Reptisun 10.0 wrong from the get go

[IROCthisZ28]

So I just kind of wanted to vent a little, as I pretty much just threw away $30 on a bulb. I ordered a Reptisun 10.0 from a seller on eBay, and was very excited to finally get a good bulb for my dragon. It arrives to me and I eagerly rip open the box and take it out. One end of the bulb was slightly crooked for lack of a better description. I thought this was odd, and contacted the seller and told them the issue. They said pack it back and return it and they will send me another one. Okay fine, I pack it and get it ready to go.
Next morning I go to check on my dragon, and the old bulb is burned out. Which was expected, hence why I ordered the new one, only now I'm in a jam because I have to send it back. I decide to unpack it, and put it in so there'd be something until I can find a new one locally. The bulb flickers quite a bit, and finally lights, but seems not as bright as it should be. Now I'm late for work, so I say whatever and just leave. I get forced to picking up a reptiglo 10.0 and decide I'll return it after my new Reptisun arrives. I go home to exchange them, now the crooked Reptisun is burnt out. >:€ So now I can't even return that. I go to put in the reptiglo and it starts flickering and taking forever to come on, which it eventually does. Which means the ballast is taking a crap if I'm not mistaken. So I decided to order a whole new fixture and bulb, contacted a really good store which pointed me towards the new T5 bulbs and fixtures they have in stock. So that is what I will be swapping to and wanted to say if you haven't already, check your local shops to see if they have these now

 

[XiDiS]

Im sorry you had such a bad go around with the ReptiSun light. Its not the 'wrong' light though. It works great. And is highly recommended because it gives the proper UVB wavelength. In your case it sounds like yes you got a damaged bulb (ebay is a horrible place to buy from) and your ballast has issues. If your ballast was an older model it was probably a magnetic ballast... which does take a good 10 seconds to click on and get the light working. The new T5 you bought (or are getting) is probably an electronic ballast which is better for sure.

 

[IROCthisZ28]

Yeah sorry for the long rant. Kind of upset I pretty much threw away the money on that bulb. Not that its a bad product, that wasn't my intention. Just bad luck on my end. I also upgraded the length of the bulb besides just getting another one. Am going from a 24" T8 to the 36" T5. I didn't know the T5 was sold here in the States besides online. Should be good also when I transfer it to her new set up. Building custom viv that's 4'x2.5'x2'. Going the Styrofoam/grout direction with plenty of fake succulents and cacti.