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I have some 10/10Y/vt25 tubes I would like to sell, so to get some idea of what they might be worth I searched completed auctions on eBay. The prices are all over the place and there does not seem to be any logic to it. Am I missing something, or is it just the luck of the draw that determines the tube's value? TIA for any and all opinions, thoughts, etc.
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Can you test these tubes? Are they used or new in boxes? Do you have any feedback as a seller? All of these issues and more help determine the value.
A pair of globe 10Y went on ebay in the UK for £250 which shocked me. Not even in boxes.I once had 100 of the ST versions a couple of years ago - sold most for £15-25. I wish I'd kept them.
I still have a dozen or two. I'm keeping them and they don't go for less than £40 each. Then £50, then maybe more as time goes on....
I'm keeping all my 46 too. And 26. And all 150 of my 4P1L. These will all just go up in value, and that's for certain.
Edits: 05/16/14
Unfortunately I'm broke so I have to look at what I have that I am unlikely to get around to using in a project that is reasonably valuable. The advice to see what tube vendors are asking has yielded some good approximate figures.
I have a stash of 10Y and 46 but I use 4P1L in my regular system for all kinds of reasons. Two stages - input > IT > PSE output. 2 stages. All 4P1L in filament bias. Perfect.
varies considerably with the time of the year certain products are offered. For example tubes are pretty much a man toy: sales drop during valentine's Day and Mother's day....Be aware of seasonal patterns. Ebay used to list prices for a whole year at inception and you could readily see this pattern, Now the time os significantly shorter so patterns are not so visible.
Whatever your case may be, price your product accordingly. An expensive tube may be worth purchasing if a case can made for its price.
Ebay pricing is a funny thing. *Sometimes* it is a matter of luck; a seller has stock they wish to sell quickly, or is perhaps ignorant, and a buyer wins with the opportunity.
However! I have found there are two other main determinants to a tube's price: the seller's methodology/warranty and the quality of the stock itself (stated and *NOT* stated). What is being said, and what is being left out? Is it buyer beware, sold-as-is? Where did the tube come from - a repairman box or an actual NOS crate? What are the measured characteristics? Has it been REAL-WORLD tested? If the seller mentions the tester, research the tester model! In several cases, the tube could have never been tested at higher voltages and currents, especially if it hasn't seen a trial-run for extra peace of mind.
Myself and many AA members can attest to this: just because a tube tests like NOS, it doesn't mean it will function properly at its highest operating points. There was a recent run-in with a great testing old-stock Genalex KT66 which busted fuses after 5-10 minutes of ACTUAL operation in an amp. A comprehensive test would have had revealed the issue and the tube would have been (unfortunately) discarded.
After that, I look at the seller's warranty, which is a multifaceted issue in itself:
- Is 14 days after receipt? 30 days? 90 days? Does it seem like a dependable source? Is it coming from the US? Europe? Russia? China?
- Will they replace the tube with an exact same product? If I bought a faulty tube that tests at X, Y, Z parameters for transconductance, gain, and noise, what are my chances of getting a fairly close replacement?
- What's the replacement policy? A seller that can guarantee these sorts of things may offer a longer warranty but at an expense for the convenience and assurance. If I sell a $30 tube and will replace it for free, then I would charge about $60 so I can preserve a margin in case the tube is bunk soon after the sale. Customer moneys stay with me, and I commit myself to their satisfaction. Moreover, if a loyal customer asked, I might be amenable to negotiating pricing if they have never returned a product. Just as well, the tube may be priced at $30 yet the warranty states "send her back and I'll refund you". All things being equal, both methods are effective. But, it's pretty important to know which one you're subscribing to.
As I said, whatever your case may be, price your product accordingly.
Hope that helps in your quest!
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May your tubes be lively and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.
You never know on eBay. One day the price you get will astound you, and the next day it falls flat on your face.
"I can't compete with the dead". (Buck W. 2010)
Look at some of the prices that tube vendors (A.E.S. etc.) are selling them for to get a ballpark figure of what they should sell for.
Sometimes tubes on ebay will sell for more than what a vendor lists them
at, sometimes they will sell for less, just luck of the draw really.
Cal
Logical advice that I should have thought of myself. Don't know who A.E.S. are but other online vendors are selling ST ones for $80 to $100 each, except if they are embossed or engraved with the magic expression "Western Electric" in which case the price doubles or triples! Thanks.
nt
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