What's the deal with Vintage Tube Service?

Whenever I ordered I called Andy, he told me the price then mail my tubes after he received the check. Sometimes he may have had to check stock, after that he called me back and gave me options and the price. I mailed a check and he mailed the tubes after receipt.

I am not sure I understand. Did you tell Andy what you wanted, get a price and mail a check?

I don't really use checks much anymore. I guess I really didn't understand how he operated and took payments. I gave him CC# info and had to call him like five times to actually do the transaction. I should have just mailed him a check? That's simple enough. 

redwood

here is a hint

folks who are into and have stockpiled old stock tubes are usually not young... or to be more exact, they are old, damn old

so paper checks, dial tone rotary phones, typewriters and stove top hot water kettles are still recent history to these folks

but here you are trying to buy 50-60-70 year old vacuum tubes... so it is you who has stepped into the time machine ... hahahaha

This is the knock on Andy, good tubes, great guy, but can be very slow.  I don't know if sending a check would speed things up.  I don't see how that would be better than a cc #. 

There are other good sellers who get your tubes out faster than Andy if you want suggestions.

About two weeks ago I ordered a tube for my DAC from Andy. He said he would check stock, test a few tubes and asked that I call back in 1/2 an hour. I called him, he had the tube I wanted and took my CC info. He said he would not be able to get it in the mail for a week because he was behind. Fine with me, not in a big hurry. Based on that, it should have been shipped last Monday. Hoping it should arrive any day now. He was very cordial and helpful. 

Don't hold your breath! Maybe a follow-up phone call or three would be worth your while. 

Andy has my credit card info on file. He's always checked stock and quoted a price whilst on the phone. Then he tests the tubes again before shipping.
But he is an older fellow and a one man operation, so it takes about a week for him to ship.

But lately he has been way behind on orders. I'm talking weeks behind.

redwoodaudio "I don't really use checks much anymore. I guess I really didn't understand how he operated and took payments. I gave him CC# info and had to call him like five times to actually do the transaction. I should have just mailed him a check? That's simple enough. "

You are buying from a very old school guy, and if you want to purchase sending a check is the easiest way for all parties. A little quirky, but you get great tubes correctly tested and matched, as well as Andy's invaluable input on which tubes are best for you considering your budget and taste in sound.

If you want super fast service online there are other vendors with similar merchandise. I prefer shopping with Andy, you may prefer a different seller.

 I recently purchased some NOS tubes from Andy. When  I agreed to the tubes, he gave me the total price incl. shipping. He said he was at least a week behind, I was fine with that. About 8 days later the tubes shipped and at that time he charged my CC. Tubes are excellent and I would deal with him again for sure.If you need something overnight shop elsewhere, but if you have the luxury of waiting a couple weeks he is a wonderful gentleman to deal with.

Very good service from Vivatubes, McShane Design, Brent Jessee.

Other than RAM I know of nobody with better test gear for tubes than Andy... he has my CC also, reasonable on shipping time imo ... and the typewriter invoices always crack me up :-)
Yes there are other vendors - always good to have depth on the trusted tube supply chain bench 

the typewriter invoices always crack me up :-)

So true. I have a folder filled with them.

Andy is a bit forgetful at times , and doesnot do work or a schedule or a timely fashion Andy is probably 70 now .
if a problem Brett Jesse or audio tubes  .net 

Yeah, Brent Jessee is quick...usually by the next day and he uses PayPal. Not cheap, but you can trust what you're getting.

I've bought from Brent Jesse and Viva Tubes with good results. Nice to have options, although Andy has some rare stuff that I couldn't find there, like NOS 46s, he was going to look in the warehouse for about two months ago... 

I waited 6 weeks for 7062s from Andy but he warned me he was behind. They arrived and were wonderful 1962s at a fair price. Brent Jesse was also excellent and quick. Would recommend both. 

I have been dealing with Andy for more than 20 years.  He is the absolute best in the business for vintage tubes and is a very straight-shooter as far as tubes go.  He might take a week or 10 days to ship , but when you get the tubes, they are perfection, generally in original boxes and with copies of manufacturers' ads for whatever you bought.  He has my credit card on file because I trust him completely.

@jwpstayman 
Very well stated. His tubes are cream of the crop or he wouldn't sell them. I enjoy the stories he tells about all things tubes, audio, and life in general.

I am new to tubes but have bought from both Andy and Brent.  Andy took 6 weeks for me to get my tubes, where Brent took about a week. I just ordered more tubes from Andy last week if that tells you anything :)  I think his knowledge, tubes, and prices are the best around.  If your in a hurry go with Brent. 

I never had a problem.  The key tubes in my setup came from him.  they sound great.

I cancelled an order with Andy at Vintage Tube Services over a decade ago because it was taking too long to fill the order and he’s banned me from making new purchases ever since. Don’t cross him, or "NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!"

Brent Jessee has been my go-to for NOS tubes. Straight shooter, good products and ships in a timely manner.

Just thought I would add my 2 cents. Ordered tubes many weeks ago..every time I call Andy says he will fulfill the order in a couple days. Months go by without any action . Many will say well he just an old guy and moves slowly etc. Don’t fall for this bs the guy is either grossly incompetent or a pathological liar.

Also it should be noted I only have one post under this user name but don’t take my word for it just google the guy and you will see a myriad of complaints with others citing the exact same treatment

That seems a bit harsh. I have never had occasion to use him, but as a Canadian who routinely has to pay duty when ordering from the US, it's time for payback:

A superb, fast, seller of tubes that are all tested before shipping. Just a satisfied customer!

Check other reviews and you will see my assessment is representative of many others experiences 

Andy is slow but intends on quicker fulfillment. He has added online purchases to his website. I've used it and received excellent tubes.

 

andy has always come through for me, and is also good to talk to on the subject

he does get behind with orders but given time he delivers in my experience, but i can certainly understand people who don’t know him, want fast order fulfillment, these folks get awfully frustrated with him

I go back about 5-6 years with Andy and he always had primo NOS tubes delivered in a timely manner (about 1-2 weeks). There were certain times of the year he was out on tube shopping trips so the store was closed. Then there would be a backup on deliveries (3 weeks).

The worldwide tube crisis a couple of years ago did him in. He was still operating as a one-man-shop and wait times turned into months. He was also forgetting to fill orders. It happened to me and 6 months later he called and asked if I still wanted the tubes, I had moved on.

I believe some current orders are taking 3-4 months, so Brent has been getting all my business.

 

EDIT; Please do try his new online order feature. They're the same quality tubes noise-rated by colour. I received mine in 3 days time.

 

I will call Andy once again to see if he can get my order processed from several months back. I just wish he would not take orders if he is too backlogged. I can understand a couple weeks processing time  but months to fulfill an order with him only him only responding on a reactive basis is unacceptable