KVR Audio

roon · Post by **roon** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:33 pm

Just now i was browsing local auction sites and craig lists in my home country for music hardware and i need to say that i'm in a pure yet deep shock.

Used Roland MC303 goes for 220 €, where it was something like 120€ one year ago.
Both ESX and EMX electribes from korg are somewhere along 500€.
Old electribes such as ER1 and rest from the first series goes for 200€
Akai MPC 500 goes for 420€, while it used to be 120€ before and MPC1000 is 740€ with 400€ a year ago.
Microkorg is 400€.
Monotrons are priced for 60€ new

All above mentioned are used, ofcourse, exceot where stated otherwise.

And to top that: Apple iPad mini in offcial channel of distribution trough the iStores and website goes for 300€ and for same, new piece on a auction site you're going to pay 330€.

I mean, it's some kind of absurd. Why the f**k has prices for old and not so sought after gear went so much up? And is it normal? Or global?

Or is it just poland?

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:41 pm

Hardware seems cheaper than ever in the UK ... Microbrute for £259, Monotron Delay for £30 ...

roon · Post by **roon** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:51 pm

Microbrute goes here for 350 GBP new on auction sites...

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:55 pm

That seems odd. I would expect prices to be similar in the EU. Do you pay extra purchase tax in Poland? VAT is 20% in the UK.

murnau · Post by **murnau** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:56 pm

microbrute in germany €299 new.

roon · Post by **roon** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 9:57 pm

In poland is 23%. And no, there is no such tax i'm aware of. Prices seem to just go mad by themself in last 12 months.

SODDI · Post by **SODDI** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:04 pm

roon wrote:Just now i was browsing local auction sites and craig lists in my home country for music hardware and i need to say that i'm in a pure yet deep shock.

Used Roland MC303 goes for 220 €, where it was something like 120€ one year ago.
Both ESX and EMX electribes from korg are somewhere along 500€.
Old electribes such as ER1 and rest from the first series goes for 200€
Akai MPC 500 goes for 420€, while it used to be 120€ before and MPC1000 is 740€ with 400€ a year ago.
Microkorg is 400€.
Monotrons are priced for 60€ new

All above mentioned are used, ofcourse, exceot where stated otherwise.

And to top that: Apple iPad mini in offcial channel of distribution trough the iStores and website goes for 300€ and for same, new piece on a auction site you're going to pay 330€.

I mean, it's some kind of absurd. Why the f**k has prices for old and not so sought after gear went so much up? And is it normal? Or global?

Or is it just poland?

They are all pricing to the highest price on e-Bay. My local (Georgia USA) pawn shop does it - and for the lamest possible items, old gear that isn't going to sell for such inflated prices. One of those Electribes for instance - they are worth maybe $100 US.

Someone has got them conviced that older synths = vintage synths. And that just isn't true. And someone is sitting on a lot of electronic shit that they wil never get their price for.

ChiTown24 · Post by **ChiTown24** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:37 pm

roon wrote:
Or is it just poland?

might just be poland ? 740 for a used mpc1000 is not normal, you can get a much better deal on ebay. likewise 400 for microkorg is pretty insane. the er1s etc are pushing it at 200 but they seem to have gone up in value on ebay. they're great boxes, I could stretch to 150 for one in mint condition. though I paid approximately half that for each of mine a few years ago.

have you tried negotiating ? last item i bought was listed for 400, I made him an offer, he refused - some weeks later and it still didn't sell. he relisted for 350, I made an offer, he refused - weeks go by and he relisted for 300, I made an offer, and he accepted. sold for 220. Which was actually LESS than the first offer I made him

Sometimes a seller asking too high a price can be a good negotiating position for a keen & patient buyer... the longer it sits on that shelf the stronger your position.

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Sat Dec 21, 2013 10:43 pm

SODDI wrote:Someone has got them conviced that older synths = vintage synths. And that just isn't true. And someone is sitting on a lot of electronic shit that they wil never get their price for.

There is always someone that will pay these prices.

I worked in retail a couple of times, and here used goods cost way much than it was actually worth. People paid for it regardless.

We also have an overpriced music gear pawnshop here in Berlin - I was in there twice, I'm completely ignoring it now because I find the prices plain nuts. Especially considering, no manual, no PSU's (often!), and sometimes not even guaranteed to work.

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:02 am

Some people just don't know how things should be priced, and sadly that includes buyers as well as sellers.

goldenanalog · Post by **goldenanalog** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 2:14 am

foosnark wrote:Some people just don't know how things should be priced, and sadly that includes buyers as well as sellers.

Here's a fast way of forcing a local pawn shop, etc. to negotiate:

1.) Go to completed listings on eBay, find the *lowest* price said item sold for in similar condition to what's available near you. Did the buyer pay tax? Shipping? Points to bring up.

2.) Print it out, then go see your local horse trader with said item (the expression was invented long ago; it still can be applied pretty accurately)

If the guy/place won't negotiate, then they're probably a rip-off...you might want to not send them a Christmas card this year, and consider scratching them off of your 'nice' list.

Are the prices so crasy everywhere?