I know we did have blogs on here at some time.

thep

I know we did have blogs on here at some time.

They seem to have dissapeared into some black hole somewhere.
So it will have to be a rant instead. Hope it means the same thing.

It’s about garden solar lighting, you know, those funny little things that work off the power of the sunlight, the ones that dimly glow a blueish tinge of light for an hour or two when it gets dark. They sort of twinkle on and off, between the plants.

Well I bought a pack of ten from B&Q, and eagerly planted them amongst the flowers and shrubs. The good news, 6 of them work, the bad news, the other four dont.
So as instructed, I took them all back to B&Q on failure of them working propperly. The bloke in the store laughed at my awfull predicament and told me, in that all knowing tone of voice, you will need to buy some new batteries for the ones that dont light up. Of course, I didn’t realize one had to have batteries for them as well.
Another £6-00 plus for four new batteries, so thinking ahead quickly, I decided to buy two of these packs of batteries, I now have some spare ones.
Getting back home I replanted them, proudly looking at the gleaming sunlight shining off the steel casings, gave me renewed hope that now, all was well, I had ten lights that would look lovely the same evening. They would be like twinkling blue stars amongst the plants and stuff.
But no, there are now eight twinkling lights, two of them hardly any light at all and for only up to a min at most.
So methinks it should be candles perhaps, at least they dont need batteries as well. Do they?

This closed post was written 2 months ago | V/U/S: 126, 8, 2 | Edit Post | Report Post

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mumstheword 21 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (1 hour after post)

Hmm.. something doesn’t quite sound right with the lights thep.

Had you only just bought them when they failed? If so, the assistant was wrong to insist you buy new batteries for a new product supplied with batteries! The consumer act in UK makes it quite clear that any product sold “must be fit for the purpose for which it is intended”. In other words.. it’s meant to light up! Also, there is the “reasonable life expectancy” rule. If you buy something that fails within a week or two, that is not a reasonable life expectency. One would expect a solar garden lamp to survive for at least a year.

I have several such lights and have never had to replace any batteries at all. They are now three or four years old.

One did refuse to light up properly at first.. but I discovered that it was due to being too close to a streetlamp, which meant it kept thinking it needed to turn itself off. Sometimes placing them too close together has the same effect.

I’d go back to the store and complain. Don’t be fobbed off with “oh but it’s over 28 days” or anything of that sort. Check out the consumer goods act and hit them with a fact or two!

Good luck.

Island 6 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (1 hour, 4 minutes after post)

Nice to see you Thep :)

I think you should go back and v condescendingly explain the science of solar power! Take diagrams with you to thoroughly hammer the point home.

Candles are great, I love them, but not when the wind blows.

thep 22 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (1 hour, 10 minutes after post)

Thank’s mumstheword.

I agree with everything you say, I couldn’t realy be bothered to go back and ask for a refund, I am sure they would replace them or give me my money back if I did. It just makes me feel bad to do that, I have no good reason for that feeling.
Just my way realy, if it doesn’t work, throw it away and never get anything like it again.

Help me with: A little gem I found on the internet.

thep 22 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (1 hour, 15 minutes after post)

Hi there Island.
Hope all is well with you. I think I will get some wind chimes then for the windy days.
If I cant have the pretty lights, then sound will have to suffice.

Help me with: A little gem I found on the internet.

Island 6 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (1 hour, 31 minutes after post)

From feedback from friends, solar lights are rubbish really, everyone I know who has bought them has said a match would be better and they’re not worth having, unless you are willing to part with a small fortune for the industrial strength, which feels like it’s defeating the object…..

Yes, go with sound:) You may not see it but it’s still great.

thep 22 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (1 hour, 35 minutes after post)

Actualy, I have bought some lights that plug into the outdoor garden curcuit, got some for the pools as well.
Like you say, the solar lights are rubish.

Help me with: A little gem I found on the internet.

Island 6 #
An Undisclosed Location | 2 months ago (2 hours, 13 minutes after post)

Go with what you know and take back the B&Q solars; know you said you don’t like to do that, but I think you should.

Hope you’re well Thep, nice to see you again.

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