How To Sell Used Components To The Sound Well

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, FAX 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). 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 only two months.) We will often still buy gear if it's broken - but at a reduced value to be determined after our checkout.

If our offer is acceptable, you must bring in the gear during our retail hours for a technical checkout. (It is also possible to make an appointment during our Monday-Thursday non-retail days - although we are often so busy during these times that appointments are at a premium.) It takes us a few days to perform the technical checkout of your components.

A few days after you've dropped the items off, we'll mail you a company check - presuming the gear checks out for the maximum original offer. 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 have an outlet (through a flea marketer friend) to keep these unwanted items out of the landfill.

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. Local law enforcement insists we take a thumbprint. If you have a receipt from the store where you bought it new (in YOUR name), we can forego the thumbprint, but still need to see your ID.

Will The Sound Well pick gear up at your house? Usually not. If you have large items that you're unable to transport, please ask if that's an option. Our willingness to pick the gear up at your house quite honestly is determined by how desirable it is! We also sometimes pick gear up if it involves an estate sale with lots of items.

Because of the popularity of our Website, we are getting requests from afar:

If you want to ship us gear for us to purchase, you must call and get an authorization:

Make a list of all the makes and models of items and call, fax or E-Mail us.

Within a few days, we will get back to you with a preliminary price quote based on good to mint condition. Providing us with owners manuals, receipts and original packing boxes will not enhance the value of the gear, but we certainly appreciate it if you have any or all of them. We will not purchase any gear with serial numbers removed or obliterated.

Before you ship anything to us you MUST get an authorization from us. Please use only UPS, Federal Express, or a similar private shipping company (NOT the Post Office!!)

Frequently, carriers are reluctant to pay shipping claims if you ship in anything BUT factory original boxes. If you don't have original packing, or feel unsure about your personal ability to pack the items, take them to a private shipping store and have them pack and ship them for you. Some items are very difficult to ship (such as turntables) and we advise against doing so without factory cartons.

We will check your gear out when the retail store is closed and mail you a check as soon as possible. We will call or E-Mail you if something major is wrong with the items. Please note that we use the utmost care in handling your audio equipment. However, since we accept it in unknown condition, we cannot be responsible for any damage either in shipment or from previous use.

For gear shipped to us, we have a minimum bid of $100 per component - unless it is part of a large package of gear. When sending us the gear, our interest in lower cost units is lessened. We may buy at any price level if you walk in with it. Note: the offers we make are based on the seller paying the transportation costs to get it to us.