Beware EBay 'Bargains'

For reasons which will become clear in a few months I have been researching LED lighting.

I have discovered that

1.  LED bulbs, particularly in those recessed ceiling fittings soon fail.   My theory is that they overheat.   Nowhere near as hot as the halogen bulbs but the confined space in which the ceiling fittings sit gets warm enough to be higher than the LEDs comfort zone.

2. If you want to really light up a room you do not want those pointy ceiling spotlights.   You want a large surface mounted diffuser - the sort of thing you nowadays find in shops and offices.

3.  Beware of cheap LED bulbs and fittings on EBay - and presumably elsewhere.   My theory here is that LED makers get rid of failed bulbs and fittings to rogues who advertise them on EBay at near give-away prices.   Unsurprisingly they just do not work or are dangerous, or both.   The buyer is likely to be phylosophical about it and put it down to life's rich pattern.   Not worth the hassle of returning the item, little lost, just learn and move on.

That last one has its limits though.   I bought, in good faith, a square shaped LED fitting for the utility room.   I wired it up to a temporary supply and nothing lit up.   I got out my trusty mains voltage tool.   Very handy - lights up and beeps when it finds mains voltage without being in touch with bare wires.   Useful when drilling walls and fault finding.

Take a look at this:

click to enlarge

On the right of the picture is my trusty mains voltage tester resting on the metal backing plate of the light fitting, glowing red and beeping away merrily.   No LEDs are lit but the whole fitting is live.

I have of course, raised the matter through the EBay system for these things - aimed mainly at getting recourse or compensation from the seller.   Money back and such.

This though is something potentially deadly.   I shall let you know what happens.

Update 21/3/18

From the seller: Thank you for shopping with us. Our apology for the faulty item. We would like to solve any problem you may have. This is a hot sale item in our shop. We would like to send a replacement to have a try,is it ok? Really sorry for any inconvenience caused by us. Looking forward to your reply. Best regards,Ada My reply I do not want a replacement. I want a refund and an assurance that you will test these things for safety before selling them. Better still, withdraw them from sale. I am disturbed to hear that these are a 'hot sale item' From the seller: Dear bu1539, we are sorry about it . We would like to refund you fully,you don’t need to return the item,could you leave a 100% positive feedback on our service,please? We are really sorry for any inconvenience caused. Looking forward to your reply. Best regards, Ada - majeevv My reply: Are you really saying you will refund my money on condition that I give you 100% positive feedback when you sold me something that was dangerously defective and did not work? Since then: Nothing.   I submitted a moderately worded one-star (terrible) feedback via EBay, including the photograph.   It has not been published and the seller retains a 100% reputation so far as would-be customers are concerned. Noting that the seller purports to be in Leeds* I thought it would be public spirited to refer the matter to the local Trading Standards people.   Turns out there is no such thing anymore, at least in Leeds.   Their website tells people with trading standards problems to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau. * Their telephone number is 18815154455.   That does not sound like a leeds dialing code and it isn't.   Shanghai, China. Caveat emptor