WARNING All Philips Lumea users - you need to know this

[NoSuchThingAsThePerfectParent]

In the instructions manual, under the charging section, it states one line that is completely vital to the longevity of your device.

It says to charge the unit every 3-4 months, whether it is used or not.

What it doesn't tell you is that if you fail to do so, it dries the battery out and the whole thing becomes completely useless because the battery is not replaceable.

I've just been informed about this from the Philips website and a chat transcript.

They cost hundreds of pounds, so it is a very expensive mistake to make, and it is written in such a way as to be easily overlooked or forgotten about.

You probably all were completely aware of this already, but I have been caught out in what is probably the most expensive mistake of my life!

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Looking for advice before buying an at-home IPL device? You’ve come to the right place. Check out our guide to buying and using a Philips Lumea - complete with FAQS, tips, and recommendations from the most discerning shoppers out there: Mumsnetters. MNHQ.

I have to charge mine all the time as I have to use it ALL THE TIME.
Fucking bastard PCOS hormones winning the fight constantly

I have to charge mine all the time as I have to use it ALL THE TIME.
Fucking bastard PCOS hormones winning the fight constantly

My internet is clearly angry about this too, so angry it posted twice for me!

Funnily enough that's the only reason I've got away with it too, I used to keep it plugged in. Then I moved the plug and put it away. The rest is history.

Should today I've got away with it until now!

Mine died too as I didnt charge it often enough. NOt great tbh....

Thanks

I am relieved to report mine is a mains version so I'm okay.

Very for those of you not so fortunate!

Hi Girls, I had the same problem, called customer service and they do not offer a replace service, so yes money lost. However I went on search found on youtube a chap Rudy American, he has fixed his wifes and has put details and pics on line, if you have someone who knows they could do it ok. Me I dont know but nothing ventured nothing gained, I am going to have ago, have asked for a little more details to be sure of what I am going to be doing, and girls I am 61. give it try what have you got to lose.

If you havent got the tools they cost less then £10, and you never know you may use them again great for fixing toys etc

Might be worth buying the corded unit, that's what I have, I didn't like the idea of a battery dying etc. The cord is long and I zap in the bedroom anyway so it's fine.

I had the same problem with my Clarisonic so if you've got one of those and not used it for a while then get charging!!

Actually a handy zombie thread for once!
I've had one die, I know now why!
The other is on charge as we speak

Mine died last month. DH says he will take a look at it for me so might try the Rudy American ''s tips, thank you oldmum.

I've pale skin and (lots of) dark hair so I may fork out. Are they really effective?

Can you use them when you're pregnant?

ooh let us know how you get on oldmum!!

link here

Thanks so much for posting this.

I would be so sad if mine stopped working .. it's changed my life x

Sorry yours broke though xx

Same thing happened to me, found an electronics chap on the internet and he managed to repair it. Cost £60 but I would rather pay him than give a few hundred pounds to Philips for a replacement. Link to chap who fixed mine: www.hifi-repair-specialist.co.uk/home he has replaced the batteries and advised me that I must still charge it every couple of months. Hope this is of help to someone.

Hi All, If your Lumea is 'dead' please get in contact. My husband has just got mine back up and fully charged for 91p !
Because of health reasons, i hadn't used mine for a couple of months. When i did get round to using it, nothing! No lights, wouldn't charge, useless!
Philips customer care told me because I'd let mine go flat for an extended period I should throw it away and buy a new one because because it couldn't be repaired and it was out of warranty. They offered me a 20% discount voucher from their online shop which still made it dearer than Amazon and still loads of money!
My husband didn't accept that, and after some investigation came up with a solution.
He will gladly tell anyone who is interested how he did it. No catch, he just hates big organisations taking the pee out of us normals.
You'll need someone who is confident enough to open the unit but after that it's so, so simple. The 91p is for a transistor that you can by online from RS Components. Once he had opened the Lumea it took 45 mins to get it ready to take an overnight charge again.
I'm over the moon.
Bye bye bristles.
He will post the full instructions on here if that's OK with the administrators.

i didn’t use mine throughout pregnancy. I’m sure i used it (once) since and it was fine though!! how would i know? would it just not work??? those bastards for not making me read the manual!!

I have got the Philips Lumea Precision Plus SC2003, thanks to this thread I’ve dug it out of hiding. It must be at least 2 years (maybe more) since I used it but it seems to be charging - the green battery light is flashing.

I stopped using it as found it really time consuming and fiddly but now I’ve dug it out I might give it another go but I’m wondering if it will actually be effective now though even if the battery does seem to be charged. I’m not bothered about binning it as I’d pretty much forgotten about it anyway, just don’t want to waste my time faffing around trying to use it if it’s not doing anything.

Just went and put mine on charge.. thank you for the reminder! Easy to forget about it for a few months.

Giving this a bump! Just remembered to do my charge. Have been pregnant for most of the year and zapping hairs is number 345 on my to-do list (with a toddler and newborn!)

Gosh I've just dug mine out after 2 years and it's working so I'm hoping that means it is charging?

Aah mine is a main powered one..phew!