Why are used LCD monitors so expensive?

[mhendo]

@elmwood

My question: why don’t the prices of used LCD monitors depreciate, as with most other used products?

Well, it’s not really clear that they don’t. While people might be listing their LCD monitors at those prices, do you know whether they’re actually selling?

Also, it’s not just LCD monitors where this happens. The rapidly declining prices of new electronic equipment (or, in many cases, higher performance for the same price) run up against people’s desire not to lose a whole bunch of money on an item they paid top dollar for. For this reason, you’ll often find used electronic equipment going for prices that are very close to what you would pay for new (and often better) stuff. People just find it hard to believe (or, perhaps, just hard to accept) that the doodad they paid over $500 for last year can now be purchased new for $350.

I ran into this myself about 8 months ago when i answered an ad for a used digital camera. I mentioned the story in this post:

@me

Early this year, i was considering getting a decent second-hand digital SLR camera. An ad for such a camera appeared in the classified section of my university’s online newspaper. It gave a price, but was not clear about exactly what equipment was included (how many lenses? batteries? memory cards? etc.).

I sent an email to the seller, asking what was included in the package, and she sent me back a list of items. I replied, thanking her for her time, and letting her know that i wasn’t interested, because i could buy exactly the same equipment, brand new, with full warranty, from one of America’s most trusted camera dealers (B&H in New York) for about $100 less than the price she was asking for her one-year-old used equipment.

Look, i know that electronic equipment doesn’t hold its value, and that the price of new stuff drops quickly, especially at the top of the technology curve. But the fact that you paid $1400 a year ago does not mean i’m going to give you $1000 now when the same thing can be purchased brand new for $899. If you find some moron willing to pay that sort of money, then good luck to you; but it won’t be me.