IKEA LED Lights Keep Failing, Is It Reasonable for Me to Return Them All

MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 16:23
Last edited 12/07/2023 - 15:46

Update : I just called and said "my lights keep failing and you don't sell it anymore can I just return them all" and she said yes, so problem solved 😂 now to plan my day up there

We bought 4 of these Ledare GX53 lights back in 2019, at $20 each. 2 of them failed (got free replacements) within the first 2 years, and now another one has failed. Ikea doesn't stock this or anything similar at all anymore so have bought a 6 pack from somewhere else and replaced them.

Is it reasonable for me to go in and return all of the 4 lights even though 3 are currently OK, due to the high rate of failures. The reviews for the light when the listing was up also had many complaints about the failures. On their product specification sheet, it says it " Lasts approximately 20 years if the bulb is on for 3 hours/day (25,000 hours)." so nowhere close.

We live quite far from Ikea, about 30-45 Min drive each way and never head up that way, which is why I just want to return them all and be done with it.

Asking here because I'm not good at on the spot confrontation and wanna get my arguments in order before going all the way there 😅

Electrical & Electronics LED Light

Comments

  • JMosk on 11/07/2023 - 16:27
    +7

    For $20 is it worth your time/petrol to drive all the way there just to return them…?

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 16:33
      +2

      Well it's $80 for 4 so yeah. I don't mind the current drive itself since its been years since we went to ikea and we can eat somewhere around there

  • GG57 on 11/07/2023 - 16:29
    +5

    For something that cost $80 four years ago, that would involve a 30-45min drive each way, and the obvious 'discussion' that would need to be had with the people at Ikea, why would you bother?

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 16:47
      +1

      I'm an overthinker so I'm just preparing. I don't mind making the drive this time as I can plan a day to make the most of being in the area.

      True that I have gotten some years out of this, but if a product is advertised as lasting 20 years with X usage and I'm not even at 10% of the 'usage' @ Max 1 hr a day, then I rather just get rid of all of them. One blew when I was very heavily pregnant and my husband was away and I had to use a phone light for 2 days.

  • Maths Debater on 11/07/2023 - 16:31
    +4

    Regardless of what the manufacturer claim, the price vs reasonable life expectancy of the item has long gone. Not sure if serious?

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 16:34
      +1

      Reasonable life expectancy for a LED lightbulb is more than 5 years. $20 for a lightbulb isn't that cheap considering I can get a 6 pack for $50

      • Maths Debater on 11/07/2023 - 16:35
        +1

        Open a fair trading complaint and see how you go then. The manufacturers claims will always have an asterisk.

        • ginormousgiraffe on 11/07/2023 - 16:52
          +1

          why open a fair trading complaint before even going to talk to someone at the store?

  • tharlow on 11/07/2023 - 16:43

    I’m constantly amazed at how many people on OzBargain don’t understand Australian Consumer Law. ACL unambiguously gives consumers a lifetime’s guarantee on anything you buy on Australian soil (I don’t think this includes Tasmania). Just return to the place of purchase for a full refund, plus interest. Interestingly, if the retailer has since gone bust, the manufacturer must step in to fulfill the retailer’s obligation. And if the manufacturer has gone bust, then the ombud will send you a box of essential-oil-scented tissues to ease your consumer outrage

    • hasher22 on 11/07/2023 - 17:36
      +4

      "ACL unambiguously gives consumers a lifetime’s guarantee on anything you buy on Australian soil"

      ACCC, Fairtrading or Consumer law source please?

      • brendanm on 11/07/2023 - 18:07
        +2

        I'm pretty sure it was sarcasm.

        • hasher22 on 11/07/2023 - 20:39

          Oh, true, after I read the rest. To be honest, I stopped reading from what I quoted. That will teach me. lol

      • resubaehtgnolhcs on 11/07/2023 - 20:26

        Wooosh

        • hasher22 on 11/07/2023 - 20:39

          True lol, read above comment haha

  • sumyungguy on 11/07/2023 - 18:28
    +2

    Why not call them first? My reading of their warranty policy suggests you’re gonna be disappointed beyond 365 days of ownership,

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 18:29

      I just 1) wanted to see if it's reasonable, apparent Ozbargainers say no, 2) wanted to get my justifications in order.

