Outdoor Christmas lights - rant!

[simpsongal]

We probably spent about $800 on LED Christmas lights last year only to discover that 40% don't work this year (or half work). It's so frustrating.

DH and I just tried ordering "commercial grade" ones online -- the LED bulbs are single-molded and don't come apart. Apparently, that's one of the big issues w/store sold LEDs - water gets in and corrodes the wires.

It's hard enough putting these things up but to have them fail. We had two sets fail once they were on the house! We buy reputable brands like Phillips & GE but never seem to do any better.

It was a tough weekend but the house looks great. I'll PIP next week when we get the last set of lights in the mail.

[TBM]

I hope the new lights work out for you. I think that may be the direction we go in the future.

We bought some gorgeous Phillips lights at Halloween and wanted to reuse them for Christmas, and we had problems with all three strands that went from bad to worse when DH broke the only one that didn't have problems.

Our house looks so sad right now. DH put up the multicolor lights that he wanted last year, but they are really dull and just look boring. We were going to go simple, but we need to add a lot next weekend...it will make me sad to come home every day to a house that looks like it doesn't like the holidays. ;p

[simpsongal]

I should have added a PSA - do NOT buy lights from BJs. A lot of our LEDS came from BJs and I think the majority broke in a year.

I do love the low energy usage. Not only does it give me peace of mind when stringing multiple strands together, but the 4000+ lights barely impact our electric bill.

[Deleted]

Lights are hard, esp. where I live, wind, snow, water, cold are super hard on them. We have to buy a new strand like every year becuase one doesn't work for whatever reason. Last Christmas we actually bought a bunch of new lights end of season because so many didn't work and it was a hassle.

H and I just decided we were going to go cheap and we'll donate what doesn't hold up to the electric co-ops recycling program (they either actually recycle, send the wires to certain classes to take a part/do projects with or have a local group home for the disabled do something with them I can't remember). I wanted them to last years, but apparently they don't.

So yeah, I hear you!

[SusanBAnthony]

Dang it! You are depressing me! When we moved this year we gave away all our old fashioned lights thinking it was finally time to get with the 21st century and get led's. maybe we should have kept the old ones, though.

We aren't going to decorate the rental house since I don't want mismatched lights if we have to buy more later. Maybe we won't be able to avoid it though. And DS is freaking out about wanting to decorate our house.

[hereonceagain]

I think it's time you visit the MM board LOL!!

[simpsongal]

Hehe, Christmas cheer ain't cheap. It's disappointing b/c I thought the LEDs were an investment that would last. I feel blindsided by their fragility.