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I'm just curious about this. With the popularity of this online free classified ads system, how "buyer-friendly" is it in your area? Do the ads reflect "realistic" pricing for used gear? Do you run across many scammers/liars/morons? I'd like to hear about great deals, too!

Comments

soapfloats Tue, 03/17/2009 - 09:52

I have trouble finding anything I would actually want in my local Craigslist.
I think most people w/ desirable gear go to eBay or other outlets.

It's mostly junk audio gear people are trying to unload for <$100.

I did find some cheap carpet padding/shag carpet to use for bogos (I built an amp iso box w/ them). Of course, now I know rigid fiberglass would have been a better move. They do the job sufficiently, though.

anonymous Tue, 03/17/2009 - 12:57

Every time I look at Craigslist I see a bunch of cheap stuff that's overpriced and a bunch of expensive stuff that's overpriced. Sometimes I've found some truly decent stuff being offered at a good price, but it's never something I'd want. I agree with soapfloats that Ebay is where most of the better buys are. I basically gave up on Craigslist. Then again, my area seems to be particularly dead.

BobRogers Tue, 03/17/2009 - 13:45

In my area it seems to be an upgrade over the dead-tree classifieds for the things that used to sell well in classified - cars, cheap furniture, etc. We are still not a big enough market to make it useful for selling recording gear or anything but the most common musical instruments.

My last big selling binge was lefty guitars and basses. Ebay was the only way to do this. I made sales to Alaska, France, and the UK. Only way to get a big enough market for things like that. My guess is that unless you are selling entry level stuff, eBay is the way to go for recording equipment.

For things that are common enough for there to be a clear average sale price on eBay, I would think that you guys near bigger cities could get enough eyeballs to sell on Craigslist. Kind of surprised that I have not heard many people say that.

Davedog Tue, 03/17/2009 - 14:27

We have a very active craigslist for gear here in the Portland Oregon area. But it is a weeding out process to find relavent gear as opposed to the idiots, morons, scammers, and such.

One thing that is very telling is ANYONE with an old piece of gear thinks its worth its weight in gold.

Even when its obviously crap, has been trated like crap all its life ,and will never be anything but crap. The reason its old and in poor condition is it was never any good. This does not make it a relic or anything resembling VINTAGE.

moonbaby Tue, 03/17/2009 - 15:36

Thanks for the replies! I was wondering if this neck of the woods was the only place where the wackos are!
I have run across a few decent deals here on CL (a pair of dbx 1066's for $300, a few others), but by and large, I have the same experiences that the rest of you have had. I feel better about e-Bay now...

Spase Tue, 03/17/2009 - 16:36

Well lets see.... I'll sell you this mic I got for retail-$10. I just used it once in my home studio and it worked great!

Hmmm.... lets see. I can generally get stuff for at least 10-20% less than retail from my local dealers..... hmmm, I think I'll pass on the $10 off retail for used.

That said, I did pick up a 58 and an ATM63HE(I love this mic on snare) for $110. Pretty good deal I think.

droc8705 Tue, 03/17/2009 - 17:00

I've had some good finds here in the Orlando area. Just recently, i picked up a pair of sm81's and a beta 52a for $425. i've also picked up an orange 2x12 cabinet for $400. i've also come across a few postings that just suck not having the cash for, such as a pair of u87s for $1600...but all of those have definitely been weeded through all the other crap. still, enough good stuff gets listed to merit checking it at least once a day, even if it's just a quick glance.

-dave

pr0gr4m Tue, 03/17/2009 - 22:52

The CL down here in South Florida is pretty decent. I hate the "Recording Studio everything must go" ad where it's a computer with an Mbox.

Not a lot of scammers that I've seen but I just came across this gem tonight...

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/msg/1079698282.html

+1 on the Orlando one...I've driven up there for a couple good deals. Tampa aint bad either. You guys have better stuff for sale up in the middle of the state.

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