      But yeah I'll ask them before making the trip

  • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 18:32
    -1

    For the people who think I'm unreasonable, that this is way beyond the time for a refund etc. Imagine if a rep posted on Ozbargain a led light bulb and says expected lifespan - 500-4000 hours and sells it at the same price as a store that says 50000, pretty sure they'd be negged to oblivion about it.

    • brendanm on 11/07/2023 - 19:16
      +1

      I would ignore their spurious claims, people selling things never tell the truth. Things like led bulb life likely aren't even testing to failure, they probably do X hours with X% loss in lumens, then extrapolate that.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 11/07/2023 - 18:35

    What kind of fitting did you put the globe into?

    Maybe not getting enough airflow?

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 18:59

      Ermm I'm not sure, it was done by an electrician, I just know the type is GX53.

      But if it's burnt out from heat is that gradual over time? Because they've all died when I turn on the switch

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 11/07/2023 - 19:02

        Yeah it would be gradual … typically.

        One day they just all died on switch on?

        • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 19:04

          No not all at once, the 3 that I was talking about that failed over time. I would flick it on and hear a bzzzt kinda sound and it flickers for a second then fizzles out

          • Jimothy Wongingtons on 11/07/2023 - 19:07

            @MeesusEff: Interesting…that kind of sound is definitely a worry , sound happening at the light or switch?

            • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 19:10

              @Jimothy Wongingtons: Ok I dunno how accurate the bzzzt sound but it was an electric kinda sound haha. Sound coming from the light because I heard it and looked up to see it dying. And it's happened in diff bathrooms so I don't think it's my house kinda thing

              • Geoff01 on 12/07/2023 - 08:48
                +2

                @MeesusEff: Is it water resistant being in a bathroom or rated for wet areas

                • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 15:30

                  @Geoff01: Hmm ive looked through a few product specifications page and i cant find any IP ratings, but on the Ikea lights page it says "All LED lights (light sources) are suitable for use in the bathroom. Do take into account the IP classification of the fixture."

              • JIMB0 on 12/07/2023 - 09:41
                +1

                @MeesusEff: I tried some led globes in a fish tank once. Didn't last a week. Compact fluorescent globes last a lot longer in that environment.

  • AustriaBargain on 11/07/2023 - 19:04
    +3

    Ikea have 12 month no questions asked returns, so it's probably unreasonable to go for 48+ month returns.

    Though I bet they would let you replace it if you have receipt, they seem pretty chill.

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 19:07
      +1

      They don't sell it anymore, probably because there were heaps of reviews left saying the same things. They don't even sell any bulbs with that fitting (gx53) on the website , which is why I want to return them all as I rather get a $80 credit than 4 x $20 for each failure

  • TRANCE on 11/07/2023 - 19:23

    Ikea would have the right to refuse refund on the three lights that are still working, but you could get lucky and get a store clerk that says yes to a refund, or you could lie and say they all died and you want a refund, they are not going to test the bulbs out.

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 15:20

      I looked through my email thread the last time it failed and it did say "If you do go in to store, you can all take the LEDARE bulbs into store and give the staff at the returns counter the case number for a refund or exchange.", but that was 3 years ago lol

      Edit : just called and she said I could return them all, yay

  • tharlow on 11/07/2023 - 20:41
    -1

    I blame solar panels — everything is running at too high of a voltage

    • MeesusEff on 11/07/2023 - 20:43
      +3

      Don't have any 😳

      • tharlow on 11/07/2023 - 20:47
        -1

        Your neighbour is probably souping up the grid

      • pjetson on 11/07/2023 - 21:06
        +2

        To feed power back into the grid, a solar system has to output a slightly higher voltage than the grid. And so does the next solar system, and the next, and so on. And then the original system has to bump the voltage up even higher, and so on until the earth bursts into flame.

  • ShannonN on 12/07/2023 - 07:50

    Make sure you have the original receipt that way they cant use that as an excuse to not deal with you

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 15:17
      +1

      we only have 1 Ikea store in WA, not sure where else they think i can get them from lol. But i dug through my box of receipts and did find it, my hoarder tendencies have paid off!

