So mad right now...

[shredaholic]

I'm currently running JJ E34L's in my Marshall, and decide I want to try the standard JJ EL34 to see what that's like.

I buy a quad of "JJ EL34's" on ebay, which specifically show in the item picture and describe in the text the EL34's - not the E34L. You could easily make out 'EL34' on the glass in the picture. Before purchasing I make it clear that I'm after the EL34 variant, no complaints from the seller so I assume it's ok. After waiting a week for the tubes to be actually shipped, I get a quad of E34L's at my doorstep.

Email the seller:

The valves arrived today, but unfortunately you've shipped the wrong type - these are JJ E34L's, not the JJ EL34 which I ordered. I wouldn't normally be bothered but I specifically tried to order the EL34 version for it's specific sound qualities. Please advise on how I can get the correct valves instead. regards, Richard

Reply:

Hi There

Thanx for your message but the E34L is EL34 by JJ. There is no difference in sound quality because this is what JJ sell as EL34. Unfortunately we do not have the vintage version as these are brand new but if you would like to return them I will refund your money!!

thanx again

I really don't know what to do - I'm assuming the refund means I have to eat £2.50 postage cost to return them, because the seller doesn't actually know what he's selling. So all I can do instead is either sell them on (probably at a loss) or stick with them, when I've already got a brand new quad of them in my amp. All I wanted was something different....

 

[shredaholic]

Re: So mad right now...

Yeah but that still doesn't include the cost of me shipping the tubes back to him, just the cost of him shipping them to me. I'd want him to pay for it being shipped both here and back to him because he wasted my time with something I didn't purchase.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: So mad right now...

Yeah but that still doesn't include the cost of me shipping the tubes back to him, just the cost of him shipping them to me. I'd want him to pay for it being shipped both here and back to him because he wasted my time with something I didn't purchase.

Sorry, I'll admit I was kind of holding back a bit there. I have bought a lot of things through ebay and have learned a lot of things so this is coming from first hand experience.

If the item was not the same item as described, go to paypal and open an "item not as described" case with them. Never resort to giving the seller negative feedback, they really hate that. Sometimes you just get lucky, I once bought an FX pedal from melmusic (ebay store) that didn't work. They asked me to send it back to them and I told them I didn't have time and I was just going to throw it in the bin (not) and they sent me a new one straight away no questions asked.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: So mad right now...

I suppose I could try that, but I guess it depends on what I'll likely get out of it at the end. He may well be willing to refund the cost of me shipping it back to him (although I doubt it), but that still doesn't really help compensate the 10 days of mine this guy has wasted by firstly making me wait and secondly giving me something I didn't order.

I'd be questioning my ethics if I opened that case with Paypal and refused to accept a refund and demanded more though - I'd feel like I was being a bit unreasonable. I'm no stranger to eBay, I've got a feedback rating of 633 as I've been buying and selling on it for over 6 years - it's just the complete retardedness of this guy that has surprised me. How anyone could be a tube dealer and not know what a JJ EL34 is, is beyond me....

Anyways I've sent an email to JJ/Tesla asking them if there's any way they could help, and I'll see what they say in reply.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: So mad right now...

Well, he's wrong. JJ makes both. www.revolutionguitar.com in the future.....mkay? LOL

 

[shredaholic]

Re: So mad right now...

Maybe if I ever move to America...? lol

I'd be better off importing from their plant in Czechoslovakia as it's also in the EU.

 

[johnny blackwater]

Re: So mad right now...

If the seller won`t agree to refund the return shipping cost, this has always worked for me - return the tubes and get your money for the total purchase price (selling price + shipping) first, then use the bad feedback option as leverage to get them to refund the return shipping cost to your paypal account. try to get them to leave you good feedback before you do this, that way they cannot retaliate if you leave them bad feedback later. Don`t feel bad, if this was a tube dealer, they knew what they were doing, and tried to pull one over on you! the tubes are not the same, as you know, the E34Ls are 30 watts, and the EL34 are 25 watts. Ebay is a ruthless enviroment! and by opening a dispute, you lose $25.00 right off the top even if you win. good luck.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: So mad right now...

the tubes are not the same, as you know, the E34Ls are 30 watts, and the EL34 are 25 watts.

No they both have a maximum plate dissipation of 25 watts - the difference is in sound; the E34L has 30% more headroom, tighter bass and different midrange emphasis.

 

[johnny blackwater]

Re: So mad right now...

I have a new set of groove tube`s E34Ls tubes installed in my marshall, that I had rebiased because they were running to cold, I was told that they were rebranded JJ E34L tubes That were rated at 30 watts. I`m trying to learn some basic amplifier electronics theory and methods, so I can tweek my own amps. I recently aquired a large lot of vintage amplifier parts and tubes to play with.

 

[shredaholic]

Re: So mad right now...

The Groove Tube ones are indeed supposed to give out 30 watts plate dissipation, but not the JJ's. Whether they pull out the most rugged ones for Groove Tube rebranding, or that the GT ones are made elsewhere, I'm not sure.