We are sorry to hear that you feel this way about the lights. For optimal performance, the lights should be located in an area that receives full, direct sunlight for at least 8 hours per day. If the lights do not receive the proper amount of sunlight each day, the batteries will not be able to fully charge and the runtime/brightness will be negatively impacted. When fully charged, the lights will produce a decorative 15 lumen light output and stay lit for up to 8 hours. As with all solar lighting, the lighting will dim through the night as the batteries discharge. If you feel the lights ar not operating properly, please call Hampton Bay customer service at 1-855-HD-HAMPTON (1-855-434-2678) and one of the team members will be able to get more information to help troubleshoot and resolve the issue.