Quality Light Fixtures vs. Cheap Light Fixtures

We own a lighting showroom that only sells the best quality fixtures. While some of the product lines we carry are made in China, we carry several lines that are still made by hand in the United States. It's always interesting to see the reaction on a customer's face when they fall for a hand-made Hubbardton Forge chandelier and then look to see the price. Some customers will take one look at the price and turn tail to walk out the door, others may hesitate for a moment, but then upon further inspection of the fixture and the hang-tag explaining that it is hand-made in Vermont they begin to understand why a chandelier might cost a little over a thousand dollars. Many times a customer will ask if we have something similar to the hand-made fixtures that might be less expensive and even once in a while they will actually ask if there is anything similar that is made (gasp!) in China. We explain that while we do carry some quality lines made in China, they will not find anything remotely as nice as the fixture they have already fallen in love with. In many cases eventually the people who didn't turn and run screaming from the expensive chandelier begin to realize that spending the extra money for a quality piece is probably worth it, as it will last forever, rather than needing to be replaced in a few years.

One of my favorite conversations with our customers goes something like this, "I bought my outside lights from "XYZ Big-Box Store" last year, and they're already falling apart! Will your stuff last longer?" My answer is always a resounding yes. One of the lines we carry, Brass Traditions, makes their fixtures by hand from Brass and Copper and I drive by many houses every morning that have had these fixtures up for 20+ years. The other company we deal with that makes outdoor fixtures is Seagull Lighting. Seagull does manufacture their product in China, but again they use brass and other top quality materials to ensure that their fixtures will last for the duration. We have been selling Seagull products for over 20 years with no complaints about durability. Many customers will ask why our Seagull fixtures, which are made in China, stand up so much better than the fixtures they buy at the big box stores. The answer is that the products at the big-box stores generally are not Brass fixtures and once the paint, or other finish wears off the fixture the elements eat at the metal and the fixture rusts or otherwise deteriorates. With our proximity to the ocean we also often find customers complaining about indoor fixtures rusting for the same reason.

We have always tried to stock the highest quality lighting fixtures and have stood behind our product. Now we've set out to provide an opportunity for people outside the state of Maine to have access to the same high quality fixtures by putting it out on the web at http://www.crescentharbor.com/ . While we know there will always be a market for lower quality lighting fixtures, we also recognize that a large majority of people recognize the value in buying quality fixtures that will last a lifetime.