Buying Used Gear Overseas

at the usual sites: Audioweb, eBay, etc.

This I know--I can, with a reasonable degree of certainty, schedule what service parts I need three months' prior based on these listings, and the concomitant e-mails inquiring about their service histories.

The longer a dealer has been in business, the more likely they'll have used gear on hand--Hawthorne Stereo in Seattle is a perfect example of this.

Dave Dever, NANA

JR:

I've looked into this and have concluded that the money you would save would be offset by the added shipping fees, import tariffs, conversions to 110V costs, and lack of warranty from NANA. This does not take into account the extra risk involved.

You're better off just checking Audioweb, Audioshopper, and Audiogon (the best site) for what you're looking for.

You can also place an "wanted" ad in Audiogon.

I've been able to get most everything I've ever had a need for either in the states or with the occasional excursion to Canada.

Also remember that you will have little in the way of recourse if you get the short end of a deal when you buy privately. At least in the US there can be the threat of prosecution.

If you deal overseas you can always try to talk the seller into "iescrow.com" or have his Naim dealer arrange the swap for a fee. That is, if they are willing.

Arthur Bye

Its a pain to sell to someone from the another country. In comparison to selling to someone (in say) the UK where the buyer will come and pickup the equipment in a week or so and simply hand over a cheque, to sell to someone in the US you need to arrange shipment, arrange transfers of funds etc. It all takes time, and as most people are pretty busy, and in the light of a good demand for this stuff it all adds up to being a bit of a disincentive to sell to you I'm afraid.

JR,
What are you looking for?

Ron The Mon

I just counted 37 used peices available used via Audiogon. Just wait a few weeks and you'll find what you want.

Arthur Bye

Thanks for all of the feedback. What I really needed was the audiogon website. I think I'll browse that for a while before thinking about the tour de force of dealing with overseas sellers.

I'd be loath to buy a used CD player and have it shipped anywhere again. I bought a CD 3.5, had it shipped to me in the UK. It was damaged on arrival though the box was OK - so no insurance payment. It's been at Naim for 3 weeks for repair. Luckily for me, the seller is al all round good chap who's agreed to get the work done, but If I was buying again I'd pick the CD up in person.

Regards

Stephen

I recently bought pretty much everything second-hand (I live in the US)

For items that require power conversion, the amount you save is only just worth the increased expense in shipping etc - never mind the hassle.

For a pre-amp UK is much cheaper given that they are light to ship and there is no power issue. I picked up a NAC 72 in great condition for less than $400 US and including two black SNAICs.

I would only buy a CD player via a shop - like others mine also arrived inoperable. Fortunately, the nice guys on the other end fixed it up, but that all took a frustrating two months.

E-bay can get you the occasional bargain in the US but many things go for fair value. Someone paid over $1,200 for a used 3.5 recently??? I bought 3.5 for a good price but paid at least market for a 140.I agree that Audiogon is the other killer site.

For international purchases Loot.co.uk is by far the best web site.

I've bought a number of lower priced items from the UK (Nait 2, etc.) and have not had any problems with reliability. However, after I pay the outrageous exchange rate offered at my local bank to purchase a foreign draft (or pay a wire fee and exchange rate), plus add shipping, I don't think I'll be buying anything else from overseas. In the end, it comes out to be the same as buying used domestic, but with a lot more hassle and waiting around for the stuff to arrive. On the other hand, I tend to do the voltage conversions myself, so that saves some.

That said. . .

after buying almost all my Naim stuff used over the last 10 years, I did just buy some gear brand new. A VERY liberating experience if you can scratch the money together to do it.
It is a joy to open new gear.
judd