A great experience

heiney9

I know we love to post about our negative experiences on Ebay. I know many people here despise Ebay and it's general policies concerning fees, etc. But, I have found it to be a an excellent source from my tube addiction. In many cases the tubes I hunt and buy and collect just aren't available as NOS from the usual dealer sources. Without Ebay there is simply almost zero sources to acquire old audio tubes, zero.

There is nothing like doing the research, finding the gem amongst the other "dime a dozen" tubes being peddled. I have been buying tubes off and on through Ebay for almost 7 years now. I can count on one hand the times I've gotten a bum tube and in only 1 instance did I have to fight for a refund. Over 180 transactions involving over 450 tubes over 5 countries. Perhaps I am lucky, but I tend to be able to vet out the losers.

This brings me to my latest experience. I have been hunting late 50's Holland made, long plate, D getter ECC82's for awhile. I am somewhat of a bargain hunter and won't pay the inflated prices many sellers think these are worth. So I have been patient. A pair of Amperex Bugle Boys come up (Amperex BB's always seem to command an inflated price vs. an organ pull or Harmon Kardon pull which is the exact same tube if the codes match). The seller has a good description, they test well, he has excellent feedback, etc, etc.

I get the tubes (see below) and immediately I see the D getter on the post is broken off and laying sideways across the top mica. I inquire with a couple local Polkies and as I had suspected once the tubes are flashed, which is the main function of the getter, the getter no longer plays a role in how the tube operates. I immediately inform the seller and ask if he noticed it before he sent them. He claims he wasn't aware. I told him I hadn't listened to the tubes yet and I would get back to him in a couple days.

So about 10 days go by before I can actually sit down and spend some time doing some critical listening to this "damaged" tube. Sure enough it's output is low, lacks bass, is popping a little, etc. All the signs of a bum tube. I contact the seller, apologize for my tardiness in actually auditioning the tube and explain the issues I am having. He is cool about it and was going to try and find a replacement.

So we go back and forth a few times over the next 10 days and he doesn't have another 1958 Holland made ECC82. So he offers to replace it with another tube I might like or for a full or partial refund. The other tube of the pair sound fantastic so I ask for a partial refund and where to send back the faulty tube. He refunds the money and tells me to keep the tube. A great guy and great transaction. All handled civilly and like gentlemen.




H9

heiney9

I also want to add that our very own SNOW came through for me and sold me a mate to the good tube at a very reasonable price.

H9

hochpt21

Yea, for every bad guy out there...there are a few good ones. Glad your situation worked out well.

cnh

Great story!

I believe with all those tubes surrounding you that you've managed to create a TUBE VORTEX from which it is very difficult to return to this world and the forum. Good to see some light can escape from there. lol

Polkie2009

Great info and pics H9. I'm taking your advice about checking out the Eastern Electric MiniMax tube preamps experimenting with tube rolling.