Current Marketplace for Vacuum Tubes?

In my recent experience with selling tubes I would say my best success came with Ebay. I got more views and they also have an international shipping program that helps with selling abroad. I had a buyer from South Korea interested in my 2A3 tubes and I sent it to Ebay's international processing center in Kentucky and they sent it abroad. No hassle for me on that transaction.

Part of the reason why I think tubes or lower dollar items aren't sold here on Audiogon is the commission structure. It is getting even more costly to sell here. You will really take it on the chin selling less expensive items.

I listed the various tubes I had here on Audiogon and I never got a sale or even an inquiry about them. 

Hi tvad. Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well.

If desired value cannot be realized right here on agon, where those willing to pay a premium for quality tend to lurk, then I would think ebay is best bet for getting a fair market value. I’ve always found ebay works pretty well that way. But you may have to start with a low bid price that draws attention initially. Its a bit unnerving at first but I’ve found in the end it tends to draw enough attention to help assure a fair price is achieved in the end if all else is in order.

Try it one piece at a time initially with those items you are most comfortable parting with on an open auction no matter what and take it one step at a time until you see how things are panning out.

Mapman, your comment about E-Bay re: fair market value is in keeping with my thoughts. Your advice regarding testing the waters is well taken.

Back four years or so on Audiogon, one could trust certain sellers to provide high quality tubes, and while those sellers' tubes generally were at premium prices, one knew what one was getting for the money. It made buying tubes on Audiogon "safer" than buying on E-Bay, IMO. 

Thanks.

Yes no doubt tubes are unique to sell in that the difference between a great tube worth a lot and an average or poor one worth not much in terms of noise and wear, performance etc. can be hard to discern and bank on in advance, so trust is more important than ever IMHO. Money back satisfaction guarantees are probably of value to achieve best possible sale price.

I currently only trust tubes from ARC for my ARC pre-amp enough to justify paying a higher price than I might elsewhere. Especially when it comes to noise levels for use in prime slot in the phono section. That’s one of six tubes. The other 5 slots are way more forgiving. So no doubt "certifiable" high performance tubes in good condition when needed can carry a premium but most are more commodity items still to many.

"I currently only trust tubes from ARC for my ARC pre-amp enough to justify paying a higher price than I might elsewhere. Especially when it comes to noise levels for use in prime slot in the phono section."

You might consider Andy Bouwman at Vintage Tube Services for low noise phone section tubes.