Supposed life span of a GU10 LED spotlight...

[Turfy]

We've all been sold the benefits of the LED bulbs and the joint biggest selling point for me (on par with the energy savings) is the lifespan.

They generally say they will last between 30k - 0k hrs. I'm just not seeing, it and every few months we are replacing the odd bulb (in one of the rooms in the house - there are 56 bulbs in total).

Faulty bulbs or do they just not do "what it says on the tin"?



Example of said LED spotlight/bulb:

Edited by Turfy on Saturday 18th May 12:13

[Turfy]

Robbo 27 said:

I have 6 of these bulbs in the bathroom which have lasted 7 years, I bought 2 others from ASDA and they lasted 3 months.

Edit, 6 others in the kitchen and none of them have been changed in 8 years.

It's annoying.

I now just buy them on Amazon so I can reference when they were bought and just send them back as faulty!

It narks me because its one of those claims that they just seem to get away with and either, no one keeps the receipt, can be bothered to return them or just doesn't care as they are so cheap.

It's more the principle!

[Turfy]

Is the general consensus that they are so cheap to replace and generally as an overall % kinda last a long time so who cares?

[Turfy]

Robbo 27 said:

Turfy said:

Is the general consensus that they are so cheap to replace and generally as an overall % kinda last a long time so who cares?

All depends on your outlook, my view is that if a manufacturer (of anything) makes a claim for the product then they ought to stand behind that product if it fails to perform as described.

.

Yeah, this is kinda my point and the principled me (heart) gets mildly narked at it. But head says it's just a few bulbs per year and a few £ so let it go.

Note to self, buy more expensive and monitor!!

[Turfy]

cml24 said:

Turfy, maybe I missed it, but which brand bulbs are you buying or just unbranded?

They seem to be a mix of TCP and Osram. Both rated at c.25k hours.

On these sort of products, I buy on price but I guess it’s logical that there are budget and premium brands. I took, foolishly it seems, the 25k hours promise to mean it would last 25k hours. In hindsight it is never going to last 25k hours and how would you prove it anyway and/or go about a refund without the inevitably of a long since lost receipt.

Added to this the cost of replacement and other inhibiting travel and time factors, it’s a good model. It seems like no one is ever going to take one back as long as it lasts a year or so. just headline 25000hrs and pump them out the door.

I’m thinking about launching the 100k hours GU10 bulb. If it lasts 36.5k hrs or 5 hrs a day for 20 years who is going to take is back because it had a 60 year warranty...or if it last 5 years.

Summary, it is a con. They will never last as long as they say they will. The branding does not matter, some will last longer than others. It is just about buying the premium brands and accepting they will last a varying percentage of what is “says on the tin”.

I accept consumables are consumables but it’s a p*** take. If my brake pad manufacturer said their product would last 20k miles under normal use, and I could somehow convince them I adhered to normal use, I’d complain and expect a refund. The same with almost all other products who warranty, state or imply a guarantee.

Very clever thought process behind this collectively by the manufacturers.

Edited by Turfy on Sunday 19th May 08:33

[Turfy]

I’m buying branded now. We’ll see how it goes!!

It’s a con though still as they “know” we’re not going to return or keep the receipt to return; in most cases.