Cheap Chinese junk

[SouthernHaze]

Well lesson 113 taught me never to buy cheapo Chinese ballasts. Explain to me how's ballast goes out before my first bulb. Got to b one of the most irritating things. Ever. But I guess ill chalk this up as a growing/ life lesson. Don't buy the best deal. Get shit that will last. i mean if I would have invested 40 or so more I would b straight right now. Like really not even two runs. O well ill try to get the brand and where bouts they can b found to save y'all the trouble. Just needed to rant. O yeah and fuck you china.

 

[Galactic]

yea, suckers fall for the best deal everytime

 

[gaiusmarius]

yes had to learn this too over the years, it's not worth going cheap for lights, ventilation or pumps, just not worth it, specially lamps you get what you pay for, just look for the best deal for the good quality stuff.

 

[Jnugg]

Even though practically nothing is American made anymore,I still say you get what you pay for.

 

[daylighting]

I think even the good ballasts are Chinese-made, but yeah, going cheap with Chinese stuff can be a very bad idea.

 

[foomar]

We tried useing the cheap chinese option to cut costs in farming and grounds maintenance , all but the most basic products are inferior to EU sourced apart from odd ones that are dodgy overuns of items made for quality brand names.

Electrics barely meet standards and many fail a basic PAT , low spec components at circuit level with hand wired boards from obselete products instead of dedicated chips , like going back to the 70,s when you open stuff up to see what went bang.

Know people who are risking their lives on a pound shop timer and equally poor smoke alarms and ELCB,s , must be worth spending money on critical things like this before throwing money away on hyped nutes.

They cant even manage a cast iron stove that lasts more than a few years , a tech the west mastered centuries ago , useless fucks.

A lot of cheap stuff comeing out of Germany is the same chinese crap just assembled there , and a bit of a con.

As you can probably guess , i learnt the hard way too.

 

[daylighting]

EU labeling laws allow people to stick 'GERMANY' on a product that was made in China. I think you'd have to look very hard to find a ballast that wasn't made in Asia!

 

[Granger2]

The good brands may also be made in China, but to their specs. Good luck. -granger

 

[SooperSmurph]

It's all about research, I recently invested in ballasts / hoods / bulbs from a new company, Universal Garden Supply a new relatively untested company sourcing their products in China / Taiwan, these guys make sure every item is produced to their specs, if your company is just as careful, it really doesn't matter where their parts are being manufactured.

 

[foomar]

Cannot think of a single product where chinese would be the preferred option , if price was not the overideing factor in the decision.

Its hard to research many chinese companies with confidence as they change name and ownership at an alarming rate , the big brands have their own inspection teams onsite as they cannot be trusted , which is impracticle if just ordering a container of lights , or less.

 

[Galactic]

If you must go cheap, don't be a cowboy. There are plenty of single individuals who have already gone through the trouble of importing the container-full. A few years ago, a group of us bought 30 knockoff lumateks, purple and everything. They cost us 40 each if we import, or 80 from the guy who already had it sitting in California. Only 2 duds... and legit brand new was $220+. Knock out a round or 2 and price didn't really matter...

 

[daylighting]

I think the best course of action is to go the tried and tested route. No point trying to save a few (or even $100) bucks and then having your house burn down!