This is a theoretical question. I don't have any custom IEMs so I'm just curious.

What resale value can somebody expect on customs? Now that remolding is possible, selling customs is also possible.

I realize this is highly dependent on the customs being sold, so let's just say some of the more popular ones like the JH 13, UE11, ES3X, etc.

Can one expect 50% of the retail value? 25%?

Has anybody sold customs? How much did you lose when you sold them?

I have seen them on the FS forum at pretty good discounts, but I don't believe there is a hard and fast percentage. For example, I recently listed my TF10 remolded customs on the FS forum for $80. I paid $99 for the TF10s. I had 7-8 offers at that price and I think I could have gotten full price. I decided to get them reshelled instead, so not selling. Anyway, that's not a perfect example, but I believe I have seen UE10s for like $700-$800 and ES3X for $500 in the FS forum.

In Japan yahoo auction, I have seen some JH13s sold for around 45,000yen, definitely not more than 50,000yen. So I think the resale value will be about half of the money you pay.

Quote:



$505 and $560, respectively, for the curious.

I heard about half price and they sell well. I would love to see a pair of JH13s or UE11s for half price. I'd probably buy them.

Question: Where can you get them remolded to fit your own ears??

Quote:



The two best known places are Unique Melody and Fisher Hearing:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/u...thread-443197/
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/i...earing-454174/

I'm guessing the TF10 price is an exception because of the sale that went on recently.

I imagine it also depends on the original cost of the IEM. For example, the sleek CT6 is $400. If it's sold for 50% and then you include the cost of remolding and mailing, you're probably close to the original price of the IEM. So 50% is probably too high for those.

50% sounds about right for the more expensive IEMS and it's not too bad considering that full sized headphones have about a 80% resale value if the headphone is a good shape and it's a headphone that's still available new (e.g. not something like the K1000).

Thanks for the information everybody, especially for the auction prices.

Yea percentage pays a big part on how much the IEM's starting price is. When you factor in the price of remolding and having the molds done, the cost can really add up.

Around 40-50% of their new price I think. At least that is what I remember pairs have sold for in the FS forum.
Fair enough I guess, considering you need someone willing to take on them and perform a remold. The lack of warranty lower the value as well I guess.

Quote:



That's a great point! A remolded custom will have no warranty and I imagine a manufacturer (e.g UE, JH Audio) will not be willing to repair a remolded IEM.

Compare this to a non custom headphone. The warranty typically transfers and even if the headphone is out of warranty the manufacturer will repair it if parts are available.

If I got a used JH13 ($500), remolded it ($100+), and it broke I would be livid (at myself) if I later realized it couldn't be repaired it because the manufacturer stated they wouldn't repair a modifed product.

This is definitely something to think about when buying used IEMs.

As said before, you need to keep in mind that people need to have it remolded, so factor that into any price that you'll set. I'm sure that manufacturers will repair it, but for a cost.