About 2 weeks ago a circle-line fixture in our utility room quit working. I removed the plastic shade and noted that the two bulbs were looking rather long in the tooth with black areas in and around the connectors. Ah Ha, I will just get a couple new bulbs. I trotted down to HD and purchased Philip's replacements. I installed them and still no go.
I took down the fixture and found that the ballast had let the smoke out of one end. I search the internet and found Atlanta Light Bulbs had the needed ballast. I ordered it. After a week it hadn't arrived, so I called ALB and found that they had to order the ballast from the maker and that it would be in Atlanta Thursday or Friday. Well, by luck, it arrived this afternoon by UPS. I installed the ballast with the new bulbs and the bulbs still would not work correctly. The problem was that the larger 40W circle-line would not fire up. I installed the old bulb and everything worked as one would expect.
Off it went to the same HD where I bought the bulbs. The young lady at the returns counter asked if I had a receipt for the bulb I was returning. I said I did not, but would be happy to do a simple swap. She told me that the new manager of the electrical department will not accept returned bulbs without a receipt. I asked her to call electrical and check again; she go the same answer, not ticky, no bulby. I told her that I would take the bad bulb and never step foot in a HD again, in terms requiring an R rating.
As far as I am concerned, HD called me a liar and thief all in one easy statement. I don't need that, and I can do without those people of unknown male parentage.
Currently there is a new Loew's under construction across the street.