Faking is never a good thing, but when companies are selling fake projector lamps as originals, they’re not just cheating you out of money, but they might be putting you in danger.
No one wants to believe they’ve been cheated or that someone was faking it. But still, some companies think it’s okay to pass off fake lamps as originals, leaving these blissfully ignorant owners with good deals that might also be ticking time bombs in their entertainment centers. And when those mercury bulbs break, these owners will be kicking themselves for not spending more money.
How Can I Tell If It’s a Fake Projector Lamp?
Just like those fake purses you’ve only ‘looked’ at on street corners, those companies who make fake lamps are very good at disguising their work. These lamps will look exactly like their brand name counterparts, minus the quality standards and the proper materials. To those who are new to buying projector lamps in the first place, this becomes problematic. What you need to do is to look for these signs that you may be getting ripped off:
- The lamps come without housing or cages – If a company isn’t selling projector lamps with these safety features, chances are good that the lamp isn’t made for safe use.
- The price is too low – Stop for a moment and think about what you might be paying for the lamp. If it seems incredibly low, you might want to reconsider whether the lamp is actually the ‘real’ deal. If it sounds too good to be true, well, you know the rest.
- These codes are trouble – If you see the codes ‘PL’ or “GL’ on the part numbers, run the other way. This can mean that the parts are not new or original parts.
- Tricky advertising – Most of us just skip over the advertising because we believe it’s just trying to lie anyway. But you want to look at what the ads say right now to see if you’re buying a fake projector lamp or not. If the wording is misleading or it just doesn’t make sense, walk away from the lamp. The lamp advertising and details should be specific about what you are getting and what you are not getting from their product.
- Look for a guarantee – If the lamp seller is willing to offer you a guarantee, chances are good they are selling the real thing.
No one wants to buy a fake projector lamp as this is not only going to be a potentially dangerous item, but also one that doesn’t work as well as a ‘real’ lamp would. Instead of being wooed by the low prices of knockoffs, you need to think about the fact that companies are selling fake lamps as originals. And it’s up to you to make sure you’re not getting an inferior product in return for your cold hard cash.
