After trying to find the exact model and not finding it on Amazon anymore the review cannot be specific to the light hence I would say this review is more of a public service announcement. If you think Amazon has a good deal on a light, make sure it is from a reputable brand, or better yet do not buy from there.
I have an Amazon Prime account and do purchase from them semi-regularly but light fixtures are not their speciality. The porch light looked and felt cheap but not terribly so I struggled to make do with it. The chandelier that we did not order from Amazon but came from them definitely was so terrible I struggled with it.
Where the Light Was Discovered
So we found a light at this discount store for only ten dollars as it was a return from Amazon. It was exactly what the wife had been wanting for a while so we immediately purchased it. I am satisfied with the amount paid but anything over 40 to 50 dollars for the light would be a rip-off to the consumer. I will preface that I do not have a ton of experience with light fixtures but just from the light fixture that was already there, I can tell there is a quality gap.
Where Things Fell Apart
The light fixture that was installed above our dinner table was lovely but it was oiled bronze and nothing but one ceiling fan in the entire house had the same finish so it always looked out of place. We went with gold in the kitchen to create a modern feel and to give the area some character so the gold light fixture just made sense.
The old light fixture is also hard to identify but it is an upgrade in quality as it has thicker glass, metal, and higher gauge wires. More importantly, the light fixture has a hickey that has gaskets. The gaskets are very important as I later found out as they protect the wires from getting cut or stripping the insulation off the wires.
The Great Fire of Last Week
Okay, I am being a bit dramatic as there was no fire but there definitely could have been one as the threaded nipple had a burnt hole through it. Luckily the light has nothing combustible built into it so that a fire could not have occurred but the experience was less than ideal. What I ended up doing was rewiring the light fixture with heavier gauge wires from an extension cord and using the much better hardware from the light fixture we took down.
As a reminder with electrical being so dangerous, it is always good to consult a professional when dealing with it. I am not an electrician and what I say is more of a learned experience than a guide to anything.
My Takeaways
Although it was a good deal it ended up feeling like more of a hassle than anything else. With any project that pertains to electrical, I would say definitely do not cheap out, and a good deal may end up being more work than is worth it. Do I like the light fixture? Yes, and it is what we wanted but I could not rate the product or the experience higher than a 2 out of 10 as the project turned out to be dangerous.
I should preface that I did not have instructions and that the light thankfully is not sold anymore but I would still not take my chances on a light fixture deal from Amazon. My tip is to go in person and check out the quality of the materials used for the light fixture as they will likely be an indicator of the quality of the hardware included.
A Menards Light that is similar and likely much safer.
