Metal Halide SCAM Alert

G

gadfly

AC Members
Mar 15, 2003
31
0
0
Portland, Oregon, USA
Visit site
I am cross posting this on purpose...

Beware of this scam on the internet - if you are looking for inexpensive metal halide - do not go here:

http://www.northernlightsgrowroom.com


It should be apparent that it is a questionable small business - but I found this on file with the better business bureau with respect to the company....

(I hate to admit that I've been a sucker - but I'm doing this for the greater good! You can add another victim to the complaints below)

The guy is very nice and seemingly interested, knowledgeable, and is undoubtedly (I'm speculating here) lying about the size of the company. He made it sound larger than I think it is.

When I try to follow up - there is a busy signal for most all of the business day...

Northern Lights - as I understand (unbeknownst to me at the time) is a type of marijuana seed - so I guess you know where this guy is coming from...


SEE THE FOLLOWING REPORT:


BBB Reliability Report



Northern Lights
3535 Central Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46205


General Information

Phone Number: (317) 921-9976
Type-of-Business Classification: Lighting Fixtures-Retail

The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.


Customer Experience

Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau due to unanswered complaints.
When evaluating complaint information, please consider the company's size and volume of business. The number of complaints filed against the company may not be as important as the type of complaints and how the company handled them.

Closed Complaints
Number of complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's BBB file was opened in October of 2001: 9
Number of complaints processed by the BBB in last 12 months: 5


Complaints Concerned
Sales Issues: 2
Outcome of all complaints -
Company did not respond: 2

Delivery Issues: 5
Outcome of all complaints -
Resolved: 2; Company did not respond: 3

Customer Service Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Unpursuable: 1

Credit or Billing Issues: 1
Outcome of the complaint -
Company did not respond: 1




Additional File Information

The Bureau has requested basic information from this company. The Bureau has not received a response. Without this information, the Bureau may not have current information concerning such things as the company's management or its nature of business.

Report as of 02/03/2004
Copyright 2004 Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana Inc.

As a matter of policy, the Better Business Bureau does not endorse any product, service or company. BBB reports generally cover a three-year reporting period, and are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information contained herein is believed reliable but not guaranteed as to accuracy. Reports are subject to change at any time.

The Better Business Bureau reports on members and non-members. Membership in the BBB is voluntary, and members must meet and maintain BBB standards. If a company is a member of this BBB, it is stated in this report.



(I guess my signature has renewed meaning here! Argh)
 
Last edited:
Exactly, the appearance is that it might be just a small business who doesn't focus on the website so much as what he is producing. I have had good experience with small businesses in the past. This guy is up to something... at first he is helpful. Then he doesn't return your call....next you are out $$$. I lost $157.00 with no reflector unit or ballast anywhere to be found.

I suspect that a credit card company won't deal with him because he is illegitimate and has an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau. Or maybe they know something else that we don't about him.
 
Pretty crazy to run an online business without taking credit cards.
That alone should be an alarm.

I once bought a new computor from a guy operating out of his house. Seemed very knowledgable and trustworthy. He asked only for the down payment to order the computor. So to get my computor a week sooner I suggested to pay in full and have it shipped direct to me.(OH he had a live one). I waited 3 weeks before I called first wondering where it was, and always got a story, coming in a few days or something. That went on for 3 months before I reported it to the police. I didn't know at the time but the guy racked up 20,000 in fraudulencies. I got a letters about him that he is being tried , then after the trial he was ordered to pay restitution to everyone he screwed. But I never seen my money. I can now take him to small claims court.
But I think I will never see the money anyway, hmmmm.
 
Kurt - sorry to here about that. I just think people should stick together to keep this stuff at bay.

Well I do have a bit of an update. I finally received the reflector and ballast -- it was sent fedex ground. (After I reported this incident to the better business bureau and asked for a refund)

The original order date according to the very generic order form enclosed in the box that had some really dirty styrofoam pieces in it - was 1/2/04. Here it is 2/13/04. The fedex was sent out on 2/9/04. Many weeks later from the original supposedly USPS package. (I'll let you know if it ever gets here!)

The product is very home-made looking and does not exactly inspire confidence. It does - to his credit WORK though. Of course it is not UL listed on the actual box... I don't know about the "guts". Some of the wires swivel in a way that look like they are not screwed in properly and I don't think they are supposed to...

Much of it looks like it was done in a guy's metal shop as a hobby-The aluminum on the ballast is quite marred on one side.

I am glad he made good? on this deal - but it was overall a very unsatisfactory experience. I would not recommend this to anyone --especially with metal halide considering the potential hazards that go with these bulbs.

(I'll keep you posted)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom