Vouchers for energy saving bulbs being distributed

Corinne Vella

Jun 18th 2009, 17:55

I lived through the 1970s and 1980s, so I need no reminding of what those times were like. All I can say is, thank heavens we're out of that particular mess, even though I'm unlikely to ever receive the sort of pension you're grouching about.

I have no interest in bulbs of any kind, other than as a user but you can be sure I won't be the one clogging up the works with complaints about brands and numbers. Life's too short. It's a pity you haven't yet discovered that.

Christopher Galea

Jun 18th 2009, 07:24

@ L Galea: Why do you have to bring in politics/political parties in every topic that you comment upon? You make it sound as if you are living in hell. Since we are now part of the EU, it is your right to move to another EU country like say, Romania, Poland etc. Oh sorry, then again, you are anti EU and would not like it there, so you can always go to Khazakistan or Azerbaijan.!!

Alfred Cassar

Jun 18th 2009, 00:15

Incredible how some people have nothing else to do except grumbling and complaining practically on everything on the surface of the earth. Especially when it is being done by the PN government. 2 weeks ago they were complaining that the government did not keep his promise to distribute these free bulbs. Now that it had delivered they are still complaining. How politically blind they are. Grow up people

Eric Gahn

Jun 17th 2009, 23:38

Who need energy saving bulbs? Enemalta just shuts everything off for us!

Galea. L

Jun 17th 2009, 21:47

Corinne Vella
Ask those who lived in the 70s and 80s whether they enjoyed a better standard of living and those who are not brainwashed like you seem to be will tell you.
Computers were just beginning in the eighties Corinne and I bought one without any problems.
We had stable prices and even pensioners could live comfortably and afford to give gifts to their grandchildren. Now even working people find it nearly impossible to make ends meet.
Sugar rationing? You must be joking Corinne.
No better bulbs on the market? Where profits and how much are going to whom? You seem to have an interest in the particular bulbs Corinne.
As for the number of bulbs, if we were promised a particular number then yes, I shall complain whatever you say.
With your attitude it is not only me you will not see at your shop if you had one, but most of the customers would also do so.
Sellers do not choose their customers.
It is the customers who choose the sellers.

Nigel Lawrence

Jun 17th 2009, 20:29

@jcmicallef

I bought four Philips energy saving lamps. They ALL failed within a week, running approximately 2 to 3 hours in the evening, whereas lamps bought from "Hanut T' Lira are STILL in use.

So your "branded lamp" logic doesn't hold water at all.

J Martinelli

Jun 17th 2009, 19:52

@ L Galea

If as you said, the bulbs are coming out of tax dollars, then why complain, since you are getting something back? The problem with you is that you don't give a hoot about environmental matters, otherwise by now, you would have bought your own bulbs and saved on the consumption of electricity.

@ J Azzopardi

You failed to mention that in the days of CARE not all food was distributed for free. Somehow some of it got into the wrong hands and appeared for sale under the table months after the initial issue. There are always those who look for a chance to profit on the backs of others. Some mentalities are hard to change.

@ P Debono

Start complaining when the government takes steps to curb inflation. So, inflation goes down and interest rates go up. What's your preference? Complain to the price fixers first.
Successive Nationalist governments brought down income tax from 65% (max) to what it is today with a promise of further reductions during this mandate.
The government does not fix imported fuel prices. The cost of power generation is passed on to the user. Waste less, pay less.

K Rapinnett

Jun 17th 2009, 19:21

@L galea

people are not being RESTRICTED - they are being urged. you are FREEEEEEEEE.

Free. 4 letters that dont seem to exist in your nostalgia of the 80s...wonder why!!

K Zahra

Jun 17th 2009, 19:20

When it deserves to be criticised I think we should criticise Government - but I think this is quite a smart move.
It has 2 good motivations to my mind:
1. It will help families. Make no mistake (and I just love to work these things out) 5-10 bulbs will make ALOT of difference in the bills we pay.
2. As people will realise they will be paying less thanks to them, they will start using them more frequently, hence reducing demand.
Hence Govt has /will achieve 2 objectives - reducing the bills we pay, reducing demand for the future.

