ETC - So Simple It Hurts

[MNicolai]

ETC makes my life so simple that it hurts -- honest to goodness, it really does. I had a problem with a clutch knob and ended up fighting to get that part replaced. First the local theatrical supply store sent us the wrong part, then they sent us the right part, the knob, but it turned out it wasn't the knob that had poor threading, it was the bolt. So then I got desperate, went to the local hardware store, and bought the correct bolt, and it worked. Now, 5-6 months later, I'm in the hardware store again, and lo-and-behold, they sell not only the bolt, but the exact same threaded knob you would find on the yoke of a S4.

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I was so discouraged and disgruntled at that point I couldn't even speak. Really. I mean, you'd think somewhere along the line there would be a special part you'd have to order specifically as a replacement, but NOOOO, ETC doesn't want to make it not simple enough, so they make it so simple that even the parts you wouldn't expect to be able to find in your hardware store, are actually there.

ST, you think so hard at ETC that it actually creates more problems if owners of S4's take the time to think. You have no idea how discouraging this is. Thanks to you, I have to stop thinking. I might become as intelligent as a door jamb because you did all of the thinking for me.

Here's a very sarcastically sarcastic cheers to you.

[ishboo]

This just made me crack up, it may be the lack of sleep but I really enjoyed that!

[derekleffew]

MNicolai, you're too young to know of the leading lighting manufacturer of the time whose fixtures were next to impossible to obtain parts for, even though they were current fixtures. The manufacturer had, I believe, a $1000 minimum order on parts (when gas was <$1), so unless you needed 500 bolts or knobs, the dealers could not afford to get them for you. It may still be that way, I'm not sure. Not a promising sign--I can't find a parts list or exploded diagram on their website.

[SteveB]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

MNicolai, you're too young to know of the leading lighting manufacturer of the time whose fixtures were next to impossible to obtain parts for, even though they were current fixtures. The manufacturer had, I believe, a $1000 minimum order on parts (when gas was <$1), so unless you needed 500 bolts or knobs, the dealers could not afford to get them for you. It may still be that way, I'm not sure. Not a promising sign--I can't find a parts list or exploded diagram on their website.

Oh Come On, Derrick, if gas was $1 per gallon, it's such ANCIENT history that anybody involved has moved on !. You can name the company and I for one, am curious.

Steve B.

[derekleffew]

Things may or may not have changed since 1985, but still, not gonna say it.

[TimMiller]

A bolt is a bolt and a nut is a nut. A manufacturer is not going to go out and find someone to custom make them a bolt for an instrument. Its not pratical or cost effective. Sometimes you will come across a weird one that takes a little research to find, but it can be obtained. I have local sources where i can usually get anything hardware i need for any light without going back to the manufacturer. Most repair shops know these tricks, and it makes things much easier. Yet we usually still charge around a buck for a bolt, because of the time invested with finding it along with someone driving out to pick them up.

[IlyaSmirnov]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Things may or may not have changed since 1985, but still, not gonna say it.

Wow, that's a hard logo to find... pretty old, they've totally rebranded their online presence, at least.

[gafftaper]

Hey MNicolai, echoing a common theme from another thread. Before you went through all this pain did you try calling ETC tech support to order the part?

Originally Posted by IlyaSmirnov

Wow, that's a hard logo to find... pretty old, they've totally rebranded their online presence, at least.

It's actually still the logo but they changed their website to match the Philips family after the Genlyte buyout.

[Sayen]

On a related note, anyone else had mounds of problems with that same bolt? I finally bought a bunch just to have on hand. Either there's something weird that we're doing wrong, or at some point ETC had a bad threaded bunch of bolts.

[MNicolai]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

Hey MNicolai, echoing a common theme from another thread. Before you went through all this pain did you try calling ETC tech support to order the part?




It's actually still the logo but they changed their website to match the Philips family after the Genlyte buyout.

No, I actually cracked open the assembly guide for the part number, which the local retailer mixed up and somehow accidentally sent us the 1/2" bolts you'd use on c-clamps.