From: jthornb...@home.com (Thorny)
Subject: Re: Short Lord Valve ( Willie ) Story
Date: 2000/01/09
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On Sun, 09 Jan 2000 15:34:10 GMT, jlemo...@communique.net (Joe L)
wrote:

>"E Booth" <ebo...@erols.com> wrote:
>
>>Just wanted to share a very cool experience I had the other day with Willie
>>at NBS electronics.
>
>In that case, so will I.  I had cloned an SLO and needed some good output tubes that would
>complement that design.  I called LV and explained that I was looking for a tight power
>section for the SLO with hopefully increased bass and good longevity in a combo.  I also
>explained that I haven't been following current tube offerings and would appreciate a
>suggestion.  He replied with a short "so you want me to tell you what to get?"  

Why - yes - you DID want him to tell you what he thought you should
get - didn't you?  Wasn't that the reason you called - to find out his
opinion and place an order?  LV can be rather direct at times, but
that usually is a good thing.

From that
>moment on he talked down to me and I and couldn't wait for the call to be over with.  I
>really was sorry I ordered from him and almost called back and cancelled the order.  

It may have been possible that he may not have the capability of the
person he is talking to on the other end.  I deal with TONS of people
in my job and routinely have to walk through procedures with them -
some of which they already might know (but there is no way I would
know this, so I give them all the details).  I expect them to give me
some sort of indication if they perceive that I am talking down to
them.  Life is too short and I can't read minds.  I don't think LV can
either.  You have to remember, I am sure he deals with tons of
"newbies" all day long - some of that is bound to carry over.

But I
>figured with his reputation that I would at least get good tubes.

I always have.

>
>A couple of days later I got the tubes in - 2 NOS Sylvania 7581As and 3 Sovtek 12AX7LPSs.
>The 7581As biased up real nice and were matched within 1ma of each other.  I stuck the
>12AX7LPSs to the side while I was bringing up the amp with some old pullout tubes to not
>risk frying them.  After the SLO was checked out, I plugged in the Sovteks to be greeted
>with tons of hum.  After 2 hours of troubleshooting ground loops and filiment lead dress,
>I swapped out the preamp tubes.  No hum.... hmmmm...  To make a long story short, 2 of the
>Sovteks hum... loudly!  There is no chance that anyone had ever checked them because it
>was not sutle and could even be heard in the PI position.   Swapping them into another amp
>confirmed that it was the tubes.
>

Stuff happens - and no matter what we try to do - it can and will
happen.  What is really important is 1) trying to keep it from
happening, and 2) how do you handle it when it does happen.  So you
got some tubes that humm...  I don't doubt that could happen.  Maybe
someone grabbed something from the wrong stack????  Who knows.  It is
not a good thing, but I don't think it is the norm from my buying
experience and from what others have reported.  

>Now the worst part of this is after being treated the way I was on the phone when ordering
>the tubes, damn if I am going to try getting them replaced.  

No - you are going to trash his reputation on customer service because
you thought he was talking down to you (something he may not have even
been aware of).  You admittedly haven't even giving him a chance to
make it good.  You should talk to him and give him a chance before you
trash him.

>If he treated me that way
>when trying to buy tubes, I can only imagine how he'll treat me when I try to get them
>replaced.

You are sensitive aren't you?  Then maybe have your wife, girlfriend,
or a friend call him for you.  I'll even call for you.  

From my experience, I would bet that LV is proud of his reputation and
would gladly replace your tubes with something to your satisfaction.
Then you can report back to us how he replaced your tubes once he was
informed that there was a problem.

>
>And that's "no bullshit".
>
>..Joe L

I have bought a metric shitload (LV terminology) of stuff from LV over
that past year and a half (at least a lot for me).  He has always
delivered exactly what was promised.  He obviously has a lot of pride
in his customer service from my experiences. I have talked to LV many
times on the phone - probably for painfully (for him) long times.  I
am definately not an expert, and he has not talked down to me and has
had to have been extremely patient.  I have found that his prices are
reasonable and service is the best.  I usually get my orders 3 days
after I order them, along with the disk, pen, and solder freebies.
One time I ordered some stuff from a place about only a few hours away
from here a few days before ording from LV, and LVs order arrived
before the earlier and much closer order.

Under your current scenario the only way LV could have made things
right is to undo sending the noisy tubes (can't do that, that already
has been done), or send you different tubes or a refund (can't do that
if he does not know about it).  You put him in a difficult situation -
you may be taking the "Lord" thing a little too literally.  Or maybe
your motive is NOT to try to work things out?  Most of us will
continue to order from LV and get great tubes at good prices and great
customer service.