M Attard

Jun 17th 2009, 19:02

@ all the grumblers below.

What a whole lot of whingers you people are. According to you, nothing is ever done right. I am not defending or praising this initiave, however you should all try to see the positive side of a situation. Proven psychological studies all conclude that the more positive a person you are, the more you will succeed and the happier you will be. You lot all see a glass half empty instead of half full. We so need to get rid of this sick Maltese mentality.

From my end... thank you to the Government. Although this may be a drop in the ocean, it is a drop more than none.

Corinne Vella

Jun 17th 2009, 18:56

L GALEA (again)
If businesses are making as much as you suggest, then they'd hardly be closing down, would they?

As for your irrational assumption that you need to go shopping twice a day (good grief, the effrontery!), you could buy everything in the morning or everything in the afternoon. No one's obliging you to split your shopping spree into two parts, though it might be a good idea to do that as it would enable to get some sunshine and fresh air.

Corinne Vella

Jun 17th 2009, 18:09

L GALEA
The government you consider mine is, I assume, yours too or you would not qualify for free energy saving bulbs, which would mean you'd have something different to complain about.

Of course you would never be a customer of mine if I had a shop. In the interests of protecting one's valuable customers, it is usually necessary to weed out those who aren't, which is why I'd pull down the shutters were I to see you approaching.

As for your 70s and 80s nostalgia, well, what can I say? Empty your food cupboards, subsist on cut-price luncheon meat, use ration coupons for sugar, turn off your water and power supply for days at a time, throw out your computer or pay government a few belli liri for the sake of owning it, turn off the colour function on your TV and switch between TVM and RAI (when the power's on, that is), pay a couple of hundred liri to government for each appliance in your home. And try burning down the newspaper that now allows you to spill your particular brand of beans all over its website.

Now, doesn't that make you feel nostalgic for 2009?

jcmicallef

Jun 17th 2009, 16:15

Let's clear this up a bit, cos ppl's expectations are really curious...to say the least.

I worked 7 years with the (now defunct) local agent of Philips - who invented the energy saving lamps in the first place. That was 20 years ago and that's how long I've been using energy-saving lamps myself. They cost Lm 6 to Lm 9 at that time, but were well worth it.

Despite being in the EU, we are still importing cheap stuff. Ok, so you can buy an PL lamp for 1 or 2 Euro, but it will probably last a fraction of the time. Go for branded, good quality lamps.

This is not an economic exercise, it's a cultural exercise - so quantity's not the issue. I cant stand ppl complaining that the light emitted from energy-saving irritates them They don't know ther are different levels/types of lamps. There is soft-light and fluorescent type, for different rooms.

Having said that, I am totally against the abolition of the old filament (incandescent) lamps - they remain most practical for short bursts of light (until you get into bed or have a shower). Energy saving lamps are paractical when lit for long periods.

Galea. L

Jun 17th 2009, 15:15

Joseph Attard
Why are people being restricted to those times?
Are the business not there to serve the customers?
DO the businesses expect people to buy their needs in the morning and go again for the bulbs in the afternoon?
No wonder Maltese businesses are closing down and are considered the worst in the world as far as customer care is concerned! This certainly does not apply to prices and profits.

Corinne Vella
An excellent example of customers go to hell.
Being so arrogant is typical of your government.
You would never see me in your shop if you had one.
As for the variety of bulbs, where's the choice promised by the PN?
Have you forgotten how much PN and its apologists have attacked and are still attacking the lack of choice under PL in the 70s and 80s even though everyone had a better standard of living at the time?

Corinne Vella

Jun 17th 2009, 15:08

jcmicallef: energy saving bulbs last longer than ordinary bulbs so in the long run there'll be fewer.

