Lumatek's warranty is a fraud!

[Highlighter]

Yeah, your Hydro store sux, I was pleased to read you went an hr. to buy from someone else.
I think once Lumatek started really mass-producing ballasts, they went downhill.
I went thru 4 600w Lumatek's before I came to my senses and went w/ Solis-Tek.
Never been happier w/ a ballast.

 

[SS-]

Guess you NEVER worked at a Hydro store before? 4 Years buddy...

Ya, companies give shops extra ballasts for loaners...

I agree blame this one on the shop. It may be lumateks policy as the shop said, but come on. Can't even give you a 40 dollar sg lite or something to hold you over= a customer for life. If you don't come back, they get to keep a nice brand new 1kw lumatek. Win/Win for the shop.

 

[jammie]

NOW FOR THE END OF THE STORY- its been over 2 weeks since i returned the ballast. hydro store doesn't seem interested in checking. called lumatek again, an email last week got no response, got ahold of some nasty idiot that told me "you'll get it when the store called"

it took me over half a joint of wifi to chill after that call. well i then called the mastercard company, told the product dispute person the story and two minutes later my credit card was refunded the entire amount. they couldn't beleive i waited 16 days.

so now i can start researching joyride's solis-tek recommendation. spread the word LUMATEK SUKS!!

 

[doneit]

Hey bro... I have been using HTG's greenhouse digitals for almost 10 yrs.. i have bought over 50 in that time.

I had 4 over that course of time that went bad and were just put in stotage cause i had spares.

I called tony at the online number and he replaced all of them the next day no questions asked.

I feel that htg's digital greenhouse brand is as good or better than any, the most important aspect is the service.. always had the best experience with them.

IMO you should call them and ask for tony.. he will hook you up on the prices also

Good luck and fuck lumatek! lol

 

[acridlab]

NOW FOR THE END OF THE STORY- its been over 2 weeks since i returned the ballast. hydro store doesn't seem interested in checking. called lumatek again, an email last week got no response, got ahold of some nasty idiot that told me "you'll get it when the store called"

it took me over half a joint of wifi to chill after that call. well i then called the mastercard company, told the product dispute person the story and two minutes later my credit card was refunded the entire amount. they couldn't beleive i waited 16 days.

so now i can start researching joyride's solis-tek recommendation. spread the word LUMATEK SUKS!!

also switched to solis tek 2 years ago, couldn't be happier..

 

[jammie]

thanks doneit. don't know why i didn't think to look at them. i still have and use in early veg my first 400w magnetic ballast from htg. must be 10 yrs old. your right about their service. had a bulb burn out 2-3 months after i got it and they replaced it , no questions asked.

 

[Chriscrete]

just had my 600 shit the bed, its 3 years old, called and they said to send it to them at MY expense....and within 2months they should have an answer for me, WTF!!! and they also told me that all they can do is $50 credit towards another LUMATEK product of my choice, EAT A DICK!

I have 9 magnetic setups...2-400s, 4-1k and 3-600s...ALL over 5years old and running like a whore from a church!!!

FUCK you LUMATEK!

 

[ISHYDRO]

Guess you NEVER worked at a Hydro store before? 4 Years buddy...

Ya, companies give shops extra ballasts for loaners...

Companies do not "give" ballast for loaners. The shop pulls them from their stock and wait for the distributors to reimburse the shop for the broken ballast.

Lumatek had the best warranty in the market a few years back but its horrible now. We have 20 sitting in the shop that we cant get them to take back. So we are out 20 ballast.

 

[Bulldog420]

my only goal now is to spread as much bad rep on this company on as many sites as i can.

I see where you coming from. However, if I were you, I would find a company you know and trust, then tell as many people as possible about that company. Instead of going out of your way to bad mouth Lumatech. With that said, thanks for the warning, and I hope it works out for you in the future.

 

[jammie]

hey bull dog- not bad mouthing just stating the facts, i would have loved to put up a post about my good experience exchanging the ballast. unfortunately some of these companies think they're just dealing with a bunch of 18 yr old stoners. they don't think people know about their rights! and just to end on a positive note- i would encourage everyone to use mastercard for your purchases. they make it very easy to challange bad products and warranties.

most states have a consumer protection called implied warranty which states that no matter how restrictive a companies policy is, if it breaks your entitled to a new one or to have it fixed in a reasonable time. they told me 10 days to 2 weeks, i gave them 16 days and mastercard agreed!!

 

[stoned-trout]

always have backup...murphys law...the shop I go to switches out ballasts on spot...

 

[Picarus]

jammie,
did you check the ballasts fuse? what you smelled was the fuse overloading inside the ballast, and all 1k lumateks come with a spare inside. i have had this problem many times and 9/10 its the fuse.

 

[motorcity455]

I will be purchasing a couple more ballasts in about 10 days, Thanks for the thread. Now I'm off to see if there is a thread on the best company ? HTG ?

 

[jammie]

hey motorcity- i took doneit's advice and got htg's digital ballast. their products and customer service can't be beat!

 

[acridlab]

I will be purchasing a couple more ballasts in about 10 days, Thanks for the thread. Now I'm off to see if there is a thread on the best company ? HTG ?

If u want digital,, solis tek is your answer, man..
Been running the matrix models for a few years now and they are built to last, five year warranty, and the company backs they're products up,, great customer service, etc....second place would be phantoms.. a friend has a nice set up with those and they are also built strong.. you won't need to worry with either of those.. stay away from any that have built in fans,,they suck! Clog up with debris and overheat..
Peace