Wow, over the last month, I have gotten several dozen email regarding SonnenBraune. More than everything else combined! Let me set the records straight, according to the facts I have. Keep in mind, I could be wrong, but I have this on good authority:

SonnenBraune is out of business. Basic parts like lamps, ballasts, starters, acrylics and such can be bought at a few companies (including the sponsors over to your right). Body parts, structural parts, digital controls and the like can not at this time. SonnenBraune sold most everything direct and didn’t have a developed dealer network (nowdays, most manufacturers don’t have a dealer network, so this is common). This means the only supply of replacement parts is gone. Forever. I have not heard from Rick Gray (the owner of SonnenBraune) since the closing, although we have tried to contact them with no luck. I have heard that once in a great while, someone will answer the phone, but this is rare.

I used to sell SonnenBraune back in the mid 1990s, and we still have a few schematics and parts for older beds like the 628, 728, 732, 524, 524e and the 524es/516es beds, but for the most part, you are going to be out of luck if you need serious parts. The company I work for (UVA SunSystems / SunMaster) is trying to get wiring diagrams and such from them, so we can offer support to current SonnenBraune customers, but have had no luck. I have not heard of anyone else attempting to do the same, although likely Tan Systems, Inc. is trying to do the same. Others, such as Tony over at Heartland, have actually contacted us looking for help as well as they have not had any luck getting wiring diagrams.

I don’t know this for fact, but it *SEEMS* that many salons are selling their older SonnenBraune beds that need parts. The problem is that many home users are buying these beds that need work, then they can’t get the parts, then they find this site (which is currently ranked #1 when you search the term “sonnenbraune”). Then they write me and I have to tell them they are out of luck. Several times a day.

I hate to do this but I must: I would recommend against buying any used SonnenBraune beds for now, particularly ones that you can’t see actually WORKING in perfect order. Until someone can come up with a supply of parts, you would have to take the tanning bed to a machine shop and have any body part custom made, which is pretty darn expensive. The same would go for Puretan and Soleil beds. I would simply avoid them in the used market until you can establish a source for parts other than lamps, ballasts and acrylics, which are always available, as most beds use similar parts.

This isn’t a comment on the companies, or their quality, or management. (ie: If you are affiliated with these companies, don’t bother emailing and cursing me). This is just a situation where if you can’t get parts to fix a bed, you don’t want to buy the bed as you will end up spending more money to fix it than you would to buy a NEW bed. If I can find a source for parts on SonnenBraune, Puretan and Soleil beds, I will gladly post the name and contact info for anyone to see. If you work for a company that can offer body parts for these beds, please email me. (if you just sell lamps/ballasts/acrylics, contacting is unnecessary).

And please, don’t be tempted by the cheap price, as these beds WILL BE CHEAP, although they are generally very good quality. The reason they will be cheap is because there is no way to affordably repair them at this time. You have been warned.

Dennis