Panasonic Corp. of North America
Complaint 222051 Details

I purchased six Panasonic compact fluorescent light bulbs at Home Depot, Norwalk, CT several years ago. Two were placed in service immediately and worked. However,last week when I attempted to use one of the four stored as replacements, three were found to be defective and did not work at all. Unlike the three bulbs that did work, these three lack a small lead button at the base, used to make electrical contact with a lamp socket --- something that appears to be a manufacturing defect.

The bulb packages state they will serve for 10,000 hours, 10 times the lifetime of a typical incandescent bulb. Since the three bulbs in question did not work at all, I pursued a remedy from Panasonic. As requested, I provided photographs of the bulbs, the original packaging, and close-ups of the apparently defective contacts at their bases along with photos of the bases of the bulbs that did work. Further, I offered to return the defective bulbs for examination. This offer was rejected. Since this particular 23-watt bulb, model EFA23E28, is no longer manufactured by Panasonic Lighting, I stated that I was willing to accept lower wattage bulbs of similar design as replacements. However, three separate individuals in their customer relations department, including Bill Stevenson, a senior executive [phone: (201) 348-7500; contacts on 14 and 18 March 2013], have all denied my request for replacements or any other form of compensation.

Further details of my claim and its rejection by Panasonic are available in a summary letter I have prepared for the Federal Trade Commission. If you will provide an email address, I will supply a copy to you.

Thank you for your help.