New Audigon Service Fee

digitaldevil

VIP/Donor
Sep 23, 2022
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Scottsdale
Hello all. I don't know where this discussion might best be placed. I also don't know if this has been discussed previously, but it appears that Audiogon has some new, buyer imposed, service fees. I just bought a cable for about $950 and Audiogon charged me a $5.99 "service fee". Apparently, Audiogon will be charging a fee based on the sale price to the buyers of each transaction. My seller had no idea about this.

There were several recent discussions started via Audiogon's forums about this new fee and the moderators removed them all. Not a good look.

Anyway, I thought that the WBF community should be made aware.

An excerpt from Audiogon's fee page reads:

"Audiogon Service Fee

A service fee is charged to buyers when purchasing an item from a seller; the amount is dependent on sales price. This is used to support the marketplace, develop new features, and provide support to our customers and community."
 
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bryans

VIP/Donor
Dec 26, 2017
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I hadn't heard but I'm not surprised. Audiogon like everyone else has to raise money some kind of way I guess.
 

tima

Industry Expert
Mar 3, 2014
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Audiogon got fat. Too many employees. Too many administrators. People don't need new services. Zero customer service.

avoid audiogon - there are plenty of other ways to buy and sell.

 
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HughP3

VIP/Donor
Apr 25, 2019
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The uniqueness of audiogon is that each party is rated and has history, including comments and what was bought and sold. I have had 100% satisfactory purchases and selling due to the fact that I can look at someone’s history and feel very comfortable in dealing with them. There is no other website that offers this so far that I am aware of
 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
16,017
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Beverly Hills, CA
The uniqueness of audiogon is that each party is rated and has history, including comments and what was bought and sold. I have had 100% satisfactory purchases and selling due to the fact that I can look at someone’s history and feel very comfortable in dealing with them. There is no other website that offers this so far that I am aware of

US Audio Mart displays a transaction feedback report. eBay does as well.


83F9A3BC-D0E5-4F1F-A80F-A339308B8706.jpeg
 

bryans

VIP/Donor
Dec 26, 2017
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For me I always been more successful selling on Audiogon. But I see them like all others. They all need to make money to pay the bills.
 

treitz3

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 25, 2011
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The tube lair in beautiful Rock Hill, SC
Greed. Nothing but greed. That's all I have to say about that.

We have been there, done that, bent over and yet they need more. It just boils down to greed.

Tom
 

digitaldevil

VIP/Donor
Sep 23, 2022
12
3
95
Scottsdale
Transparency is my issue.

I would like to have seen Audiogon send an email letting members know that this was coming. I entered into a transaction not knowing the total cost of the transaction until after I committed (offer was accepted). As I stated in the original post, the seller did not know about this fee either.

"the amount is dependent on sales price"
What does that mean and where is the breakdown?

Removing forum threads of members discussing their new and undisclosed fees...I just don't even know what to say about that.
 
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tima

Industry Expert
Mar 3, 2014
5,778
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1,400
the Upper Midwest
The uniqueness of audiogon is that each party is rated and has history, including comments and what was bought and sold. I have had 100% satisfactory purchases and selling due to the fact that I can look at someone’s history and feel very comfortable in dealing with them. There is no other website that offers this so far that I am aware of

Actually, Audiogon is not unique in that regard.

There are audio forums where you can get to know members over time. I know of one that promotes buy/sell trust by allowing members to post the results of their transactions with each other. You can send a PM to someone asking if they have dealt with someone or what is their reputation.

Audiogon has high fees relative to their value. They attempt to lock themselves into being the middleman, disallowing external communication between buyers and sellers. Why do they do that? Because they have high fees. It is typical for sellers to include those fees in their asking price.

But hey, if the comfort you gain from seeing an Audiogon reputation is worth what it costs to use their service, then that's fine for you.
 

HughP3

VIP/Donor
Apr 25, 2019
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652
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US Audio Mart displays a transaction feedback report. eBay does as well.


View attachment 101411
thanks Ron, but i dont think my history can be dumped from AG? if it were me I would not believe someone telling me to check out history from another website so in a way I feel tied to a AG regardless
 

facten

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2022
968
1,027
140
Tennessee
I used to use Audiogon for buying and selling, but now use usaudiomart to sell gear or cables, works well, low fees, easy to communicate with transaction partners.

if it were me I would not believe someone telling me to check out history from another website so in a way I feel tied to a AG regardless

I have transaction feedback on both websites under the same user name and refer folks to Audiogon if they want to read the additional feedback. That said, I don't transact with folks who have no feedback on either site, or another credible site that I can refer to.
 

PeterA

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2011
12,522
10,688
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USA
I just learned the hard way about a similar fee on EBay. I bought a very expensive and rare cartridge recently and was charged a $900 service fee. I asked the seller about it and he knew nothing. I do think Ebay works very well with good communication and prompts and updates.

I do like Audiogon for selling. I sold my entire former audio system on Audiogon in a week for full asking price except for my turntable which I sold to a friend locally. It was extremely easy and convenient. But that was a year and a half ago. I’ve had no luck selling gear on USAudiomart or here on WBF.
 
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godofwealth

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2022
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Wow, that’s a pretty stiff service fee. I’ve bought and sold a lot of stuff on Audiogon, but not recently, so appreciate the warning. eBay also charges a service fee. AudioMart might be the only option left. I’ve bought a bunch of stuff from there, but not sold anything there.
 

jbrrp1

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2020
318
485
133
thanks Ron, but i dont think my history can be dumped from AG? if it were me I would not believe someone telling me to check out history from another website so in a way I feel tied to a AG regardless
I get your concern about the "check my feedback on Audiogon" direction. I ask the person to send me a message from their claimed Audiogon profile, and it works like a charm to build confidence. I've done the reverse as a seller on USaudiomart.
 

unboxed

Well-Known Member
Apr 24, 2017
46
31
148
US Audio Mart is superior to Audiogon for communication between the buyer and seller. US Audio Mart allows the use of an individual's personal email accounts. Users are not locked into the website's system.
 
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bryans

VIP/Donor
Dec 26, 2017
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US Audio Mart is superior to Audiogon for communication between the buyer and seller. US Audio Mart allows the use of individuals personal email accounts. Users are not locked into the website's system.
I also like that feature with US Audio Mart. But I do understand why Audiogon prevents this.
 

astrotoy

VIP/Donor
May 24, 2010
1,547
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SF Bay Area
I looked on the Audiogon website. Is there a place where they tell you what the buyer fee is? Also in the seller section it says the seller keeps 98%, but the two options for selling say either 4% up front (whether you sell or not) or $5 upfront and 5.5% if you sell. I can't see how either is keeping 98% of the sales price. Thanks, Larry
 

djsina2

Well-Known Member
May 30, 2019
1,126
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Charging the seller and buyer is pretty scammy. I did see an $8.99 charge on my recent purchase without any warning.
 
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bryans

VIP/Donor
Dec 26, 2017
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I just learned the hard way about a similar fee on EBay. I bought a very expensive and rare cartridge recently and was charged a $900 service fee.
Wow for a $900 service fee that must have been one expensive cartridge. Hopefully you love the cartridge.
 

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