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It’s funny how a small business starts. People get tired of their jobs and decide to work for themselves, and start looking at their options. Some of us just have great ideas that branch out and become our livelihood; others are hobbies that lead to a part-time job. And then there are the small businesses that started by accident.

As I got older, I realized that this wasn’t some crazy hobby my dad had, it was a business, and a good one too. He already had a full time job and owned store, but he also did this on the side. It didn’t take me long to figure out that this was how we afforded to go on nice vacations twice a year. When my sister and I were old enough, we began to help him. We quickly learned where the good deals are.

When I went to return the receiver to my friend, he told me to keep it. His wife had talked him into getting a new system. I took it home and put an ad in the local free classified paper. Within a week I had sold it, and for a nice amount. The next time I was out at garage sales and saw a similar system I picked it up, and a few other things besides. I had found a new hobby and a way to supplement my income.

Over the years I’ve branched out into other things but used stereo equipment is still my main focus. They are easy to find, cheap or free and there are many people out there who would much have a reliable older machine than a new plastic one. While they aren’t going to pay as much for a used system as a new one, it still is a good business. As for my friend, his new receiver broke after 6 months so I sold him a used one, for a discount.

The great thing about used stereo equipment, as opposed to other kinds of electronics, is that it is easy to tell whether or not it is in good shape. Used stereo equipment either works or doesn’t. If you’re buying a used computer, it might work for a few months and fall apart. With used stereo equipment, however, this is almost never the case. Usually, what you see is what you get.