Optoma warns against non-OEM lamps

Counterfeit lamps have caused recent projector failures, says vendor

Optoma has been warning its customers, distributors and resellers to watch out for fake branded lamps.

According to Nick Price, territory manager at the vendor, only genuine Optoma lamp modules are recommended for use in Optoma projectors.

"We have recently been informed of a few cases where fake lamps have been used, which has resulted in damage to the projector. The counterfeit lamps may be cheaper but this is often due to cheaper components that have not been rigorously tested by the manufacturer and could damage the projector," Price said.

The issue of non-genuine lamps resurfaces about every six months or so in the projector channel. OEMs understandably prefer their own products to be used with their machines – but above and beyond that is the issue of counterfeits that customers may not identify as fakes.

"We have put a number of actions in place to help our customer recognise genuine lamps," Price added, pointing to a serial-number checking web page at www.optoma.co.uk/lampgenuinecheck.aspx. Alternatively, they can email [email protected] or phone 01923 691 865.

There was also an issue of quality control, he said, as non-genuine lamps may not have been subjected to the same testing.

Only in January, specialist distributor Just Lamps warned that more counterfeit lamps had been found in the market, compared with two years ago.

As reported in ChannelWeb, Just Lamps had conducted a series of test purchases around the world of product whose price seemed too good to be true.

Just Lamps' boss, Dave Bethell, said at the time that the results suggest thousands of fake lamps are now circulating in all markets.

"The lamps that have made their way into the supply chain are visually very convincing.

"The packaging, manuals and bulbs all look genuine and they have the correct logos and markings. Unless buyers have the original lamp to compare, it's almost impossible to tell them from the genuine article," he said. "Many in the channel are being duped."

And if orders go straight to the end customer on behalf of the reseller, the channel cannot keep tabs on quality.