You are considering whether to buy a product. You look at the reviews. Would the following review decrease or increase the chances of you buying the product?
Review title: Does the job but designed with planned obsolescence
Product review: I have used the 40 watt Pondmaster units for several years. Generally they do an excellent job of clarifying the water. Three units keep my 6000 gallon pond very clear. However, the ballast is subject to damage because the gasket around the quartz sleeve pushes into a pressure switch at the base of the unit. After using the unit for a few years, the gasket becomes distorted, lets water into the electical fixture, allowing the ballast to burn out. A replacement ballast costs over $100 and is difficult to find. I have a collection of four or five burned out ballasts that can't be repaired. Since bulbs last about two seasons, it generally costs about the same amount to buy a new unit as it does to replace all of the parts (ballast, quartz sleeve, and bulb). Hopefully this is not a deliberate strategy by the company to sell replacemente units, but one has to wonder.
