How to sell used audio equipment

We're always interested in buying your used stereo components - sometimes even if they are old or not working.

Here's how you do it:

Please call or E-Mail us for a quote on the specific makes and models of gear you are selling (the phone number is 510-549-2126). Please let us know if you are local or not. We don't do a lot of long distance buying but sometimes it does work out... Within a few days we can tell you which pieces we will buy and how much we will pay (presuming good to mint condition). These price quotes are good for two months. We will sometimes still buy gear if it's broken - but at a reduced value to be determined after our checkout.

If our offer is acceptable we need to have it about a week or two for a technical checkout. In our current business model we take gear in to purchase by appointment when we're closed. We can meet you there during the week from 10:00 a.m. up until about 6:00 p.m. Remember that we're not normally in the shop weekdays unless we're expecting you-so make sure to do it by appointment! We ask that you NOT show up with items to sell when we're open for walk-in retail on Saturday. Appointments on Saturday around 11:30 a.m. or right at closing 3:00 p.m.often works well for us.

For some entire sytems and estate sales we are willing to drive to your home for evaluation and purchase on the spot. We also offer at our discretion offer to sell higher end pieces on consignment for clients. This typically nets you (the seller) more but the payoff is delayed until we've actually sold the item. Consignment is generally limited to higher end pieces only with a resale value of at least $500 per component.

We will give you a detailed receipt with a list of makes and model numbers of your items. 1-2 weeks after you've dropped the items off we'll mail you a company check - presuming the gear checks out for the maximum original offer. Providing us with owners manuals and receipts will not usually enhance the value of the gear, but we certainly appreciate it if you have any or all of them. Having original factory remote controls or factory cartons with custom styrofoam or cardboard inserts!) will generally raise the value a little and we will try to reflect that in our preliminary offer. Please give us as much detail as you can up front so we can make as acurate an estimate as possible!

We will call or E-Mail you back if for some reason the offer is lowered. Gear that gets lowered to zero value can be abandoned with us. We will either fix it for resale or take it to an electronics recycler. Note that the offer to recycle items is limited to component grade pieces of audio gear. We are unable to recycle large console style stereo sets that were around in the 50's-unless we want to buy what's inside them; which is rare but not unheard of!

We insist that all gear have serial numbers and that you present us with a current permanent (picture) driver's license or passport for personal identification. We will not purchase any gear with serial numbers removed or obliterated. The paperwork we need to do takes 10 minutes or so; make sure you feed the parking meter out front or park in the lot behind us.

If you have large items or several pieces that you're unable to transport, we can sometimes pick up gear. Our willingness to pick the gear up at your house quite honestly is determined by how desirable it is! Normally our initial offers are based on being able to take and test the equipment on instruments. If we are paying you on the spot for things we generally offer less and at least need to do some basic tests in your home. We can also pick gear up if it involves an estate sale with lots of items.

The Sound Well is now located inside of Handy Electronic Service @ 1467 University Ave. This is roughly four blocks down the street from our old shop (1981-2009)

We're available to receive used items by appointment. Ideal times for appointments are Saturday 11:30 a.m. or 3 p.m. We are also available to receive used items weekdays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

ALL INCOMING PIECES TO BUY ARE TAKEN IN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!

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