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RE: Buyig Tubes

I have just started to collect vintage tubes no more than 4 months ago. IMO, if you are an experienced online shopper and a fast learner like me (yes, I dont know $h1t about vintage tubes 4 months ago though I have been playing SS amps for more than 30 years, and I have been buying online for more than 20 years. Ebay, Amazon, AliExpres, TaoBao, TMall, etc...you name it), I would rather shop at Ebay for tubes instead of buying from tube vendors.
I bought my first NIB vintage tube, a RCA 5691, from a reputable vendor (always got mentioned here) for US$200 about 4 months ago. What I get is a relabeled Sylvania 5691 in a white box!!! Not to mention it took almost a month to arrive in Singapore from the US. Yeah right, buy from vendors. No, thank you.
Now, I have about 60-70 tubes in my collection, about 80% are NOS or very lightly used and I bought most of them at very reasonable prices. Yes, you can get a very decent RCA 5691 for about $100 at Ebay if you shop around patiently. I got my next two pairs of NOS 5691 (RCA & Sylvania) for about $220/pair in their original boxes. Nevertheless, I got burned one time out of more than 40 purchases from Ebay, not due to the seller but becos of my lack of recognizing a pair of tube, and overbid on them. No big deal, I took it as a learning lesson. You just need to be careful and know what to look for and avoid. Good luck.

P.S. I am not directing anything towards any vendors, please dont take it as an offence; I am just sharing a newbie's experience.

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