Corinne Vella

Jun 17th 2009, 15:06

In this primordial soup of opinion, L Galea's emerges as a very special species.

"All families were promised 10 energy savers" Typical "iss hej mhux fer" attitude. What can one say? Shack up with some friends and split the proceeds.

"Where is the profit going?" Well, where do you think profit goes if not to the people with whom you trade?

"Isn't it enough that we are paying for the bulbs from our taxes much more than one can find similar bulbs on the market, namely 2 euros and sometimes even for 1 euro?" There can't be better priced bulbs on the market than any you 'pay' for using a voucher but apparently that isn't enough for you, is it?


Honestly, the way some people think is beyond belief.

Joseph Attard

Jun 17th 2009, 15:01

@jmicallef,Paul Barrett, Galea L,
On a piont of clarification please note that the voucher explains that consumers should exchange their voucher between 3.30 and 6/7 pm. I am more then sure that most DIY are open at these times as this matter was discussed with them prior to this demand from GRTU being made to the authorities concerned.

Corinne Vella

Jun 17th 2009, 15:00

1. No one is pointing a gun at your head to force you to use energy saving bulbs.
2. Using energy saving bulbs will help cut your bills without you needing to turn out the lights.
3. If you're desperate for bulbs, you don't need to wait for the voucher to plop onto your doormat. Bulbs have been on sale for ages already and will continue to do so long after used vouchers turn to dust.
4. If you want a variety of bulbs of different brands, pay for the extra ones but save yourself an ulcer and check out the ranges before you crank up the whingeing.
4. If you don't want to buy your bulbs in the afternoon, go shopping in the morning. Shops are open then too though given the scale of grumbling, moaning, whining and complaining here, if I were a shop owner I'd pull down the shutters at the sight of someone armed with a voucher approaching my shop.

Tmercieca

Jun 17th 2009, 14:31

Always" Vouchers for free energy saving bulbs will be issued to all households over the coming days". Think this is not the first time we all heard it. Question, when is "the coming days"? This month is nearly over, so that means we're half way through 2009! Are these the bulbs we are supposed to use to save electricity?

jcmicallef

Jun 17th 2009, 13:41

Good. I already have my preferences - Make, wattage, etc.

But....

I do hope that the Minister already has a plan for the eventual recycling of these bulbs when they wear out. This scheme will increase the quantity of such bulbs materially, so much that I feel that an effective disposal scheme should be implemented.

Paul Barrett

Jun 17th 2009, 12:54

"Upon a GRTU request, people are being urged to exchange their vouchers in the afternoon"

Are not the shops closed in the afternoon?

Galea. L

Jun 17th 2009, 12:49

First of all all families were promised 10 energy savers and no mention was made of the number of persons.
Secondly, what if the person chooses different wattages/bayonet/screw types and they are not available in a single brad?
Then again why are people being asked to go for the bulbs in the afternoon?
Can the GRTU tell us whether the commercial outlets are there for the service of the people or is it the other way round?
Isn't it enough that we are paying for the bulbs from our taxes much more than one can find similar bulbs on the market, namely 2 euros and sometimes even for 1 euro?
Where is the profit going and how much is in it for the distributors and the importers?

J Azzopardi

Jun 17th 2009, 12:35

This reminds me of the times when the USA used to provide the citizens of Malta with cheese, butter and flour, because then we were a third world country. It seems we have not advanced much. We still expect hand-outs. What is ridiculous is that most people refuse to realise that such bulbs are not free but it is coming out of taxpayers' money. In one pocket out the other.

P Debono

Jun 17th 2009, 12:30

What a joke of a country!

With inflation being the highest in the whole of the EU and a negative GDP growth of almost 4%, what does the government do to solve this problem? Put more money in taxpayers pockets? Lower the ridiculously exorbitant water and electricity rates? Reduce income taxes?

No, distribute vouchers for five energy-saving bulbs!

This gross incompetence and arrogance from Parliament isn't even funny anymore.