Suggestion Box

[Fressa]

I would like the battery life of the flameless candles mentioned in specifics. (on air / on line) Telling me that it will last for a season or lots of weeks or a few months is very general. Why can't the vendor list timer mode with apprx,hours or color changing mode apprx hours? I also would like to know the type of battery. Some hosts mention this in the presentation and some do not.  Detailed information should be available in the on line description. It seems to be missing on more than a few of these items. 

[JCath]

Valerie Parr Hill usually tells the type of battery and how long the batteries will last.  I really appreciate this information. I have a lot of flameless candles and love them but it seems that I am always replacing batteries.  The small Luminara candles are the ones that have the shortest time in between battery changes. 

[Just Bling]

If any of you are Costco members, I just bought a 5 pack, 2 small, 2 medium and 1 large flameless candle set for $19.99 (reg $39.99 less $20 rebate) and thought I got a great deal on 5.   Each candle takes 4 AA batteries and comes with a remote control.

[corita]

Though they don't seem to be as popular as in past years, I still think Candle Impressions candles seem to last the longest on fewer batteries.  My Luminara, Valerie's and Bethlehem Lights candles need new batteries more often!!

[TenderMercies]

I have loads of flameless candles.  I've put Duracell in one candle and Energizer in an identical one at the same time, and the Energizer one would run two weeks longer than the Duracell one on a 5 hour timer.  That's a 70 hour difference.  Imagine if I tested the Energizer batteries against generic, dollar store ones.

Vendors that do list battery life probably do their tests with many grades of batteries, but ultimately list the battery life based on the results of using premium ones. That would make the most sense in order to make the product look appealing.  If they list the battery life as 500 hours on a 5 hour timer, and a customer uses cheap, dolllar store batteries, it's that customer who has the opportunity to tarnish the product with a negative review.  So, many vendors probably aren't listing battery life because the number of hours varies depending upon how the customer treats the product.  It's like buying two pairs of sneakers.  One pair can go to your 90 year old father to wear around the house, and the other can go to your 21 year old son, who is a long distance runner.  Both pairs aren't going to function the same after 6 months.  Like any products, flameless candles are only going to function as well as you treat them.

[PA Mom-mom]

I agree with @TenderMercies. There are batteries and batteries. I just bought the new Bethlehem Lights window candles, which are supposed to last a year on I can't remember if it's 4 or 6 hours per day. We will see. If this is true, it will be a game changer. 

[GCR18]

Of the name brand batteries, I also find Duracell don't last as long.  I like Walgreens batteries.  Candle Impressions usually do well on battery life.  As for luminara, the ones that take D batteries do better.  At least from my experience.

If details aren't give or aren't listed in the item description, I don't buy.  

[millieshops]

Even if the vendor gives us a number of hours, we're still just not going to know.  All batteries are not alike to begin with.  Then, all batteries are not sotred alike before we buy them -  and all batteries are not cared for the same way in people's homes.

For the most part, I buy the look I want in my candles and deal wih the battery issues as they arrive.  Have to admit though, it's easy for me.  I'm not in love with too many candles at one time in my own home, so batteries are not a huge expense for me.