Interesting Solaris Info

Oops!

Oops!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14296987#post14296987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jade2122
Ok everyone. Take a step back and just listen. It does no good to any company to have a thread just meant to bash them. Something that negative shouldn't be put on here. I deal with PFO almost on an every other day basis. I am a manager for a LFS that sells on average 1 or 2 solaris lights a week. PFO is not going out of business. With the economy being the way that it is most companys are having to make cutbacks on employees and such. PFO is no different. They have had to cut back employees on every level and it is making it harder for everyone who is left to keep up with customers calls, emails, etc. Put yourself in the same situation to one person having the responsibility of all the people that are no longer working there. Every product is going to have issues with some percentage of their equipment, there is no piece of equipment with 100% perfect operation for every single piece sold. I know of many many many many people that have Solaris lights and have had no one with issues. Yes I do agree that the lights that were made in China are not as good quality as the ones now made in USA. That is why they stopped production out of China. I really just hate seeing threads like this where the few people who have had issues with a product/company try to directly affect that companies business. I can guarantee you if you start a thread for those happy with their solaris light and customer service from PFO there would be a phenominal response.
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We're still waiting for that throng of folks (phenominal response) to tell us how happy they are with the lights and the customer service.

There are more than a "few" folks who have had problems with the units. Most of the LFS in our area won't even handle them any longer. They are cute toys, but can't stand up in the long run...

You sell 1-2 Solaris units a week, and have no problems with your customers? Wow. That's an incredible record.

Sad thing is when the lawsuits for breach of warranty start, the dealers get sued as well... it's called "stream of commerce"... Good luck with that.

JMHO.

LL
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14309298#post14309298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by robert bell
just read in another thread they are getting sued by bigger company. True??
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Reading all of this crap about Solaris and PFO is making me sick to my stomach. I bought a 72" I4 in August 2007. It was very expensive! Yes I had problems with the control board. And yes I have had more than my share of LEDs burn out. I wasn't too worried though because customer service has been excellent. If PFO goes belly up, how am I going to keep this fixture running?
 
nd dude if you talk to them all the time and sell a couple of units a week then i wold watch my back, cause if you had sold me one, and i couldnt get it fixxed under the garnetee then i would be hunting for you!! jmo but i would be thinking about a bullet proof vest if thats the case :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14312247#post14312247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ncastro1981
nd dude if you talk to them all the time and sell a couple of units a week then i wold watch my back, cause if you had sold me one, and i couldnt get it fixxed under the garnetee then i would be hunting for you!! jmo but i would be thinking about a bullet proof vest if thats the case :)
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Dude, what's up with this post? IMO this is totally uncalled for and just plain wrong. Be constructive, add to the info in the thread, and keep the thinly-veiled threats to yourself. Putting a smiley face at the end does not excuse you from what you wrote.
 
Now I know why my calls haven't been returned. Any ideas on how I could have a solaris computer worked on?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14312640#post14312640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roblack
Now I know why my calls haven't been returned. Any ideas on how I could have a solaris computer worked on?
Click to expand...

I bet it runs Vista.....:rollface:

Well, looking at the documents, it seems like PFO doesnt have a chance....

Anyone who has a solaris needs to protect themselves.....ASAP
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14296987#post14296987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jade2122
Ok everyone. Take a step back and just listen. It does no good to any company to have a thread just meant to bash them. Something that negative shouldn't be put on here. I deal with PFO almost on an every other day basis. I am a manager for a LFS that sells on average 1 or 2 solaris lights a week. PFO is not going out of business. With the economy being the way that it is most companys are having to make cutbacks on employees and such. PFO is no different. They have had to cut back employees on every level and it is making it harder for everyone who is left to keep up with customers calls, emails, etc. Put yourself in the same situation to one person having the responsibility of all the people that are no longer working there. Every product is going to have issues with some percentage of their equipment, there is no piece of equipment with 100% perfect operation for every single piece sold. I know of many many many many people that have Solaris lights and have had no one with issues. Yes I do agree that the lights that were made in China are not as good quality as the ones now made in USA. That is why they stopped production out of China. I really just hate seeing threads like this where the few people who have had issues with a product/company try to directly affect that companies business. I can guarantee you if you start a thread for those happy with their solaris light and customer service from PFO there would be a phenominal response.
Click to expand...

Did you know about the legal issues???

As for people who have had no problems and their tank is looking good with the solaris......show me just one....just one.

The reason we are so harsh is because PFO pushed a known bad product into market. We all spent good money and trusted PFO did their homework. I was lied to and pushed in every direction but the correct one.....not untill I threatened with legal action did they make it right. So please excuse those of us that have had real interactions with PFO. As a retailer you have a different view.
 
