LED bulbs are so short lived that I keep receipts and track them with a log. The industry is banking on consumers not doing that. These are my stats:

• e27 Xanlite, 5yr warranty, failed inside warranty
• GU10 Beneito, 3yr warranty, failed inside warranty
• GU10 Sencys, no warranty, failed a few months outside of 2yr legal warranty

Couple others died quite close to the warranty ending as well, as did the above. I’ve heard LEDs themselves don’t fail. It’s the other circuits converting AC to DC that burn out.

Returning the Beneito turned into a fight. It was around 2¾ years after purchase. The shop owner was angry, saying I have to go through the manufacturer in Spain. I stood my ground. Then later found out the shop owner was right. Shops only have to deal with returns during the legal warranty period of 2yrs. For commercial warranties beyond the 2yrs, sellers are off the hook and consumers have to hassle with the manufacturer and pay shipping, IIUC. Not worth it.

The whole market seems to be flooded with shitty bulbs. They are like €1—2 at the street market and at least 4 times as much in the shops. So street market it is.

Recupel must be getting hammered with an onslaught of dead bulbs. Sustainability of LED bulbs seems questionable.