Where do you recommend to buy...

[westfalia]

Hi-

I'm looking at purchasing a new 600 hps light system, along with a MH conversion bulb. When I look at prices on the internet, like ebay and htg, I see set ups with pretty reasonable prices. Then I go to a grow shop and see just about the same equipment for around $100 more.

Should I save myself about a hundy and internet buy, or is it worth the money to be able return to the shop on the chance of a critical failure?

And what's the deal on digital ballasts? It seems every grow shop I go into has a different opinion on whether they are better than sliced bread or an electronic version of the swine flu. Any real life experiences would be appreciated.

I'm looking to purchase in the next couple weeks. Thanks in advance for any valued tips.

Westy

 

[JohnnyHolland]

Westy, search on electronic and digital ballasts (they are different)

I dont know your area but to think that online shopping of hydro gear might be risque is insane, it makes much more sense the local shops would be sketchy... But i could be totally wrong on this.

And i agree the retail hydro shops can try to absolutely rip you off like pay double their buy price.

If you order online just dont forget to order vegetable seeds with it. Eggplant capsicum chilli and so on.


JH

 

[qbert]

Buy on the net. If it breaks, in a pinch you can replace with a new one local anyway, just a bit more outta pocket $.


Digital? I think the jury's out. They're brighter and more electrically efficient, but they seem to fail more often. Lumatek's and Eye Hortilux's are the most commonly bad combo (blows bulbs). Ushio's are said to be good bulb's for digi's. I'm about to light my 400w Ushio HiLux in my 400w Lumatek for the first time tonight.

In contrast to JohnnyHolland, I think buying locally at a hydro store is more risky than on the net. No one will notice a small online order, but LEO is known to stalk local hydro shops in some areas.

 

[westfalia]

Thanks for the replies.

I forgot to mention I have OMM card, so I don't sweat like others. I'm also retired so a box delivered to my door will not sit outside. Besides, people and businesses selling grow lights off the internet don't ship items in boxes inappropriately.

However, I may have found a way to buy locally but still save money. A very small grow shop has opened in town. They carry almost no inventory, but instead hand you a catalog. If you see something you like, you put down a deposit and they get it for you in a week at 10% less than catalog prices. Once I took shipping costs into account, this shop has become competitive plus I would have the ability to piece together a good system rather than buying a package deal.

One more question - are lamps really different or is a lamp a lamp? It seems I can buy a HPS lamp for $50 or $100. Does spending more on this component add value to my garden?

Thanks-

Westy

 

[grow1620]

people and businesses selling grow lights off the internet don't ship items in boxes inappropriately.

uh, yeh some of them actually print " ***** hydroponics" all over the outside. It happened to my friend the other day when he ordered some lights, I don't recall the company he said it was but I'll find out.

If you can get what you need at a local shop, even if it's a few bucks more, I'd say support your local businesses. Even if it's cheaper online you still have to pay shipping.

 

[natrone23]

Ive had my dig 600 from htg for 2 years now works great

 

[Sloppy Seconds]

I say put your money into ceramic metal halide and use it for your whole grow, works great.

 

[cracker420]

i have a 400w digital hps from htg never had a problem. i have ordered alot of my gear from them. good people and great customer service.

 

[muffynumnum]

I say put your money into ceramic metal halide and use it for your whole grow, works great.

They don't make CMH above 400w, do they?

 

[stonedar]

www.plantlightinghydroponics.com
best prices around, they sell sunsystems and hydrofarm at really nice prices. good support too.
here is a good $289 600W light/ballast combo 6in AC reflector
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...s-dual-voltage-xtrasun-grow-light-p-2197.html

 

[madpenguin]

I get all my crap from plantlightinghydroponics. They are anal about discreet shipping and even after paying shipping, I still get everything cheaper than I can at my local grow shop.

If your paranoid, and a good friend knows what your doing, give him/her cash and have them use their credit card. Have it shipped to his/her house as well.

PLH takes money orders as well so as long as you have a safe house to ship to, combined with the massive online savings, I see no need to buy anything from a local grow shop unless your in a serious pinch....

