builsyouraquarium - HELP

[Plum]

Hey fellow MFKer's

I purchased 4 400W retro metal halides from a company off of ebay (http://myworld.ebay.com/buildyouraquarium) in NOV. 2008. One of the ballasts has failed ( a bit dissapointing as they are rarely on... perhaps on avg less than 4 hours a day since)

they are supposed to have a 5 year guarantee (same guarantee as their website
http://buildyouraquarium.com/catalo...d=166&osCsid=48efe84cee0adfecc827d2766b5eb2b5 )
though when contacting tech support they want $80......

Calling their tech support number was an experience to say the least. I don't believe it goes to the same company (buildyouraquarium), I think they answered the line by saying "catalina". One thing he said was essentially the Aqua colored balast I purchased are garbage, as the IC chip always fail.

Can anyone aid me?

 

[FSM]

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/

Same products, different website design. No clue what is going on with that. Catalina customer service is great IME.

If you look at the Build Your Aquarium website, all the stuff says it was added to the catalog very recently.

 

[Plum]

I browsed throughout buildyouraquariums website, and I assume that the company is owned by Catlina Aquarium. If you read some of their information, they reference themselves as Catalina Aquarium.

The employee that picked up the phone certainly has me a bit worried... essentially stated the product is known to fail, and then said that their is no such thing as a 5 year guarantee.... it is 6 months

ugh....(>>?)

I have sent the company another email asking for some clarity to the situation. Again, if anyone has any tips....

 

[Plum]

Attempted to call both the numbers provided on the Catalina Website and the Buildyouraquarium website - both lead to a tech service department which is outsourced....

They have no idea about a 5 year guarantee, nor can he get me in touch with the Actual companies. I have tried emailing, no response for 22 days.

The Tech support states that he can give me a ballast for $90 delivered, but I am supposed to have a 5 year guarantee!

Really not impressed with the Catalina/Buildyouraquarium service right now... it is an absoloute joke.