LETS Have a Talk About PIAA
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From: Seattle, Washington, US
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LETS Have a Talk About PIAA screwing people
I did a review on their Xtreme white bulbs, and I endorsed them myself. Now here is what really PISSES ME OFF
I bought these things about 9 months ago....and AT THE TIME their website specifically stated that there is a ONE YEAR warranty on the BULBS and a LIFETIME warranty on their lamps! The passenger side low beam went out today. I ade a call to the place where I bought them to arrange a return and this oriental lady gets into a screaming match with me on the phone saying that they are only warrantied for 90 days....and it turns out she was right. BUT I bought them when they had the 1 year warranty on them, 9 months ago. Hell, there areolder sites still out there that have PIAAs older warranty STATING that bulbs get a one year warranty.
NOW...it appears that PIAA has changed their tune. Its now a 90 day warranty on their bulbs. SO guess what....for those of us who bought the headlights under the 1 year....we are FU$%ED. I tried to explain that the 1 year still applies to me because of the date when I bought them, and TSR MOTORSPORTS IS NOT going to honor that. SO FU## them too.
70 bucks for a set of bulbs that only have 3 months of warranty behind them is NOT worth the motherfuc%in money! And this is the last time I do buisiness with TSR Motorsports in Bellevue, WA.
People need to know that PIAA made some changes.....so can a mod put a sticky on this one please? I had the Xtreme whites which were nice, but now I need a lower cost alternative, so suggestions would be good.
UPDATE:
Here is the email I received from PIAA:
We can take care of your warranty for you. Just send us back the defective product along with a description of the problem and your return address. Also include a copy of the sales receipt if you have it.
Send to:
PIAA Warranty
Attn: Jason
15370 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, OR 97006
Thank you,
PIAA Service
Since I was so quick to bash them, I thought it was only fair to post their response. Luckily, I kept my stock H4s, so i can put those in while I wait for the replacements. Basically, the people who sold me the lights in the first place are not willing to take them back despite the fact that PIAA is willing to pay for shipping. TSR Motorsports should be more interested in keeping their customers.
I bought these things about 9 months ago....and AT THE TIME their website specifically stated that there is a ONE YEAR warranty on the BULBS and a LIFETIME warranty on their lamps! The passenger side low beam went out today. I ade a call to the place where I bought them to arrange a return and this oriental lady gets into a screaming match with me on the phone saying that they are only warrantied for 90 days....and it turns out she was right. BUT I bought them when they had the 1 year warranty on them, 9 months ago. Hell, there areolder sites still out there that have PIAAs older warranty STATING that bulbs get a one year warranty.
NOW...it appears that PIAA has changed their tune. Its now a 90 day warranty on their bulbs. SO guess what....for those of us who bought the headlights under the 1 year....we are FU$%ED. I tried to explain that the 1 year still applies to me because of the date when I bought them, and TSR MOTORSPORTS IS NOT going to honor that. SO FU## them too.
70 bucks for a set of bulbs that only have 3 months of warranty behind them is NOT worth the motherfuc%in money! And this is the last time I do buisiness with TSR Motorsports in Bellevue, WA.
People need to know that PIAA made some changes.....so can a mod put a sticky on this one please? I had the Xtreme whites which were nice, but now I need a lower cost alternative, so suggestions would be good.
UPDATE:
Here is the email I received from PIAA:
We can take care of your warranty for you. Just send us back the defective product along with a description of the problem and your return address. Also include a copy of the sales receipt if you have it.
Send to:
PIAA Warranty
Attn: Jason
15370 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, OR 97006
Thank you,
PIAA Service
Since I was so quick to bash them, I thought it was only fair to post their response. Luckily, I kept my stock H4s, so i can put those in while I wait for the replacements. Basically, the people who sold me the lights in the first place are not willing to take them back despite the fact that PIAA is willing to pay for shipping. TSR Motorsports should be more interested in keeping their customers.
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From: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Rep Power: 0 Thanks for the update man, I have been thinking about getting a set cause they are susposed to be the best, but if this is the new policy then the hell with that, I will buy a case of the real cheap ones and just replace them as they burn out for the price of the Piaa's.
the hiper industries bulbs have worked well for me..
i got them here at www.importtrenz.com
i have been completely satisfied with them and they are much cheaper then those PIAA ones..
i got them here at www.importtrenz.com
i have been completely satisfied with them and they are much cheaper then those PIAA ones..
also try Groupbuycenter , they have many bulbs like piaa on sale there and pretty cheap too.
prolly many ppl have their bulbs burn out in one year thats why they decide to change that policy
prolly many ppl have their bulbs burn out in one year thats why they decide to change that policy
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From: Anaheim, California, US
Rep Power: 0 We sell the Hiper Brand headlight bulbs, with a 90 day warranty also 
But they are significantly less costly than the PIAA's, I also have had a set of HIPER's for 4 months and they are still going, just no more car to put it in hehe. But yeh, if you are interested, we have the Plazma's for $25 shipped, and the Super Ultra Plazma's for $35. Hit me up an email if you are interested.
