Advice about what to do with not-needed tubes?


I recently tried out a tube preamp that I had to return because of a buzz in one channel. Now I'm on the fence about repurchasing the same model or going "tubeless," since my particular system didn't really benefit from tubes more than a little bit and I can't afford to go with tubes whole hog. So, my question as a tube neophyte is, assuming I don't replace the unit, should I return the NOS tubes I bought back to the various resellers and pay the restocking fees, or would it be smarter to wait and sell them later? They're mainly 12at7s. Judging from discussion boards, tubes appreciate in value with scarcity. Not seeing a lot of gear that uses 12at7s, though, so I'm not sure about these. In particular, I've got some that are in white boxes because they were from bulk lots.
I'm also wondering about the fact that I'm a total unknown when I go to sell, so it'll just be my word plus pics as to the condition and "provenance" of the tubes. I'd appreciate any advice.

[I tried to post this before, listing the equipment, but it was declined. Trying again in more general terms, since it seems a perfectly appropriate question for the community, particularly given how many posts in this thread are about tubes as well as tube preamps/amps]
adlevision
Save them in case someone breaks in your house, you could start throwing 12AT7s at them, they might actually explode on impact.
I also have a Dared 2000a that I swapped tubes on. The seller accidentally shipped them with Electroharmonix AX7s. I pointed this out to him and he generously sent a pair of "Made in Germany" orange globe Amperex AT7s. However, using the correct tube type still created too much gain in my system. So I used the AT7s to replace the AX7s in my Jolida JD1703 hybrid amp, hopefully lowering the gain there, and then put on the Dared two of the extra-tall Philips 7062 computer tubes, which are lower gain than AT7s. Happy with the results. Total price: $15.

If I can keep getting deals like that on Ebay, then I don't mind stashing the extras in a bag. I can't imagine selling tubes to recoup costs unless I can provide measurements - except maybe for the orange globes.
@Super390: Wow, a real post! I guess I invited the jokes with the title of the thread...

Well, I can ultimately provide measurements, one way or another, and all but 4 of them are in original boxes. One of these years, I'll give it a shot, since the restocking fee for one order would have been the price of one of the tubes and most others couldn't be returned, as it turned out. I had looked at the insane price-rise in AT7s since 2010, and wondered if it was going to keep going up. People on this thread, who have much more experience, seem to be implying it has plateaued, at least in the nearish term. Not a big deal: I'll get something back. And, there's always the Crhistmas tree.

Your great deal on tubes sounds like what people were saying about 5695s in the Dared, another computer 12AT7 equivalent that obviously (from the prices) hasn't caught on yet. I read that these uber-expensive Tungsram e80cc were flip-flop logic tubes, too (sounds like political tubes!) so they might even sound the same. As my "experiment" with tubes, I figured the only way for me to really judge would be to get the ones that "everyone" had said they liked the best, and call it an educational expense. Total cost of a set of 3 tubes I was using at the last, though, was the same as yours ...only with a 0 at the end.

As you experienced, the Dared is too much gain. Largely for fun and curiosity, I bought it to put it in front of a Parasound Zamp v3, which has a sensitivity of .6V and my DAC puts out 2V! 9:00 syndrome and hard to gain stage (lower-gain tubes in a preamp won't do all that much to change this, I've read, even if they worked). Sounded fairly non-detrimental and noticeably tuby anyway, though, so still thinking about it. It was the only piece of gear my GF has actually ever noticed, sitting down to put her nose practically on the volume knob. "It's pretty!" she said, gazing into the glow. Definite first. I don't think she wanted me to return it, though she couldn't give a crap about the sound.

put them on your dresser and glance at them every time you pass, it works for me. i also put some in a box in the garage, this is also a good approach.