Who is The Music Room?
The Music Room is the go-to source for the very best in new, used and vintage home audio products. Founded on a shoestring budget in 2010 by Joshua and Melissa Jackson, The Music Room is now the largest online retailer of pre-owned HiFi equipment in the world. Headquartered in beautiful Boulder Colorado, The Music Room is a team of 15 strong (and growing) music lovers - all dedicated to one singular mission: delivering the very best online shopping experience in the audio industry - period. We specialize in well-cared for, previously used gear...read more.
What are your hours of operation?
We are open from Monday through Friday weekly from 9am - 4pm. We have limited support by email on weekends. In-person visits to our warehouse are by appointment only.
Can I come check out your store and audition some gear?
The Music Room is an ecommerce company. We do not have a physical showroom, and can not accommodate requests for pre-sale auditions.
Does The Music Room ship gear worldwide?
See our International Buyer Information page
How do I sell my used gear?
We have 2 easy ways to help you sell your used audio gear:
- Sell your equipment directly to The Music Room.
- Consign with The Music Room.
Here's how to sell your used audio item directly to The Music Room:
- Tell us more about your gear. Fill out our quote form here!
- Our HiFi Buyers will research your item and get back to you within 1-2 business days with a fair cash or trade offer.
- We'll arrange for the shipping of your item.
- We will provide up-front payment or store-credit.
To consign your gear, you'll begin the process the same way. For questions about rates and typical turnaround times, contact our sales team. Please start the process by completing this simple questionnaire about your equipment: Get a Quote
How will I be paid when I sell to TMR?
Most of our customers request a business check be mailed upon receipt of the merchandise. Alternatively, we can do an instant "cash" transfer via PayPal “friends and family” (no fees for either party). Still have questions? Contact our sales team.
Does TMR offer consignment services?
Yes, we offer the best audio consignment service in the industry. The exposure we can offer your product is unparalleled. We reach a greater audience than a private seller by offering your product in multiple venues with Worldwide shipping at greatly reduced rates. We have negotiated rates with sales venues such as eBay or Audiogon, and we pass those savings on to our consignees.
For more information on our rates or to see if your product qualifies for our consignment program, contact our HiFi Buyers.
Businesses and Manufacturers are welcome. We are open to additional partnerships and offer special consignment rates for businesses. Contact our Director of Sales, to learn more about how we can help you.
Why should I sell to TMR when I can sell it myself?
In a word - trust. Deal with an established business that you can trust with one simple, care-free, safe, secure, efficient, and fair transaction. The alternatives are often more costly than you might think. In addition to the evident costs such as packaging supplies, seller fees, and paypal fees there are a number of hidden costs that you should consider:
Your precious and limited time - this is the most important factor to consider. What is your time worth? Getting your product listed for sale on multiple websites takes time. Then there's answering questions, fielding offers, negotiating, dealing with buyer-backouts, avoiding scammers, and finally packaging then shipping.
Customer Service & Returns - LIke it or not, there might be questions after the sale. And unless your buyer paid with cash or check, then you have a return policy whether you like it or not. Anyone can force a return by contacting their bank and filing a dispute.
Seller Fees: Often people are surprised by just how much this can cost. eBay now charges a 10% Final Value Fee on completed sales. This is in addition to Paypal fees which are 3-4%. Audiogon is a much cheaper alternative, but be careful - if your item doesn't sell within 30 days your cost to advertise it there renews each month.
Risks: The internet is rife with scammers, and many of them are far more informed and sophisticated than you might suspect. Know who you are dealing with. Feedback scores are great, but if someone's account has been hijacked you might not know it until it's too late.
Headaches: You should be enjoying your music; not driving yourself crazy selling things online. Wasted time, shipping damage, lost packages, scammers, buyer-backouts, sillly or repetitive questions, uninformed customers, petty complaints, outrageous fees... these are all things any experienced online seller has dealt with. If you have the time, patience and skill you can definitely save a few bucks selling your gear on your own time. For the rest of us that would rather be enjoying life, The Music Room has created an easy, safe, fair outlet for your unwanted gear. Get a Quote today to find out just how easy it can be.
How do I get my gear to you safely?
It's always best to save the original factory packaging for your equipment. You never know when today's "last system I'll ever buy" is tomorrow's upgrade fever. Most factory boxes are well-engineered to withstand the rigors of FedEx, UPS or USPS shipping.
If you don't have the factory box for your item, we recommend using a thick, rigid foam product to protect your gear. We do NOT recommend the use of packing peanuts. Not only are they messy, but they simply don't work well for anything other than very lightweight items. Bubble wrap is effective, but only if you used several layers. One or two layers just won't cut it. Bubbles pop. Packing peanuts compress and shift. Get a utility knife and some sheets of 1" thick foam from the insulation department at Home Depot, and cut sheets of foam to protect your item on all sides.
Not interested in a packing project? Contact us and inquire about custom packaging solutions. We have invested thousands of dollars in a foam-in-place packaging system. We can create a box for you for a reasonable fee and deliver it to your door. You'll only need to drop your item in the box, tape it up and apply the provided prepaid shipping label.
Will my product have a warranty?
We don't manufacture the products we sell. As such, we don't offer a traditional "manufacturer's warranty" on the products we sell. However, we do offer a 30-day satisfaction guaranteed return policy, along with a 90-day warranty, on every product we sell. About 99% of existing product defects (if there is one) will present themselves during that time. If something comes up beyond that time, we do have a highly qualified repair technician on staff that can offer support or guidance.
Do you accept trades?
Yes, absolutely. Trading in your gear is one of the very best ways to continually upgrade your system without breaking your budget. We welcome your trade offers. Complete this simple form to start the process.