Jun@RoadRageAutosport.com
But they are significantly less costly than the PIAA's, I also have had a set of HIPER's for 4 months and they are still going, just no more car to put it in hehe. But yeh, if you are interested, we have the Plazma's for $25 shipped, and the Super Ultra Plazma's for $35. Hit me up an email if you are interested. Jun@RoadRageAutosport.com
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From: , Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 0 I got my PIAAs replaced like 2 weeks ago by my dealer...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]
Maybe they didn't know about the new warranty...or maybe they're just [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/IMG]
Maybe they didn't know about the new warranty...or maybe they're just [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/IMG]
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From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Rep Power: 0 that sucks about the bulbs, especially considering the price and PIAA's previous reputation. i just got a pair of liteglow "xenon white" H4s at Target last week -- it was only $15 for the pair, so you might as well buy two sets "just in case" [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
seriously, for the money i don't think you can go wrong... though we'll have to see how long they last! i've had 'em 4 days now and they still work... [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] they have a nice WHITE-blue color (says the color temp is 4000 kelvins -- stock bulbs are about 3000K, and genuine HIDs are 6000K or more.)
i wouldn't be too harsh on TSR motorsports... they don't have any obligation to honor PIAA's warranty, that's PIAA's responsibility.
seriously, for the money i don't think you can go wrong... though we'll have to see how long they last! i've had 'em 4 days now and they still work... [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] they have a nice WHITE-blue color (says the color temp is 4000 kelvins -- stock bulbs are about 3000K, and genuine HIDs are 6000K or more.)
i wouldn't be too harsh on TSR motorsports... they don't have any obligation to honor PIAA's warranty, that's PIAA's responsibility.
Second Place is the First Loser
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From: San Antonio, Texas, US
Rep Power: 343 I had PIAA's but it was over a year before one finally blew out.... I guess i was lucky.....
But now i have
Polarg VIP Style H4's in my car....... they are a nice purple/white... like the PIAA Super Plazmas, only whiter and they don't have that yellow ring/line in the middle of the beam
But now i have
Polarg VIP Style H4's in my car....... they are a nice purple/white... like the PIAA Super Plazmas, only whiter and they don't have that yellow ring/line in the middle of the beam
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From: Salem,Oregon
Rep Power: 0 yeah I talked to that Jason guy at PIAA too and he told me to send them and they do have the 1 yr warranty still. I just got mine replaces the other day my parking lights burned out under 2 mths. But my dealer will still hook me up no matter what the issue my dad knows the people down there.
Nick
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Rep Power: 0 I wouldn't worry so much about the colour temperature, or Kelvins, because some HIDs come in only at 3800K. And come as high as claimed 12000K. Higher isn't better, in fact, our eyes react better to lowre temperature, like red & yellow (same reason why impotant street signs are in this colour).
I know I posted this in the past, but as far as PIAA goes, they don't perform as well as some brands out there. You do not have to stick to the "ricey" brands like Eurolite, Hyper Industries, RAZO, Raybrig etc... Try companies with proven BRIGHTER bulbs, like Philips and Sylvannia. They are lab proven to be brighter, and not dimmer like other brands. Even though most companies advertise "55w=85w", we know this is not possible. Because it is whiter, it "looks" brighter. As in, if you have a regular clear 85w bulb, it will give you that same colour.
The absolute best lightbulb is made by Philips. The best "blue/white" bulb in the market is Sylvannia SilverStar. This is based on their "Plus" series bulb, which has +30% performance compared to normal H4 bulbs. The blue dye does take away some light, and is rated at +20%. But that is 20% above and beyond your stock bulbs.
By the way, PIAAs were rated at -10%. Who knows what other bulbs are like in real performance.
I know I posted this in the past, but as far as PIAA goes, they don't perform as well as some brands out there. You do not have to stick to the "ricey" brands like Eurolite, Hyper Industries, RAZO, Raybrig etc... Try companies with proven BRIGHTER bulbs, like Philips and Sylvannia. They are lab proven to be brighter, and not dimmer like other brands. Even though most companies advertise "55w=85w", we know this is not possible. Because it is whiter, it "looks" brighter. As in, if you have a regular clear 85w bulb, it will give you that same colour.
The absolute best lightbulb is made by Philips. The best "blue/white" bulb in the market is Sylvannia SilverStar. This is based on their "Plus" series bulb, which has +30% performance compared to normal H4 bulbs. The blue dye does take away some light, and is rated at +20%. But that is 20% above and beyond your stock bulbs.
By the way, PIAAs were rated at -10%. Who knows what other bulbs are like in real performance.
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