viaqua titanium heaters

Shane Kennedy · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

after recently seeing the photos & reading the description for viaquas heaters
i ordered 2 of them
the photo showed a nice polished sleek looking titanium rod
http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/VA150TH.html
the heaters i received were a unpolished dull grey color w/ black end caps
i sure they work fine
but when i order something from a photo that visually pleasing
i expect to receive what i saw
i'm building a show aquarium & would like attractive components
i wouldn't call this bait & switch
but it is a rather sleazy way of doing business

just had to vent
haven't decided yet whether to return them

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>misc

Donald Kerns · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 191

Shane Kennedy wrote:

> after recently seeing the photos & reading the description for viaquas
> heaters i ordered 2 of them
> the photo showed a nice polished sleek looking titanium rod
> http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/VA150TH.html
> the heaters i received were a unpolished dull grey color w/ black end
> caps i sure they work fine
> but when i order something from a photo that visually pleasing
> i expect to receive what i saw

Hum...

You say these folks used to write software in Seatle?

-D
--
"When you've lost your ability to laugh, you've lost your ability to
think straight." -To Inherit the Wind

NetMax · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 56

"Shane Kennedy" wrote in message@posting.google.com...
> after recently seeing the photos & reading the description for viaquas
heaters
> i ordered 2 of them
> the photo showed a nice polished sleek looking titanium rod
> http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/VA150TH.html
> the heaters i received were a unpolished dull grey color w/ black end
caps
> i sure they work fine
> but when i order something from a photo that visually pleasing
> i expect to receive what i saw
> i'm building a show aquarium & would like attractive components
> i wouldn't call this bait & switch
> but it is a rather sleazy way of doing business
>
> just had to vent
> haven't decided yet whether to return them

Don't you hate it when that happens. Has anyone ever unwrapped a fast
food burger which looked anything like their pictures? Contact the
manufacturer and ask them about it. They might have a recommendation to
improve it's finish. If it was me, I'd try using a bit of rubbing
compound to give it a reflective sheen. Brasso (brass/silver polish)
might work as well, but it might be a bit more difficult to remove the
residue. The manufacturer should know if it polishes easily (if at all).

NetMax

coelacanth · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 6

I used to work for a scientific instrumentation company
and I was always amazed what the advertising/marketing
people would do to make our products look "cool". I'm
talking vaseline, glycerin, water mists, gauze--it was
like shooting a porn movie. The picture of your heater
probably represents some "enhancement" done by the
PR staff. It might be amusing to call the company and
see what they have to say.

-coelacanth

"Shane Kennedy" wrote in message@posting.google.com...
> after recently seeing the photos & reading the description for viaquas heaters
> i ordered 2 of them
> the photo showed a nice polished sleek looking titanium rod
> http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/VA150TH.html
> the heaters i received were a unpolished dull grey color w/ black end caps
> i sure they work fine
> but when i order something from a photo that visually pleasing
> i expect to receive what i saw
> i'm building a show aquarium & would like attractive components
> i wouldn't call this bait & switch
> but it is a rather sleazy way of doing business
>
> just had to vent
> haven't decided yet whether to return them

Buckaroo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

Titanium is a dull grey.

What they show in the picture is NOT titanium...probably aluminum.

"Shane Kennedy" wrote in message@posting.google.com...
> after recently seeing the photos & reading the description for viaquas
heaters
> i ordered 2 of them
> the photo showed a nice polished sleek looking titanium rod
> http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/VA150TH.html
> the heaters i received were a unpolished dull grey color w/ black end caps
> i sure they work fine
> but when i order something from a photo that visually pleasing
> i expect to receive what i saw
> i'm building a show aquarium & would like attractive components
> i wouldn't call this bait & switch
> but it is a rather sleazy way of doing business
>
> just had to vent
> haven't decided yet whether to return them

Buckaroo · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

Buckaroo wrote:
> Titanium is a dull grey.
>
> What they show in the picture is NOT titanium...probably aluminum.

Oh...the caption is very clear....the probe is stainless steel....

Jak Crow · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

On 2 Jul 2003 06:48:19 -0700, shanekennedy00@netscape.net (Shane
Kennedy) wrote:

>after recently seeing the photos & reading the description for viaquas heaters
>i ordered 2 of them
>the photo showed a nice polished sleek looking titanium rod
>http://www.wcaquatics.com/cgi-bin/items/VA150TH.html
>the heaters i received were a unpolished dull grey color w/ black end caps
>i sure they work fine
>but when i order something from a photo that visually pleasing
>i expect to receive what i saw
>i'm building a show aquarium & would like attractive components
>i wouldn't call this bait & switch
>but it is a rather sleazy way of doing business
>
>just had to vent
>haven't decided yet whether to return them

You got the titanium version. The picture shows the stainless steel
version. I'd keep the titanium one. It's probably the more expensive
unit.