Testing Home Depot’s Return Policy (CFL’s and Mercury)
Like many people I have been buying the Chinese made compact fluorescent lamps instead of standard incandescent bulbs for about five years now to reduce my electric bill. The problem is that what they advertise as 10,000 hour lamps that should last five to seven years in typical use burns out after only six months or so.
Close to the beginning of last year I began writing the “install” date for each bulb on it’s base with an indelible marker. Today I took seven CFL bulbs back to the return counter at Home Depot and asked for replacement lamps. “Why” they asked? “Do the math” I replied, “Even if they had been on 24/7 they all failed well before the life expectancy listed on the package. In fact several of them didn’t even last as long as an Incandescent bulb should have.”
“Let me call the manager…”
Since the bulbs come in four packs I walked out with eight replacement lamps instead of the seven I turned in, for free. Great for me I guess but I keep thinking of the millions of cheap Chinese made mercury containing CFL’s burning out after only 2000 hours or so and going into our landfills.
The number disposed of would be substantially reduced if they lasted nearly as long as the packaging claims. Perhaps if more people did what I did and demand replacements then perhaps Home Depot would be forced to ask for better quality lamps from it’s suppliers?
Yeah, I know, what a dreamer I am….