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Not economical to sell dirt-cheap tubes on ebay

If you consider the listing and closing costs plus the hassle of shipping, it's really no fun selling $3 auctions!
And that's assuming they sell...
I've noticed recently a decline in tube prices and demand. Just follow a bunch of second tier tubes and see how many sell at all!
I believe the major factor leading to that situation is that most tubes are bought for existing sockets (commercial amps) and not for experimentation. So, the 12AX7, 6DJ8 and EF86 were in demand and still are. Those are signal tubes that last a long time, so after 4 years of strong ebay sales you would expect a decline in demand.
Power tubes don't last that long, but the older ones are mostly used and that's a no-no in my book. I bet many buyers of supposedly-NOS power tubes were bit by weak or leaky tubes at not such a bargain price. One such experience and you'd rather have a new Russian tube than a maybe great, possibly dead, Genalex...
Just the reality of market forces at play!



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