Nextgen ballast warranty issues!!!

Hello RIU community, I want to make everyone here aware of NEXTGEN BALLAST warranty. Cap Automated Products, also known as CAP sells NEXTGEN ballast and they claim to have a 5 year warranty (3 year 100%, 2 year prorated.) This is one of CAPs biggest selling points on their electronic ballast, and the main reason I went with NEXTGEN. Six months after buying (3) of their 1000 watt ballasts @$299.00 each, I had one quit working. Just up and stopped working. After returning the ballast to cap they determined the ballast was, and I quote "fried". Wow, 6 months of 12/12 and a $300.00 ballast is fried? Anyway, I was told by the original vendor, PLANT LIGHTING HYDROPONICs.com, a.k.a Alladins Lights, that if determined defective CAP would send me a new ballast. When I received the "new" ballast it was not new. It was refurbished. I have included pictures of the warranty that C.A.P sent me, along with other pictures of the well warn, refurbished piece of junk.

MY theory is this: When I originally bought this ballast, and received it, it looked warn then. I called PLH and they said that it was new. The manager said that they do not sell used or refurbished equipment. I disagree! I believe that http://plantlightinghydroponics.com is selling refurbished grow equipment at regular retail prices. I also believe that C.A.P also known ashttp://randmsupply.com is conspiring with them. When I called a C.A.P representative she reiterated what the rep. at PLH said about the warranty; which was, if a ballast breaks withing 90 days of purchase they will return with a new ballast. But if it happens to be past 90 days then C.A.P will replace with a refurbished unit. I have included pictures of C.A.P's warranty. I spent over $3000.00 with them. All of the ballasts looked used. Also, a CO2 monitor ($299.00), that never would register CO2 levels. People, we all know what equipment looks like when it rolls off the manufacturing plants floor. It's well packed and flawless. The items i'm referring to were not. They were obviously used. The ballast even had scratches on the mounting slots, just like in the pics i have posted. Yes, I am a picky bastard, When I buy (3) new ballast @ $299.00 each, I expect them to be unused, and free of blemish and issues. If you look at PLH website check out there prices. They are excellent. Way cheaper than anyone else. How can they do this? Look at the prices on their 1000 watt hortilux hps bulbs. My local shop sells these bulbs for $119.00 (expensive i know), PLH sells for $69.00. WTF?

I am not looking to start a huge discussion here. I just want to make indoor growers aware of some of the companies out there that have poor business practices. Fortunatley for me, I can and have moved on. But some people just can't afford to take a hit like this.

Google "nextgen ballast problems" if you are thinking about buying one of these. I didn't!

This is why I try to not buy my essentials online. If I get ripped off, I want to know the face of the guy who did it. Sadly enough digital ballasts are famous for shitting out no matter what the brand, which is why a lot of hydro shops will try to sell you off of them. I went with Lumateks and they've been working fine, except for the fact I had to re-wire the bulb socket.

Well I run NEXTGEN Ballasts. But i bought from a local guy. He warranty's everything in house.
If it does die or something go wrong, bring it in. He will give you a new one and deal with the warranty replacement himself.
So that is the story he told me. So far they are running great. But I run 400w units, not 1000w.
I don't think i would ever buy something like a ballast from an online dealer.

I do understand your frustrations and the reason you bought online. That is a lot of cash.

I have bought almost all of my grow room equipment from PLH, including 2 1000W ballasts, a 400W and 600W ballast(all Nextgen), hoods, timers, vortex fans, a dehumidifier, and many things I can't remember They have some of the best prices I have been able to find, and all of the products I have recieved were new and worked great. I doubt that PLH is selling used or refurbished equipment, claiming it is new. Too many people would catch on and they would be bombarded with lawsuits. Not to say it doesn't happen, but atleast in my experience that was not the case.
I have also read many threads by others using a variety of brands, stating that what they got was crap. It seems that every company has problems to work out with their products, and the consumer sometimes recieves those defected products. I have been using my nextgen ballasts I recieved from PLH for a couple years without problems, but others may only use it for a day and it goes to crap. I wouldn't blame that on PLH or CAP, but I would expect them to be held liable for those products. I am sorry for your badluck though dude.

Thanks for the comments. Just know that you will be getting a refurbished unit if your ballast goes out, if 90 days past purchase. Cap told me that this is their company policy, even though their warranty card says nothing replacing with refurbished. Their warranty is very misleading.

Dude I to bought lots of equipment from PLH. They are shady.

bump dat shyt homie