You may not believe this, but there are counterfeit lamps out there. Like counterfeit watches, jewelry, clothes, or phones, the seller won’t be willing to answer questions directly nor give you a valid guarantee.
Reputable vs. Ripoff
When you buy a generic lamp online, be aware that just because they say its “OEM” or “Genuine Original” does not make it so. Without a reputation or recommendation, an online merchant can say anything. If they get too many complaints, they just set up another website and do it all over again.
There are some tips to give you the confidence to get the right replacement projection lamp (bulb). Just being aware of the dynamics of the marketplace, you can improve your chances of getting just what you need!
What You Should Know.
Just because a lamp has a brand name on it does not make it an original part for your TV. Your TV lamp had an ORIGINAL lamp supplier that worked with your TV manufacturer. The engineers from both companies worked together to create the picture quality and the lamp to go with it. So, how does this affect what lamp to get?
The Samsung/Philips Example.
Take a Samsung DLP TV with a specific model number. The original lamp had its own part number. When you get this part directly from Samsung, you get the lamp AND the plastic case (or enclosure, or assembly, or housing)
Let’s say the lamp was manufactured by Philips. Yet, this original TV lamp ships from Samsung’s factory in Korea. The replacement part has a different serial number and is made by Philips. It ships from the Samsung Parts Factory in California. This lamp may have a different price and may not include the plastic case.
What a disreputable retailer will do is sell the replacement part at a much reduced price (since it is aftermarket and lacks the enclosure). Yet, they tell you it is an OEM part. It is a recipe for a dissatisfied customer.
Cutting Corners.
Competition in the lamp business is fierce. Given the popularity of projection lamp TVs and DLPs, many see the potential profits of replacement lamps. Often, people who blow a lamp are usually in a hurry to get their TV working again. This creates a breeding ground for unscrupulous types who will take advantage of their rush.
Instead of paying full price for an OEM part, nothing stops some 3rd party lamp manufacturer from stamping the name “Philips” on their lamps. They can sell them at Phillips prices but with their low-quality costs. Philips can’t stop everyone and some countries seem to encourage counterfeiting. So, you have to be careful!
Pirate Heaven.
eBay has a lot of counterfeit items. It is a haven for fly-by-night sellers. Just opened and unknown ecommerce stores (no search engine results for them) are risky too!
Questionable retailers make claims to ship you original parts at discount prices. They’ll say it is over $100 less than the manufacturer! For a part with a retail price under $300, something is strange when an e-tailers says this. You don’t want to take a chance on something as important as your projection lamp.
The Counterfeits.
Watch out for cheap, generic lamps. A handful of factories are producing lots of these low-quality lamps. As more fall victim to their low-quality parts, the profits attract more of these factories to produce these subpar lamps.
OEM – Know What It Means.
An OEM lamp for one Mitsubishi DLP model will not be OEM for another Mitsubishi DLP model. Some vendors claim a lamp is OEM for your DLP TV when it may not be for your model.
Lamp Technology.
Why be wary of 3rd-party and counterfeit projection lamps?
Rear Projection TV’s (RPTVs) were manufactured by a joint effort between many companies. Texas Instruments (TI) was key in creating DLP and the DLP chip. Philips developed the UHP lamp technology that is in wide use today.
In addition to TI and Philips, the other OEM product manufacturers include Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi. They collaborated to create RPTV and Front Projection (FT) projectors.
The 3rd party lamp manufacturer that claims to make OEM lamps is committing fraud.
3rd Party Parts Are A Gamble.
Often, 3rd-party projection lamps VOID your warranty. It may lead to premature failure of other TV components. Your DLP is “driven” or powered by a “lamp driver” or a “ballast.” The ballast is engineered as the bridge between the TV manufacturer (Panasonic for example) and the lamp manufacturer (let’s say Philips). For proper ignition, continuous voltage, and a maximum life, the ballast and lamp are matched together.
A generic or 3rd-party lamp may save you $5, $10, or $15. But, what about your TV. Is it worth the risk?
A Solid Buying Plan.
Buy from reputable, recommended, AUTHORIZED dealers.
Find out how long the company has been in business.
Do a search on the company name.
Compare competitor prices (you want to see if its too low or too high).
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