EDIT- stonedar beat me to it. They REALLY are a great shop and know what your doing, thus go the extra mile to make your packages discreet. Everything plain brown paper/cardboard wrapped. Only catch is, they use "aladins lights" as their company name. Not bad but could be better. I'm not too worried about it. I'm an electrician. I get "whatever lights" packages frequently for jobs.

 

[Bush Grower]

<--- another satisfied HTGSupply customer

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I like HTG. Stuff sells fast.
Try hydrowholesale. com

 

[Milwaukee]

I like Discounts Hydro. Good deals and shipped in unmarked boxes.

 

[haze crazy]

In contrast to JohnnyHolland, I think buying locally at a hydro store is more risky than on the net. No one will notice a small online order, but LEO is known to stalk local hydro shops in some areas.

Yeah look around. You will see cameras mounted on a power poles near some grow shops. Especially where they sell a lot of canna products.

 

[Albireo]

I am in CA so legality is easy. I shop a lot online, but I will support local if possible. I found a very helpful local place and their prices were close to plantlightinghydroponics. I spent around $1500 and they gave me 10% off plus free yo-yos. I ended up around $100 cheaper than plantlightinghydroponics. They can get me any nute I want and almost any hardware. Nice to be able to go in and talk to someone if you are having problems also.

Find a nice local shop and see if they will give you a deal. Maybe I am just lucky to be in CA where you can discreetly discuss growing with hydro shops.

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

prices are good but who has the best return policy? i think that is just as important, if not more... Especially if you are buying digi ballasts... which are early in their life cycle.

i am in the market for the CAP Fuzzy Logic CO2 controller but i am weary that it will shit out and i wont be able to return it. Expensive. I might go to my locate shop although more expensive, with complex equiptment like a digital ballast or CO2 gear the return policy is key.

factors i consider before buying online (which i did twice with a GFs credit card and address)

1) price

2) return policy

3) discreet shipping

in my research the most reputable companies seem to be:

HTG supply
Discount Hydro
BG Hydro
plant lighting hydroponics
Ebay (not authorized dealers so i dont think the manufacturer honors warrenty)

i no longer shop at wormsway since i heard that they share the CC numbers of their buyers with LEO (if asked) Also, not a fact. ..just what i heard.

gathering the price info is easy... who has experience returning product to these places?

 

[Natagonnaworrie]

I was just checking them all out... plantlightinghydro has great selection and prices... they dont say much about the return policy... pretty vague... do they ship in plain boxes?

 

[Sloppy Seconds]

Thats what I understand, I think larger bulbs are on the way. might be a good research item.
From a cost angle, its nice to just buy one bulb to use for the whole grow.
I see Westy was looking into 600 watts, maybe buy two 400 watt CMH bulbs and ballast and pump out some large buds!
Good luck all.

 

[madpenguin]

I was just checking them all out... plantlightinghydro has great selection and prices... they dont say much about the return policy... pretty vague... do they ship in plain boxes?

They always ship in plain brown boxes. The ruturn address will say "aladins lights" however. Not too big of a deal. If you order something large enough to where they can't fit it into a plain brown box, they will take the largest plain brown box they have and cut it down the seam, then professionally wrap the original box/packaging. I can verify that they go to great lengths to never have the original packaging exposed.

I've also had to return one thing to them. Ordered the wrong reflector and bulb. Called them up and said "Ummm.... I fucked up man. I really wanted this reflector" and they exchanged it no problem. Been so long ago but I may have had to pay for shipping back to them but they paid the shipping for the new reflector to me.

I've actually talked with them quite a bit on the phone from time to time. They can be a little curt on the phone but are still helpfull in resolving any issues that may arise. So..... I only deal with them.

My first purchase was from BGH and they sucked ass. Half of the stuff was out of stock and they screwed up the billing to boot. Painful experience and I'll never shop with them again.



And no, I don't work for PLH..... I just like them therefore have given them thousands of dollars over the past year or so....

They must be getting the word out because they actually have a new web site now. The old one was ugly as sin. The new one still has the same general layout but was designed by someone who knew what they were doing... So... They must be growing as a company I would assume if they paid someone to redesign their site. They gotta be doing something right.