  • Bilby s on 12/07/2023 - 08:27

    Under ACL they will balance the cost vs reasonable life expectation. 2 years for $20 seems reasonable. However I would take them back and make a fuss over the constant failures. At best you’ll get a store credit. At worst you have made it known that their product is crap!

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 15:31

      OK i just called them up and a 30 second phone call with a very disinterested person said 'Yup you can take them all back' but I forgot to get her name rookie mistake!!

  • Brent8759 on 12/07/2023 - 08:47

    I read that with these LED lights the "bulb" - diode lasts along time but the driver - electrical circuit that runs the bulb arent and thats where you get your failure , flickering or dead. They are designed that way so they get your money again.

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 13:06

      Probably why theres not a lot of places selling these except a handful in lighting places and Amazon/ebay

  • Geoff01 on 12/07/2023 - 08:51

    Make a call first before the trip. If they offer a credit ensure you get a name etc so you have proof when in the store

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 15:32

      Dammit, i just called and after 30 seconds she said 'yup you can take them all back' and i forgot to get her name >_>

  • No and then on 12/07/2023 - 09:00
    +3

    I once gave a negative review on a product that has already been 2-3 years old. They immediately reached out to me, asked me some questions and photos of the defect and product code that is on the object. They refunded me the full purchase price. All done via email and phone call. So it's definitely worth pursuing a refund. They didn't ask for receipt but thats why they wanted a photo of the product code to ensure it was theirs

  • mattyman on 12/07/2023 - 11:16
    +2

    I had a batch of Ikea Tradfri globes fail within a few weeks of purchasing (black smoke marks on the inside of the bulb - looked like the LEDs got too hot and burned out). 6 failed out of the 10 I purchased.

    I returned the whole lot. I had bought them on special as they were being discontinued at the time. They would only give me store credit at the counter (as they had sold out of the discontinued globes) so I emailed to complain about the potential fire hazard and to complain that I wanted a replacement of the products, not the credit.

    They said that they ended up raising a safety alarm with the Global Quality team about the product fault and added extra credit to my account so that I could purchase 10 of the newer model globes. The new globes have worked flawlessly for a few years now.

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 18:17

      I've just looked through my purchase history and this is actually the 4th time this light has blown, the 600lm never did but original 3 + 1 replacement of 1000lm blew, definitely a product fault

  • Loopholio on 12/07/2023 - 11:54

    Check to see if there has been a recall https://www.google.com/search?q=ikea+light+bulb+recall&oq=ik…

    I reckon you should take them in and ask what can be done. I've returned a pack of AA rechargeable batteries because one cell constantly failed to hold a charge. I had no issues because I date each cell and mark suspect cells.

    If they say no you can recycle the bulbs near the front door and grab a cheap meal then have a look around.

  • ssmith3104 on 12/07/2023 - 14:34

    I purchased from Bunnings 4 years ago, a large kitchen light fitting that has a large number (perhaps 20) small LED's inside. Good looking fitting and good light EXCEPT that it failed at about the one year mark. It turns out that the LED's are wired in series rather than in parallel, which means that when any one LED fails, that the entire light fitting stops working. Bunnings replaced the light under warranty. Since then, the replacement fitting has also failed, and Bunnings also replaced it a 2nd time, and I am now on my 3rd such light in 4 years. It is good that Bunnings have replaced the premature failures without dispute, except that each time it needs to be replaced, I have to engage an electrician to come do the work, and the most recent bill was $150, which is roughly the same price as the light! Bunnings don't pay that for me. I suggested they should, but was laughed at at the service desk, who thought my suggestion was in jest, and did not take it seriously. What do you think?

    • MeesusEff on 12/07/2023 - 15:10

      oof, i would have given up after the 2nd if i had to pay someone to fix it up each time

      • ssmith3104 on 13/07/2023 - 03:34

        I wanted to, but then what would I do with the replacement light that Bunnings gave me?…. and how do I know if a different fitting will be any better? Probably, but either way, I'm up for that $150 electrician visit. Who knows, maybe 3rd time lucky? (not confident)

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