Please mention the product that you're interested in acquiring when you fill out the form. Appraisals can take 1-2 business days, and we do not generally hold products without payment. If you see something you like, buy it now! We can always reimburse your trade credit later, and you won't risk missing out on the opportunity to purchase the product you're looking for.
Where is my item? Has it shipped yet?
Most orders are shipped within one day of purchase. An automated email with tracking information is sent at that time to the email address associated with your payment (usually your PayPal email).
If you did not receive this email notification, please check your junk folders. If you still need assistance tracking your package, please send a note to our friendly shipping department, and they will gladly assist you. Contact Shipping
How do you I know I'm getting a fair price for my used gear?
Whenever we make an offer for your used equipment, you can rest assured that our appraisal team has done their due diligence so that they can provide you with the most generous offer possible. Our appraisal team is tasked with reviewing historical sales data, analyzing sales trends and projecting future market values. They also have to take into account the history of your product, product category, modifications or upgrades, known reliability issues, optional features and cosmetic condition.
We review all of the standard sources such as the Audiogon Bluebook and completed eBay listings. However, we don't stop there... we also do a deep dive into our own database of sales history that we've built while appraising hundreds of thousands of items over the years.
In addition to our proprietary research database, we've also have a strategic partnership with well-known online sales venue that provides us with access to much richer sales data than what is available to the general public. All of this intelligence is rounded out with costly but effective market research tools that allows us to search and analyze 3 years of global eBay sales history.
Are you ready to find out how much your gear is worth today? Get a quote now.
Are your prices negotiable? Can I make an offer?
We recognize that part of the fun of used audio is the never-ending search for the next great deal. However, our prices are not necessarily the lowest you’ll find. Our customers want to receive a quality product that has been fully quality-assured and backed by a reputable dealer… even if it means they pay a little bit more than “bottom-barrel street prices.” We do our best to price fairly, and we generally operate on very thin margins - especially on used items. As such, not all prices are negotiable. That said, we will usually entertain reasonable offers. Click here to complete our form to submit an offer.
Why is your numerical rating so low when the product looks great?
We tend to be very conservative when applying a cosmetic "rating" to products. Virtually nothing is a 10/10 unless it is nearly new and looks factory fresh. Our 8/10 is what a lot of people might call "mint". Click here to read more about the very conservative cosmetic rating scale we use.
Can I pick up my purchase and save shipping costs?
Absolutely. We welcome local customers to contact us to schedule a pick-up appointment once your purchase is complete. Our office hours are Monday through Friday; 9am - 4pm MST. We can also arrange in-home delivery in the Denver / Boulder area for a reasonable cost.
What do I do if I'm having a problem with something I purchased?
Every product we sell has undergone a rigorous testing protocol and is backed by our 30-day satisfaction-guaranteed return policy (when purchased at www.tmraudio.com), along with a 90-day warranty. In short, we want to make sure you are 100% satisfied with your purchase. If you have a question or problem about a product you've recently purchased, please contact our support team for assistance.
Does TMR work with other businesses?
The Music Room has forged strong partnerships with some of the most recognizable audio brands in the industry. We are committed to the promotion of our friends operating traditional brick n' mortar audio stores, and we're proud to be the engine that powers many of their successful trade-in / trade-up programs.
If you are a manufacturer, dealer or installer that would like to gain a competitive advantage or improve your customers' shopping experience, please contact our Director of Sales, to learn more about how we can help you design and implement a custom-tailored trade-in program.
What is your return policy?
Every pre-owned product we offer carries a 30-day, satisfaction-guaranteed return policy unless stated otherwise in the product description.** Additionally, every pre-owned product purchased directly at www.tmraudio.com carries a 90-day warranty. During the 30-day return period, a return or exchange can be requested for any reason. If the product is defective in some way, TMR will cover all related shipping costs. Any returns initiated outside of product defects, the customer is responsible for all Shipping and Handling costs, and there will be a 5% restocking fee taken from the refunded amount. All return requests, with exception of any special orders, must be approved and a return authorization issued before return will be accepted. Special orders are final and will not be available for any return or refund. Basic troubleshooting measures require the cooperation of the customer and are expected to be carried out before a product is deemed “defective." During the 90-day warranty period, we will repair (at our expense) any products that are found to be defective. If we can not repair it, we will replace it with something comparable or issue a full refund. In no case is a customer authorized to send a defective unit to a 3rd party repair center without our consent, and we will not pay for any repairs that we do not perform.
New product lines for which TMR is an authorized dealer carry a 60-day satisfaction-guaranteed return policy. Return shipping costs are at the expense of the customer unless the product is defective. Full manufacturer warranties are in effect for these products.
** Any use of freight forwarders or additional shipping services beyond the original shipping address will void all return privileges and warranties.
** Items labeled "As-Is" are not eligible for returns unless materially different than our description.
**Newly purchased cartridges have a unique return policy. For more information see New Cartridge Returns
Please complete this form to get a return authorization.
**Newly purchased cartridges have a unique return policy. For more information see New Cartridge Returns
Does TMR sell any NEW products or only used?
While our core competency lies with pre-owned gear, we do carry a handful of carefully selected new product lines that we feel represent our mission to deliver high value audio products. Some of the fine brands we carry include Cardas, Parasound, ATC, Audience, Aurender, Weiss, Diptyque, Focal, Naim, HiFI Rose, Magnepan, Mark Levinson, ModWright, Mola Mola, Nordost, REL Acoustics, Soulnote, Yamaha, and far more. For each of these product lines, we offer guaranteed best pricing and maximum trade credit for your used gear. Please see our full list of authorized brands.
What brands do you buy?
Here are just a few of the brands that we regularly buy, sell & trade:
Accuphase |
Esoteric (TEAC) |
Origin Live |