo, for example) expects to not only make a profit, but has to account for service expenses, taking time to show the equipment, retail space taken up, and so on. This means you can't expect to get the going retail price in exchange for your equipment. 

 

The reality is that we have limited space, and receive many offers from sellers.   this creates a buyer's market for retailers like us.  We typically buy at a fraction of used market retail.  As we usually need to put hundreds of dollars worth of work into these half century old units, this factors in.  Every single amplifier, and receiver from 1980 and before, is overdue for new capacitors.  This is often referred to as "recapping".   The same also applies to direct drive turntables l, and some belt drives, Linn, Thorens, and others.   

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Getting the most money for your stereo equipment

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Just as with a used car, if you intend to get the most money back in your pocket, you'll need to sell your equipment to an individual.  If you chose to sell directly, you'll need to do a little homework.  You'll of course need some idea of what to ask.  Checking sold listings on eBay are probably the easiest guideline to use.  Don't confuse this with asking prices.  These are often unreasonably high.  Instead, search for your make and model, choose "sold listings" from the filter selections.  AI tools like ChatGPT can be useful in getting some idea of resale value.  Just take the results with a grain of salt.  

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You can also check up to five items for free in the Audio Bluebook. An alternative Bluebook is located here At Audiogon.  Once you have a price, the options are many.  Craigslist and eBay of course, but there are other options like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Audiogon, and US Audio Mart.  If you have a Facebook account, Marketplace is the easiest option, and well suited to local sales.  

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Ebay has a bit of a learning curve, and is not something we suggest for first timers.  You'll pay a fee of around 12 to 15%. In return, your gear will be placed in front of the most buyers, and often sell much more quickly that any other method.  You'll of course need to pack and ship your equipment, which is a bit of a challenge, especially for heavier amplifiers and receivers.  A sample packing method is here.  

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Take some good pictures

Some basics to make your stuff look better than others.  First, turn off your camera flash!  No direct sunlight.  Indirect light from a window is best.  Second, turn your phone or camera sideways.  Take at least shots from three angles.  No too far away, and don't let the edge of the frame cut off part of the equipment.  Here are some examples:

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Contact us.

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