tomb
Member of the Trade: Beezar.com
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- Mar 1, 2006
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TubeDepot in Memphis, Tennesse
I'm in Memphis for the holidays, and in an area close to the TubeDepot's address. I had some time free from the relatives yesterday, and thought I'd try to find the place.
After a few wrong turns, I found a small industrial/commercial warehousing area between a couple of major residential thoroughfares. The TubeDepot was there. A small door was at the top of some metal steps - basically at the height of a typical loading dock. On the door, a piece of 8-1/2 x 11 paper with the TubeDepot logo taped to the inside of the door's window. Other than the numbered address, this was the only indication of the business that went on inside.
Through the door I entered into medium-large foyer, similar to a reception area you might find for a large warehouse or a small factory. To the left were file cabinets with several Christmas cards displayed on top. In one corner, there was an industrial style desk arrangement with a computer. A large photo of Led Zeppelin standing next to their Boeing 707, and a Guitars calendar adorned the wall. To the right was a large plate glass window that covered most of the wall. A guy was busily working at a desk and computer, and looked to be constantly talking on the phone - perhaps taking orders and answering questions. Next to the window hung a large Sovtek poster of a large tube.
Looking forward from the entrance, between the desk in the corner and the plate glass window on the right, was a large entryway - you could see rows and rows of large plastic bins to the right, and the backs of red "GE" and other tube testers on a counter in front.
After a few moments, a guy came out and greeted me. "Can I help you?" he asked.
I said, "Excuse me - you don't really have a store front, do you? I was in town briefly visiting relatives and as a satisfied customer, I'd thought I would come by."
"No problem," he replied, "Were you interested in some tubes?"
"Of course!" I said. He proceeded to graciously help me for about the next half-hour. I would mention a tube number that I was interested in, he would look it up on their website - perhaps for a bin location - then go back in the warehouse area among the bins. After a few seconds, he would come back to the desk with one of the bins. The bins were of the modern, colored plastic variety - yellow and perhaps 1-1/2 feet long, and 1 foot tall and wide. Each bin was chock-full of tubes in their original boxes of the type I was requesting - 12AE6A and 12FK6 for my Milletts; 5963, 5814, and 6189 for the 12AU7 SOHA, and 6GM8 for Head-Fi user dsavitsk's new MEHA design.
As he looked up these tubes on their website, I gathered that they had separate bins for each category of tubes. For instance, where they might have a separate listing for RCA clear-top 12AU7's, those would be in their own bins. Not endowed with a limitless wallet, I was taking the opportunity to have him help me look for the no-name, more obscure tube numbers - instead of the expensive, mainstream varieties. Regardless, he was cheerful the entire time, and would place the whole bin on the desk for me to peruse.
Raytheon, ITT, Westinghouse, Arcturus, Bendix, JAN, and many others - all mixed in with the familiar GE, RCA, and Sylvania and TungSol! Tube brands were available I never knew existed. When I had a specific interest, he would open that particular tube box and let me look at the tube construction - mica spacers, getter construction, etc.
I picked out various and sundry mainstream and off-brands, then got a couple of sockets to boot. While printing up the receipt, he said, "OK - let me take all these back and test them for you." Wow - all while I waited. He took my standard debit card and completed the sale. I was already in the system from previous purchases.
On the way out, he thanked me for my business, handed me a few business cards, and asked me to tell my friends. "Well, I don't have any that I speak to in person about tubes, but I'll definitely post on the forums about this visit!"
He replied, "OK - that's great, too - thank you very much!"
A singular, enjoyable experience - all the way around. I highly recommend this tube vendor.
EDIT: updated with business card:
I'm in Memphis for the holidays, and in an area close to the TubeDepot's address. I had some time free from the relatives yesterday, and thought I'd try to find the place.
After a few wrong turns, I found a small industrial/commercial warehousing area between a couple of major residential thoroughfares. The TubeDepot was there. A small door was at the top of some metal steps - basically at the height of a typical loading dock. On the door, a piece of 8-1/2 x 11 paper with the TubeDepot logo taped to the inside of the door's window. Other than the numbered address, this was the only indication of the business that went on inside.
Through the door I entered into medium-large foyer, similar to a reception area you might find for a large warehouse or a small factory. To the left were file cabinets with several Christmas cards displayed on top. In one corner, there was an industrial style desk arrangement with a computer. A large photo of Led Zeppelin standing next to their Boeing 707, and a Guitars calendar adorned the wall. To the right was a large plate glass window that covered most of the wall. A guy was busily working at a desk and computer, and looked to be constantly talking on the phone - perhaps taking orders and answering questions. Next to the window hung a large Sovtek poster of a large tube.
Looking forward from the entrance, between the desk in the corner and the plate glass window on the right, was a large entryway - you could see rows and rows of large plastic bins to the right, and the backs of red "GE" and other tube testers on a counter in front.
After a few moments, a guy came out and greeted me. "Can I help you?" he asked.
I said, "Excuse me - you don't really have a store front, do you? I was in town briefly visiting relatives and as a satisfied customer, I'd thought I would come by."
"No problem," he replied, "Were you interested in some tubes?"
"Of course!" I said. He proceeded to graciously help me for about the next half-hour. I would mention a tube number that I was interested in, he would look it up on their website - perhaps for a bin location - then go back in the warehouse area among the bins. After a few seconds, he would come back to the desk with one of the bins. The bins were of the modern, colored plastic variety - yellow and perhaps 1-1/2 feet long, and 1 foot tall and wide. Each bin was chock-full of tubes in their original boxes of the type I was requesting - 12AE6A and 12FK6 for my Milletts; 5963, 5814, and 6189 for the 12AU7 SOHA, and 6GM8 for Head-Fi user dsavitsk's new MEHA design.
As he looked up these tubes on their website, I gathered that they had separate bins for each category of tubes. For instance, where they might have a separate listing for RCA clear-top 12AU7's, those would be in their own bins. Not endowed with a limitless wallet, I was taking the opportunity to have him help me look for the no-name, more obscure tube numbers - instead of the expensive, mainstream varieties. Regardless, he was cheerful the entire time, and would place the whole bin on the desk for me to peruse.
Raytheon, ITT, Westinghouse, Arcturus, Bendix, JAN, and many others - all mixed in with the familiar GE, RCA, and Sylvania and TungSol! Tube brands were available I never knew existed. When I had a specific interest, he would open that particular tube box and let me look at the tube construction - mica spacers, getter construction, etc.
I picked out various and sundry mainstream and off-brands, then got a couple of sockets to boot. While printing up the receipt, he said, "OK - let me take all these back and test them for you." Wow - all while I waited. He took my standard debit card and completed the sale. I was already in the system from previous purchases.
On the way out, he thanked me for my business, handed me a few business cards, and asked me to tell my friends. "Well, I don't have any that I speak to in person about tubes, but I'll definitely post on the forums about this visit!"
He replied, "OK - that's great, too - thank you very much!"
A singular, enjoyable experience - all the way around. I highly recommend this tube vendor.
EDIT: updated with business card:
