Modern EL34s VS NOS Winged C - and return policies?

Cleeds I understand your sentiments and pretty much agree - however - if I drop $1,000 on tubes and am disappointed in them it would be nice to have some way to mitigate the losses.  I’d rather pay a restocking fee then hope someone would buy them off me if they disappoint.  

Yogi looks like Tubedpot has some SEDs in stock - seem too cheap to be the real deal.  I called them and spoke with someone who said if I wasn't happy with the sound I can return them.  

Or do I take that money and get some cool new tubes like the Ray Tubes Select or Reserve?

Thanks for your responses.

Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.

The KT120s and 150s had been in the amp for about 3 weeks listening about 3 hours a night.  Maybe not enough to really be "burnt in".  I may have to give each another month of listening.  I've heard the KT150s can take months to really shine.  They did sound good in the system so it would be interesting to see.

I do think system synergy probably plays a huge factor in what I'm hearing and it will really come down to just rocking and "Rolling" to find another quad.

Again thanks for all the great sources and experience with EL34s.

Awise1961 I do have NOS Mullards in the preamp and RCA clear tops in the power amp. I always get a little rush when the Mullards flash at startups. 
 

pdreher I totally understand your sentiments and in general I agree.  Maybe it's more like test driving a car?  I’m guessing most of these tubes I’d consider returning would be NOS that have probably been put on a tester and maybe even listened to and checked for microphonics before they are shipped. At least I hope they are. They’re also lamped when they’re being matched.  I would only return tubes if the seller understood what I would be doing with them and knew how long I had them running in my amp.