AI Prime Experience

[reefmandan]

Hey guys, I just wanted to share a recent experience I had with my AI Prime and dealing with AI in the US.

I bought a Prime for my Fluval Edge tank last April. Within a month or two, the fan started having these strange wind-up noises, something that would happen anytime the light was even just lightly tapped, and sometimes for no reason at all. I spoke to my equipment supplier, and he arranged to send a new fan out to me. I went to install the fan, and surprisingly it didn't fit. He apologized and immediately sent out another fan. The fan didn't fit again, and so he shipped me a replacement light right away. Thanks again for that!

Well, after a few months, the fan started making that familiar noise, and after about a month, the whole light died on me (of course while I was out of town for three weeks). Fortunately I have another tank, so my tank-sitter was able to move all my coral over. I got in touch with AI, and hoped that they would support the warranty, based on the second light. They did not, which I expected, and that's all fine. They offered to replace the light at $100, which I accepted, on the basis that there was "water damage" inside the light. I was extremely surprised to hear this, as where the light sits, it would be nearly impossible for this to happen. When I called AI, they said it was a tiny amount of water damage on the driver board inside the unit that could have been caused by excess moisture in the air. WTF?!?! I figured these lights would have been tested against this, as they SIT ABOVE A BOX OF WATER! I don't think they would falsify their findings, so I had no choice to pay my $100, which I did, and ended up being converted to $133CAD. Jeez. I finally received the light today, and the courier was expecting a customs payment of $45. Man-o-man.

Anyway, just wanted to share my experience with everyone, and see what you guys think/what I should do moving forward.