"I have nothing but praise for these guys. I have purchased a lighting kit, and single light, green screen kit and replacement light bulbs over the last 3 years. I found their customer service very responsive. When my fresnel lens cracked, they replaced it. When one of the bulbs I ordered arrived broken, they replaced it - both within a week (I'm on the East coast)."
"I wrote this for a forum. Original thread can be found here: http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=27422
Alright so I bought some lights from imagewest.tv and I have been meaning to put up a video review, but I have been busy. I saw this thread http://hv20.com/showthread.php?t=30341 and thought I should say something before their reputation is ruined.
I got the Arr-rip 650watt and 800watt soft box set. The two lights come with 2 sets of barn doors two light stands and one soft box for the blu line 'flood' light, and carrying cases. I call it a flood even though they call it an "open faced Fresnel." The flood does have a focus knob so it can be widened and narrowed. I have used my set a bunch of times and I love it. It is by far way cheaper than any other place I found online. You get everything you need and are not charged for stands and such. An Arri light stand is 120$ plus- so the fact that you get so much is a huge help to some one putting a light kit together.
I decided to go with imagewest because of the price- that, and I called the company three times before I bought. I talked with a guy named Anthony and every one was extremely helpful. I was worried about the build quality of the 800watt flood since it was not an Arri-rip, Anthony said that if I did not like the flood I could send it back and use it toward another arri-rip. So after some deliberation I ordered.
Lights came and every thing worked out, they forgot one of the cases but they sent it to me after I called. The cases are just duffel bags, not hard cases.
The poles in the soft box were to tight so I had to file them down to go easily into the base, I called them about it and they sent me another set of poles, so now I have replacement parts. The 650 watt light was smoking when I first got it, but that is pretty normal, there is some manufacturing grease that burns off. There was a metal grid on the front of the 650w that had a coating on it that was burning so I just took it off.
I will show every thing in a video review. I love the lights and would get more if I needed but for now the are working great. I have shot a commercial and 4 interviews with them, beat them up and drove over 1000 miles with them rattling in my car, and I have not even had a bulb go yet.
One thing that was outstanding about imagewest was there costumer service. They answer the phone, no automation, and the listen to your problem and try to solve it.
I was really impressed."
"Do not buy anything from this company the are a fraudulent. I tried to buy a $565.00 lighting system from them on Tuesday and they where closed for the entire week the day I placed my order online. The next Monday I called the company to check on the status of my order and they said the lights are out of stock for 1 month but they can send the lamps. They said they would call me the next day to adjust the price. They called me on Tuesday to tell me they would take off $100.00. But the total on the lights are $264.00. for 12 of them at $22.00 each. So they tried to rip me off by $164.00. I told them to cancel my order. Now they are telling me they only cancel orders every other week. Do not buy anything from these people. I have reported them to the BBB. "
"Purchased a light kit from these guys last summer. It was made cheap as are all of the products they sell. When a part broke I called to get it replaced and was told the part is not available and I had to buy a whole new lamp. I called the manufacturer who sold me the part for $3. That's the kind of people they are."