Swap your old hi-fi for cash

Adam Wexler, who was always into hi-fi equipment, started hanging around high-end audio shops when he was just a kid. By the time he was in college, he was selling a local shop's traded-in components and speakers.

He wasn't just into it for the money; he wound up with a really cool hi-fi on the cheap.

Adam Wexler with some recent buys, but what about that trippy green tube amp?

(Credit: Stereo Buyers)

After college, he worked for a couple of stores before landing a sales-and-design position gig with one of New York's top high-end dealers. Now with Stereo Buyers Wexler is ready to take it to the next level. He buys high-quality audio for cash in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, though he will occasionally accept equipment shipped to him.

Please understand: Wexler isn't interested in your Sony receiver, Marantz CD changer, or the Pioneer cassette deck you bought at a yard sale for 10 bucks 20 years ago. No, he's looking good stuff, high-end audio of any vintage, in good working condition. Tube gear, sure, and high-end solid-state amplifiers, turntables, tuners, speakers, etc. E-mail him a list of your gear, and he'll get back to you.

You can think of Stereo Buyers as your high-end broker. Wexler works with estate managers, as well as divorce and bankruptcy attorneys, and he will evaluate equipment value and help turn equipment into cash for clients. He also collaborates with a number of high-end audio shops and buys their traded-in equipment.

Naturally enough, Wexler gets a lot of calls from widowers and divorced women who need to sell their recently departed husband's hi-fi equipment. Wexler shows up with cash in hand, and if he likes what he sees, he'll box the gear up and drive it away. Nowadays, he's hearing from people who need to sell their equipment because they need money. Yikes!

He's come across a lot of really ancient gear from people who were going to put it out on the street. In some cases, the most desirable stuff doesn't even have to work; Wexler will have it repaired and then sell it.

BTW, that eye-popping green tube amp in the photo was made by Wexler's friend David Wang. He calls it "Trippy Amplification," and I want to know more about it. Could deserve a blog; we'll see.

[robsachs]

Can't tell where they sell all the gear they buy. Their website discusses the "buy" aspect of the business, but not the "sell."

[gringcorp]

So his target clientele is high-end audio owners who haven't heard of Audiogon. It's rather telling that the best example he can dredge up is a widowed or divorced woman who probably isn't aware that the internet is the place to go for such sales. Now one could say he's taking the hassle out of the process, much like the "we sell your stuff on ebay" guys, but by indicating he's quite happy to lowball bereaved relatives with an on-the-spot cash offer, as well as people in financial difficulties, he's hardly giving off a happy vibe.

[techsorceress]

grincorp i think you should re-read the article bc you are missing the purpose. Would you be willing to go out and buy a non-working vintage piece of equipment and then find a person you are willing to trust to fix it and then hoping to sell it??? You should not judge and say this entrepreneur is "lowballing." As a veteran of the e-commerce industry, those people are probably getting more money for their items then they would on Ebay without the cut to ebay, paypal and the post office. It sounds like you are anti-business-unless you paint murals for the Boys Club all day long, each business has its pros and cons. This should be regarded as a niche hobby and in the likes of antiquing.

[one_flat_monkey]

i think it's reasonable to view this "service" with at least a modicum of skepticism, since it's very rare that anyone brokering hi-fi equipment is customer-friendly. with all the flim-flam involved in the hi-end market, i'd be trying to do a little research before i turned over my gear to a guy with a roll of cash.

on Mr. Guttenberg's part, i think we can call it what it is: advertising. it's kind of ironic that just below the submit and cancel buttons for these posts, there is an advisory regarding posting of advertisements.

[h.m.murdock]

I think its a great idea.... living in Brooklyn I'd prefer to deal with someone reputable and local as opposed to some mail order house....

[t1mm0_NZ]

>> "He calls it "Trippy Amplification," and I want to know more about it."

http://trippyamps.com/

[humblehifi]

I find it sweet someone deleted my comment asking why this story is relevant... Seems like an AD to me... my post was offensive or anything I just find that these "reports" are becoming more and more like ADs..

Any thoughts?

[adelia4]

Thanks for the tip and the insight, Steve. Looks like this guy's set himself a good niche here - especially these days.

As much as I'm trying not to let all the economy-related guilt crimp my A/V setup, it has made me a bit more cautious about upgrading, and you really start to look at your set-up and reevaluate what pieces you absolutely need. I know I have at least 2 components in my collection that I wouldn't mind liquidating - one of which has been in my basement for months.

Maybe it is time. I hope she'll understand...
I'll let you know how it goes with stereobuyers.com.

[vanessakim]

Hello, If you hasve some hifi dated 1950 or 1960 please let me know should be made in England or United state.


Thank you

[h.m.murdock]

I actually used these guys' service and was totally happy. <A HREF="http://www.stereobuyers.com">Stereo Buyers</A> handled the whole transaction within a couple of days. Thanks!