My Dad's Used Stereo Equipment
I would never have gotten into selling used stereo equipment except for my love of music. You see, few people set out to sell second hand equipment. In my case, it actually grew out of my hobbies. I have always loved music, both playing and listening to it, and by the time I made it through college I had collected all kinds of used equipment. I had processors, speakers, amplifiers, effects pedals, and receivers, not to mention several dozen musical instrument of various types.
I would buy this used stereo equipment at rock-bottom prices, and then fix up. I would keep some of it for myself. Other things, I would either give as gifts to friends, or sell. I made a tidy little profit on my cottage industry for a while, but soon I was thinking bigger. With all of that used stereo equipment, I thought I could start my own venue. I tried renting a a place for few a months, and although it was a lot of fun, we never made any money. Most of the people who we booked, you see, were punk rock bands. They had a lot of fans, but none of the fans were willing to pay more than a few bucks for tickets. It wasn't long before we closed down.
When I went to return the receiver to my friend, he told me to keep it. His wife had talked him into getting a new system. I took it home and put an ad in the local free classified paper. Within a week I had sold it, and for a nice amount. The next time I was out at garage sales and saw a similar system I picked it up, and a few other things besides. I had found a new hobby and a way to supplement my income.
Over the years I've branched out into other things but used stereo equipment is still my main focus. They are easy to find, cheap or free and there are many people out there who would much have a reliable older machine than a new plastic one. While they aren't going to pay as much for a used system as a new one, it still is a good business. As for my friend, his new receiver broke after 6 months so I sold him a used one, for a discount.
The great thing about used stereo equipment, as opposed to other kinds of electronics, is that it is easy to tell whether or not it is in good shape. Used stereo equipment either works or doesn't. If you're buying a used computer, it might work for a few months and fall apart. With used stereo equipment, however, this is almost never the case. Usually, what you see is what you get.