"Area 51 LED" Information and discussion

I think they put out a good light but I'll spend my money elsewhere. Area-51 isn't the only game in town. Besides, I can grow better plants with a BlackStar than most people can with the latest and greatest. Someone will emerge to fill the customer service void. I've been researching Platinum LED. Not sure about the quality but the warranty and the customer support sure is top shelf. If you check out reviews on 420 you'll see what I mean. I also read earlier that Area 51 maybe going to Bridgelux. If that's the case, shit there's all kinds of lights that use Bridgelux. Don't need to be playing games to get a light like that.
 
BigEasy1 said:
I've been researching Platinum LED.
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Getting off topic: Platinum looks decent. What I don't like is that they seem to rip-off Advanced LED's brand and reputation. They use the same photos as Advanced. And, on Amazon they refer to the light as "Advanced Platinum Series."

That seems extremely sketchy. Different kind of "games?"
 
Yeah they're knock offs. Almost bought one before building COB fixtures.

Last I heard, Amazon was getting sued over the knock off brands making dough on Advance's reputation
 
Heavy Consumer said:
My friend, I accept completely your general point, which seems to be (unless I'm mistaken), Jeff has his quirks and you either like it or lump it. That's absolutely fair enough! Of course, every man is entitled to run his own business however he sees fit. Any other observations in your post are easily countered, but at the end of the day, your general point deals with everything!

As stated in my post, absolutely NO offense was intended, just making what I hope could be taken as a constructive observation and I don't want to piss the man off as I CAN see myself buying from him in the future. I was not aware that Jeff is a one man band. I myself have been running a business on my lonesome lately, so I am aware of how much of a balancing act it can be at times. However, admittedly, mine is a much simpler business model (service provider). If Jeff is dealing with every aspect from R+D to manufacturing/logistics/sales/customer care etc., I do not envy him! I can't help but wonder how it's even possible for 1 man to run that type of show without staff!!!
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AquariusPanta said:
I believe he has a few others that help him with his business.
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Jeff is the co-owner of Area 51 and their head engineer. They have a handful, or so, of employees.
 
Y
az2000 said:
Getting off topic: Platinum looks decent. What I don't like is that they seem to rip-off Advanced LED's brand and reputation. They use the same photos as Advanced. And, on Amazon they refer to the light as "Advanced Platinum Series."

That seems extremely sketchy. Different kind of "games?"
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Yea, I know. Seems like the whole LED market is sketchy. Check out a grow journal or two on 420 and read the replies from the owner of Platinum LED. Could be all bullshit but he puts more time in answering questions than anybody else I've seen selling lights. Haven't made my mind up for sure but I'm getting close to pulling the trigger.
 
cityworker415 said:
I was waiting for someone to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

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Only reason being there are so many different pre manufactured 3 & 5 watt LEDs with and without secondary optics what would really be new and groundbreaking other than going back to what I started the whole led Chinese thing?

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I couldn't agree more.QUOTE="Heavy Consumer, post: 11233624, member: 886964"]With a phone number listed, site navigation and/or payment issues can be resolved INSTANTLY! The fact that A51 refuse to publish a phone number is a turn-off for me. Can't state this strongly enough. I've not had any contact with A51 since 2 emails that were answered pretty quickly albeit not too warmly, a few months ago. That's fine, but not being able to call and ask a person a Q or feel confident that I would be able to do so post-purchase, is a hang-up of mine, because great value or not, I don't spend thousands of dollars on purchases everyday. I'm not THAT old and I'm online at least 12 hours out of the day on and off, but when it comes to resolving a customer's issue, there really is only one way to properly convince me I'm in good hands and I know a lot of other people want to hear a voice with a name too (no name given on email replies - what's with that? It's strange!). From reading this site and others and doing as much research that I as a lay person can pretty much, I'm 100% sold on A51's products. Tonnes of journals and documented customers and only praise, not 1 bad word to be found - that's good enough for me! That is the way I'd want to go if buying today, no-brainer IMO! But I'm not convinced they know how to deal with people and that would never enter my mind (as it pretty much never has with any other company, ever) if they put just a touch more effort into communication. For me, they don't need a fancy website with bells and whistles, but communication should be easier than it is IMHO. I wonder if a little thing like no phone number has cost them sales. This is purely meant as a constructive comment and I sincerely hope it's taken as such.[/QUOTE]
i
 
jeff's A51 phone would be ringing every 5 minutes from chinese salesmen. :fire:;)


aint nobody got time f'dat! :wall:
 
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[QUz2000, post: 11233742, member: 705789"]But then Jeff would have to staff someone at the phone during business hours. That would be an expense reflected in the price of his lights.
That's his point. The idea that if you don't like our customer service you can go elsewhere is rude, arrogant and counterproductive. Imagine Wal-Mart or Mercedes saying if you don't like it go to bmw. Absurd. And the small fee added to each panel to hire a secretary would be worth the added customer service. You don't think? Honestly from the scores of journals and satisfied customers I have no doubtthat a51 is ppossibly the best led on the market. Best bang for your buck. No disrespect to you or even Jeff but I'll have to agree with the aforementioned statement. Oh, for I'll be buying 2 or 3 a51 lights as soon as taxes fall through.
Don't say it could go to answering machine if Jeff & co are busy. Inevitably someone would complain that they call and nobody answers. This would be presented in context of some unresolved problem -- the unanswered phone being *proof* the customer is being jacked around.

Even if we accept that it's not a typical 9-5 phone number, then at best it could only be expected to be a "leave a msg, we'll call you back" phone number. That's basically what you have with email right now. Explain you're more comfortable talking on the phone and ask if they'll call you.

On a related note: With Jeff, he's like the "soup nazi" on Seinfeld. You get what you get. If you're not happy with the way he conducts business, I'm pretty sure he'd be the first to suggest you buy your light from a company that gives you a better feeling. Whether that's a good or bad strategy may be debatable. But, probably not with him. He'll just tell you to buy elsewhere. (I've seen it a coupe times.).

I'm just trying to save you some aggravation. If you want one of the best lights you can have from an apparently stand-up guy, buy one. If you're gonna get nervous about phone calls and the "warmth" of communications (i.e., stuff that doesn't matter), you probably want to look at other lights.[/QUOTE]
But thats
 
Thanks guys,I've seen so many threads go off the rails and would like to keep this one constructive. I think it's important a company that has a reputation for making a quality product is willing to take input from the LED community here on their light design.
 
Speaking of rails, does anyone remember playing that one tunnel level on Donkey Kong Country where you gotta hop from one spot over to the next while dodging the incoming crocs? Talk about some hardcore gaming!
 
Seriously? You don't apologize, and then post another off topic nonsense post. Irritating and immature, enough already.
Go post that in the other nonsense forums, they do have them.
 
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