ebay Metal Halide Light

[knowles101]

Hey all, Im looking to buy a MH light setup for my 36" SW reef tank. I was looking around on ebay and came accross these units. Anyone have any experience with these? Are they reliable? Any feedback would be great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/36-442W-Metal-Halide-Reef-light-Aquarium-Lighting-VHO_W0QQitemZ110316903771QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110316903771&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A16%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[Adam]

Hi,

It's an aquatraders fixture.  You can make your own opinion about them if you search the name on reefcentral.

Adam

[Tsukiyomi-sakura]

If your paying in Canadian currency, calculate shipping a total cost in, But I would say...DON'T GET IT FROM EBAY!

Dude If the bulb breaks your toast! better safe then sorry! or it could be defected, or refurbished...do you want to take the risk..?

[Tsukiyomi-sakura]

Also forgot to mention, Are you Aware of how 'gently' our post handles items? 

[yellowtang]

Those are Knockoff of the Coral life MH/PC fixtures!!
be ready to do the xtra spending on the ballast,as they burn quite fast
and also the cheap generic HQI bulbs will not perform as described.........In few words........
"you get for what you pay" in the world of SW.....do you think that price justifies the true cost of this hobby?

[alexv]

If your paying in Canadian currency, calculate shipping a total cost in, But I would say...DON'T GET IT FROM EBAY!

Dude If the bulb breaks your toast! better safe then sorry! or it could be defected, or refurbished...do you want to take the risk..?

Just about the mention on eBay, I bought maybe 80% of my equipment off eBay. Including 3 light fixtures and bulbs. In one case the bulbs were broken. I just contacted the seller and he sent me replacement free of charge. Never really had problems with eBay before (well, you need to be careful to buy from the right sources - look at the seller reputation and read people feedback). Even considering tax and duties in most cases the items come out cheaper than buying here... Sometimes considerably.

I just bought a new T5 72" light fixture with additional 24 light replacement bulbs. The bulbs costed me around $20 each. Can you find 72" T5 here for that price?

For cheaper items I try to look for sellers who ship via USPS (not UPS or FedEx). When USPS hands off the package to Canada Post, the customs brokerage fees is just 5 bucks. While UPS charges something like $45 flat, so buying a $30 item would cost you almost 90 with taxes. And many items I bought on eBay shipped via USPS/Canada Post had no customs/tax at all.

Of course, if you could find an item from a Canadian seller that would be preferrable.

I had bought over 100 items to day... Yes, you are taking some risk, but I figured if the item turns out to be 50% of the cost on eBay, I might as well buy another one if the first one turns out to be bad and still wouldn't loose a lot of money The only downside is the time for shipping and in case of problems for replacement.

[Hookup]

I also Ebay from time to time.  But only from sellers with very-positive comments.  One guy failed to ship me the item I ordered.  I email bugged him for about 3 months and when he finally did ship it there were some nice extras.  I would have rather had the items on-time, but he was making an exception to sell-to and ship-to Canada so I cut him some slack.

Ive bought arrows (for archery) at less than 50% of what I can get them for here... and at $240/dozen that is significant savings.  Clothing and artwork and books purchased as well.  Never an issue.

One thing about buying "local vs on-line":
    If we do not support our LOCAL FISH STORES, then their valuable advise also goes when they do.  Sometimes it's better to pay 10%-20% or more to a LFS to ensure that they stay in business.  I no longer have a local store to buy my archery supplies from.  This really frustrates me as I have lost the people who gave me advise and expertise for "free".  Would hate to see the same thing happen to the aquarium trade.  I just do not know where I'd be without the LFS people who have helped me so much, so personally I buy local.

[alexv]

I no longer have a local store to buy my archery supplies from.

So, the one on Cedarview closed?

[alexv]

Sometimes it's better to pay 10%-20% or more to a LFS to ensure that they stay in business.

I agree. 10-20% is Ok. However when we are talking a $500 on eBay vs $1200 at LFS for a comparable item, well, I chose eBay.

[Hookup]

So, the one on Cedarview closed?

Yes, it closed about 2 yrs ago.  Next closest option is South Mountain, 40min away. 

I agree when saving 58% it's hard to say no to Ebay, but I would still talk to my local guy.  And as for the arrows that I bought, I called 3 places in town to order them, but honestly had to go with $100 from ebay in the end.  I asked them to come closer to ebay but they wouldn't budge their price...