What is up with Audio Research during the pandemic?


I ordered a set of tubes for my ARC Ref 3 line stage on May 4, 2020. So far, no tubes, no tracking number, and no contact initiated by ARC. I did get an email response last week from them saying that they were "... working on getting caught up in the shipping department and have not yet shipped your tubes." This post is not to hassle ARC in the midst of a crisis. My hope is that all there are safe and well. Many "non-essential" businesses are struggling and frankly, I want to do all I can to support them. Music has been a wonderful source of comfort and enjoyment for me, now more than ever. I can wait, but I would feel better if I knew that the ARC folks were doing OK.  
yabe1951
To circle back around to the OP's original thoughts - tangentially, at least - I remember having several fruitful discussions with a few audio makers themselves, including Robert Lee of Acoustic Zen, Steve Deckert of Decware, and Clayton Shaw of Spatial, about products, audio advice and other stuff. When in doubt, call. Talk with someone. People are people.
Politics aside and pretty much anywhere you look in medicine there are plenty of whack jobs ascribing all sorts of properties whatever ( fill in the blank ). But factually I do know this Hydroxy is a Malaria and Lupus drug essential for those who Depend on it. The WHO and CDC both say it does not help. And my wife and her sister each went a month without but because idiots with no real need managed to get a therapy prescription, then  fill it. ....
so you were saying what ???!!
The only two devices I've acquired this year were manufactured overnight upon order and shipped immediately.. One had to wait for parts but I was apprised of their arrival and immediate fulfillment. Tracking all the way. Communication is all.


Let’s keep the political BS where it belongs... all points of view. This is a HIFI site, not Covid-19 debate squad. As to ARC. They are fine, I spoke with them a few days ago. Give them time. Everything is slower these days...
Good idea geof3. Most of what you hear, read and see is propaganda. Forget about numbers. Nobody has any idea what the real numbers are.
Anyone mentioning numbers is OTL (out to lunch)
Humans, when they don't know what is going on they make stuff up.

Now yabe, as far as tubes go there is nothing special about ARC tubes.
I have been using ARC phono stages for decades. About 12-13 years ago I read about how RAM labs tests their tubes and grades them into three categories, standard, low noise and super low noise. On a lark I ordered a set of super low noise 6922's for a PH 3SE. Boy what a difference. It must have cut the noise levels 10dB maybe more.
Cancel your order and buy a set from here,  http://www.tubeaudiostore.com/ You will never buy a tube from anyone else. You have to test 100 tubes to get one Super Low Noise tube.

Mike