Tubes-Uninformed Buyers??

Yes,I guess that could be said for a lot of things; tubes included.--I have twice bought tubes that were just about doa. So,buying from a dealer should avoid that.

Well you are listing brands so I don't know? I am puzzled over how big the "used" tube market is. Not NOS but used tubes? I suspect it is a small market.

There are actually a lot of used tubes sold on eBay. A few big sellers test them, and post the results in their listings. The test results span the range from fair to like-new. Judging from reading the ads, and the huge positive feedback, they are testing and listing them honestly.

You are quite right, Sugarbrie. I've been buying heavily through eBay for myself and local friends here and have rarely been disappointed. Especially German and most of the US sellers with good feedback can indeed be trusted. The measurements they give are usually correct and the items are packaged expertly and safely. Prices, if you are expert in clever bidding, are mostly not too bad.

My post may have been unclear, I am not talking about NOS tubes sold on Ebay....were talking stuff like Sovteks, Tesla, Svetlansa, Chinese stuff that are still made and sold by places like Tubeman, Tubestore, TriodeElectronics new for cheaper than what some ads here sell their used ones for.

I sometimes do feel that there are so many newbies or unscruplulous sellers who misuse the term NOS. It is my understanding, NOS means NEW OLD STOCK, if you find a 1950s 6DJ8 Amperex which has been used in a preamp, it is no longer NOS. It is USED OLD STOCK. It has gotten to the point where some people think anything other than a Current Prodcution stock tube is NOS. It just adds confusion and danger when buying tubes off places like Audiogon and Ebay.

just .02 more of thoughts