HOT!!! Ralphs in California has GE Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs for $2.99

[Keroseen]

I'm not sure if it's Sothern California only deal, but...

Ralphs has GE Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs on sale for $7.99 with a club card (reg. price $10.99) through June 19th. There's a $4.00 off Manufacturer's coupon in the current sales flyer, which when "doubled" by Ralphs turns into $5.00 off. So, your total will be $2.99 + tax. These bulbs are available in 60w, 75w, and 100w light equivalents, whereas they actualy consume approx. 12, 15, and 20 watts.

Save energy and enjoy lower electricity bills!

 

[esquared]

Good deal, but for those not in So Cal, Costco has a 2-pack of 60-75 watt or 100 watt equivalents for 11.99 with an instant 6.00 discount for 5.99 (3.00 each). I don't know if this nationwide as I bought it at the San Mateo, CA store last Sunday. The online Costco is selling them for 12.89 for two pack so it appears to be a B & M deal.

 

[Rally1]

wow that is a very good deal for bulbs, the money you save in electricity will pay for them in no time.

heres a scan of the coupon incase u threw it away, but they may not accept it!

http://www.geocities.com/djstwo/GEcoupon.jpg cut and past into browser (geocities wont alow link to images)



how many can you buy on each coupon, or do i have to hack up all their fliers, i need about 10? Maybe i'll make a trip to Costco instead.

 

[Meppen]

This deal is also active in Northern California, the Ralphs over in Capitola (Near Santa Cruz) has the coupon in their flyer. According to the coupon it's good for one bulb, though...so you will have to find other sales ads to get more, or pay $6.99, which still isn't too bad.

 

[ride525]

Rally1,

Your "scan" link doesn't seem to work.

 

[Wei2Cool]

It's funny to see how this old technology never got a chance to success here in United States, these lights were popular in China 10+ years ago, and people here are just picking them up...

 

[McCarthy]

I've got one of these in addition to several other Fluorescents in my house. Nice sturdy bulb, I'll give it that, but waiting 10 minutes for it to finally get to the light level is annoying. My others come on, warm up in a few seconds and you're ready, this thing reminds me of flourescents twenty years ago.

Just an FYI, maybe they're not a consistent product and I got a bad one or maybe it's just GE's, but I'd pick these up for areas where you have lights on for long periods and try a different brand anywhere you flick on a light for quick activity.

--Mc

 

[Athena]

Does anyone know of a good site that compares the lumen values for these with standard bulbs? I bought another brand of fluorescent bulb a few months ago and the light output has been very disappointing. It's fine for the place I'm using it but I don't think I'd want to use one anywhere that requires good light.

 

[Keroseen]

Mine warm up as a matter of seconds.

 

[esquared]

The ones I bought from Costco turn on just like a regular bulb. No problems here.

 

[Vairman]

The Ikea store in Houston has recentlly had their brand of 60watt compact flouresents for ~$3.49. I asked a salesperson and she said that they run that deal often. I know it is not as good of a deal as you west coast are seeing, but no coupon and not limited to CA.

Since we have a power surplus in TX, people will probablly keep the traditional lights untill either the energy prices or the quality of the bulbs go up. :frown:

 

[ingenue007]

I'm not a big fan of fluorescent lights. I don't like the color output and can detect flicker. I've found that I study more efficiently around incandescent bulbx instead of fluorescent ones. I'll stick traditional bulbs.

 

[Keroseen]

ingenue007, you are so sensitive! Just kidding!

 

[SoundBoy]

as a part time designer, I'm sensitive to color temp and flicker. CFL's are electronically ballasted, and DO NOT flicker. The ooold 4FT fluorescent lights flickered (the ballasts were magnetic and they had a nice 60 Hz hum, too.

The new T8's that you see every where in new construction, are great too. CFL are the best choice and you can get the color temp you want.

 

[Meppen]

Just got back from Ralphs, the deal is alive (Though their stocks are low) and the price only holds to 60 watt bulbs, the 75 and 100 watts are a few cents (like 25 and 50, respectively) higher. Shame you can only buy 1 at this price.

Just a note, though, this bulb claims to be the same size as a regular bulb, but it an inch or 2 longer. Just so you know, it won't work in all applications.

 

[OS]

These don't flicker. Freaking awesome lightbulb, why did these never catch on?

 

[ingenue007]

Hmmm so newer bulbs don't have flicker and have the same color output as incandescent bulbs? If so I may give them a try? Do they take any time to "warm up"?

 

[Athena]

<< Shame you can only buy 1 at this price. >>

You can buy as many as you like; you just need a coupon for each one. Take as many flyers as you need from the basket the front of the store. We stocked up on 3-way bulbs too (coupon in the &quot;other&quot; Ralph's flyer).

 

[Aihyah]

athena,

consumer reports recently had an issue comparing brands. generally name brands like ge or panasonic/philips deliver on their promises.. most of the time they cost more. cheapie brands like lights of america etc i would stay away from..likely to fail b4 they pay off That and cheaper ones have magnetic balasts=buzzing noise, electronic balasts = none think the electronic ones flicker less too. color temperature has improved over the years.. i'm sure those 10 year old ones in china were really horrible color wise. new ones use 3 layers to produce &quot;white&quot; light. and yes, cheaper bulb manufacturers are sometimes over optimistic about the lumens values panasonic doesn't seem to be, their 100watt equiv is actually inbetween 100-150watt if you look at the lumens. damn things are bright

i figure some cheapies in crappy places like garages work out, but where i spend most of my time, i'll spend on a decent bulb


Hmmm so newer bulbs don't have flicker and have the same color output as incandescent bulbs?

well, the good ones don't flicker .. but the color output isn't the same as incadescent bulbs. The newer ones are close enough.. after a day you won't care anymore

as for warm up time, i think consumer guide found that the ones that were slower to warm up actually met their light output specs better then the fast ones

 

[Keroseen]

I've just tried my five 20w bulbs and they are awesome! Gotta grab some more before they are all out.

 

[FredFlinstone]

We want a deal like this for Michigan; anyone ??
Freddie

 

[Keroseen]

^

 

[Athena]

<< ...but waiting 10 minutes for it to finally get to the light level is annoying. >>

If you have access to the Consumer Report web site (subscription only) or a copy of the magazine, you might want to read the article Aihyah discussed here yesterday. One of the things the article said was that the orientation may make a difference. Some bulbs take longer to brighten up when they are placed base down (e.g. in a table lamp) than if they are hanging down. It might be worth it to experiment a bit and see if changing the placement of that bulb makes a difference.

 

[McCarthy]

Just a followup - the bulb I'm referring to is hanging. Actually all mine are, I never saw the point in lamps, gotta set them on something, wasting floor space. Doesn't buzz, doesn't flicker though

--Mc

 

[domeng]

one of the best place to look for compact flourescent bulbs is IKEA. They have all sorts from the small socket 3 watt to the large socket 20(?) watts.