Lawsuit or not, I still think it is pretty poor form on PFO's part. I would have thought that they would have at least issued a statement to there customers regarding their situation and not just vanish into thin air like they have. I am one of many that is being directly effected by this lawsuit. A power supply on my I4 went out two weeks ago and I've had to shell out another $800 for a new ATI Powermodule which by the way I can't wait to get on Monday and do away with the Solaris for good. I've had nothing but trouble with it in the last few months and I've never been able to grow good looking SPS under it. The Solaris is not a cheap item and I feel sorry for other that are in my situation.
 
Hey Buck, how do you propose I "protect" myself? Magnums? All into that sort of thing!

Here is a 2008 pic of my tank running on very blue Solaris H4 light. Not sure about the divine intervention, may have someone on my side. :D Mixed reef, hard to see everything but I have a PM acro and PL acro growing on top next to the huge stag. Colors of corals started off being good, but dimmed over time. Seemed to like the decrease in light initially. Had some other tank issues that have been resolved, so not completely sure how they would've looked otherwise. Back to MH, will post updated pic when get chance to snap a good one.
Solarisa.jpg
 
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Looking over the lawsuit and patent (not a lawyer though) it looks like orbitec filed for the patent in 2004 and it was granted in 2007. The patent is very broad, basically any LED illumination system over a marine environment that can produce growth.

When did PFO start selling the Solaris? It seems that the patent is almost absurdly broad (maybe I can get a patent for using a photon generating device over a container of water?), but if PFO did know about it, they may have knowingly infringed.

Looking at Orbitec's site, there is a message (dated 2-4-09) about the litigation stating that they do intend to produce aquarium LED fixtures in the near future (and a link to a website with more info on the purported future fixtures). True? Who knows. There is a mailto link in the message for feedback though, so anyone who is interested can share their thoughts with Orbitec.

The president of the company claims to be a passionate aquarium enthusiast, so maybe some thoughtful comments and questions (NOT flames) about what they are doing and why would initiate a conversation with him. This might lead him to see a broader picture than simply his own potential profits reaped by such a patent, and instead convince him to allow others to continue innovating in the LED space without fear of litigation. Can't hurt to try. He should be able to see the benefits of *fair* competition in this space, and if they are producing a quality product they should have little to fear from a company plagued by equipment failure.

Failing this, it might be a good idea to remember the company and vote with our wallets when and if the fixtures do come out. I can certainly understand protecting one's original, innovative ideas, but using LEDs over aquariums is a no-brainer to try, and in my opinion attempting such a patent is abusing the system for profit.
 
Definitely not a lawyer either, but I believe the first entity to utilize a new technology or product in actual commerce possesses more rights, especially if a patent or copyright was not yet granted to any other entity at the time said product was developed and marketed. Now I sound like an attorney. Battling this out in court is a whole other issue. Not always a fair fight, even if you are right. Don't see how anyone could have such a broad patent. Could only 1 company make MH lights for years? Seems like any company should be able to make whatever they want as long as they do it a little differently. How does anybody own ALL use of leds within any sector. It should only be their specific light design that is patented. Un-American, at least what America used to stand for.
 
This will affect every single company that puts an LED in their light. No more Moon lights on MH units etc. Lets hope PFO can weather the storm but looks like Orcitec just wants to crush them. PFO was at shows as recent as 3-4 weeks back and I don't think they saw this coming. I hope they win and in turn colllect a lot of money from Orbitec over this suit. For those that had issues with the Solaris and I guess about 20% did of what I sold we can only hope they get back on their feet to start repairing them again(and it was usually a very issue free exchange. I know at least one basher claiming a lot of issues modified the light when he had his issues. Any advance complex product will have issues, look at computers, millions are spent for support on most every computer product..................Even Mac for those smart allics hehe
 
Also for all those that have solaris call your congressman, Orbitec likely gets lots of government funding via Nasa............I would like to know why they are allowed to use it for suing the little guy...
 
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David vs. David?

David vs. David?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14339663#post14339663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SWSaltwater
Also for all those that have solaris call your congressman and senetors, Orbitec likely gets lots of government funding via Nasa............I would like to know why they are allowed to use it for suing the little guy...
Click to expand...

I don't understand why Orbitec is being characterized as a "big guy" - for crying out loud, they are a U.S.A. company with 70 employees...and they were smart enough to get a patent on an idea. So what's the beef?

Who screwed up here? It doesn't sound like Orbitec made the mistakes...

JMHO.

LL
 
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