Thanks for the various suggestions/points of view. I actually know my local Home Depot rather well and have already made multiple mental walks through it in search of a solution.
Re contacting Inon, I cannot see that it is possible. Their website refers all requests for contact to distributors. I contacted another distributor in addition to Reef Photo and have not received a response.
Ryan, in post #3, stated "The statement that we didn't try to find a solution for you is completely false." Well, that depends. Below are the only two emails that Reef Photo actually sent to me (both on July 7). The first---
Hi Larry,
Is it the diffuser or do you have a strobe attached and a broken blocker (black).
If the diffuser I don't even have those on my Inon price list, so it would be a special order item.
If it is the black blocker panel, those are $49.95, again, special order.
Regards,
Richard Perry
Reef Photo & Video
Reef Photo & Video!, The Underwater Photo Pros
Toll Free - 877.453.8927
Fort Lauderdale or International - 954.537.0644
FAX - 954.537.0645
3320 NE 32nd St.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
The second---
Hi Larry,
Upon further research, it appears that Inon does not offer that diffuser as a replacement part.
Regards,
Richard Perry
Reef Photo & Video
Reef Photo & Video!, The Underwater Photo Pros
Toll Free - 877.453.8927
Fort Lauderdale or International - 954.537.0644
FAX - 954.537.0645
3320 NE 32nd St.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
Now, my interpretation of Richard Perry's email #2 (sent to me 12 days prior to Ryan's post #3) is that it is a blow-off. Moreover, it contradicts the statement by Ryan in post #3 that "[He has] sent an email to Inon asking for a part number for that part so we may order it, but it has not been replied to."
My point is simple. If Reef Photo had wished to do more on my behalf, it could have. It could have taken a piece of diffuser plastic from a different mount base and said, "Here, modify this and it will probably work." They could have taken one from a stock mount base of the same model as mine and sold it to me. The point is that they could have provided or created a solution, but did not. Moreover, now with the post from Ryan (post #3) and quoted email #2 from Richard Perry, it seems that either someone at Reef Photo is not telling the truth or that one hand doesn't know what the other is doing.
The bottom line here is that I am (at least, was) a customer and Reef Photo has not helped me. Over a 50 cent part. I am pretty creative when it comes to solving practical problems. I would think the same creativity should be expected from Reef Photo. I also think that and that they should also act on my annoyance by communicating it to Inon who may very well be the root of the problem.
If something positive comes out of this, I will tell you. If not, I am not going to grind this axe any further.