1p Energy Saving Bulbs

jfmfit

jtb2412 wrote: »

Hmmmmm wonder if we'll get full clubcard points for them ..... ???!!! What are the chances ! lol

At a penny each, with full 1p Clubcard point it would make the bulbs FREE!
It sounds like a good deal.

jfmfit

Lo-Lo

Still some at Tesco Beaumont Leys, Leicester. They are limited to 4 per customer, but better than them being removed altogether which is what they did on the first day!

anguk

I've just been to my local Tesco and they still had some although they are marked as full price on the shelf they do go through for 1p.

I actually got a little annoyed with a man who worked there. There was nothing saying the bulbs were reduced and nothing saying they were restricted to so many per customer. I actually took a few to the self scanner to check the price, found the ones that were 1p and took 10 each of the ones I use. I didn't empty the shelves and I only took what I needed. At the self-serve checkout I was merrily scanning them when this man came over and said I was only allowed 6 so I said there were no signs anywhere saying that. He went and asked the supervisor who said we could have as many as we wanted but he obviously still wasn't happy so went off and asked the manager, (bearing in mind this old guy is the one who collects the trolleys & baskets & keeps the checkouts clear). My hubby followed him to the manager who said there's no signs up so they can buy as many as they want. The guy still wasn't very happy about this so hovered around us the entire time we were at the checkouts with his face up his bum and even watched us out of the store! The supervisor and manager both knew the bulbs were 1p yet no-one had changed the shelf-edge ticket and there was absolutely nothing in store about them only being 1p.

It just seemed ridiculous that the supervisor and manager had said we could take more than 6 but this little old man was adamant that we couldn't! You'd think he was payuing for them himself out of his pocket!

So if you're anywhere near the Annfield Plain Tesco they've still got some left, just watch out for the little old man who hovers around the tills!

Greentime3

peakoilisnow wrote: »

Went to my local tescos and there were none- the customer services woman took me to where they were and the whole lot had gone.

BTW I am told that there are higher wattage energy savers made for billiard /pool table lights, so that might be a source for the forum member's uncle try googling 30 watt (=150 watt) + "low energy".

You can get them up to 400W but you has to pay for them http://www.megamanbulbs.co.uk/acatalog/Energy_Saving_High_Power_Bulbs.html
and these are only available as Screw Base the largest at the most economical price although not 1 p were these 30W BC or ES have used them for my out door lighting take quite a while to warm up but after about a minute they are fine http://www.megamanbulbs.co.uk/acatalog/Energy_Saving_Spiral_Bulbs.html

dragonfruit

eslick wrote: »

Information on the phasing out of non energy saving light bulbs, looks like its similar to the carrier bag "tax" that was proposed yesterday of if stores dont start to do it themselves.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_070737

It looks like the manufacturers convinced governments that it is good for environment, while it might not be at all. Some scientific research needs to be done of course, but my gut feeling is that the amount of mercury, which will be released from broken compact fluorescent lamps going for tips when all incandescent light bulbs will be banned will be much greater than the amount of mercury, CO2 and other toxins released from the coal power plants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp#Mercury_emissions

Mercury is by many toxicologists considered the most toxic non-radioactive heavy metal. Mercury is particularly dangerous even in very low concentrations for children and foetuses:
http://www.pirg.org/toxics/reports/brainfood/brainfoodreport.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_poisoning

"For the Maine study, researchers shattered 65 compact fluorescents to test air quality and cleanup methods. They found that, in many cases, immediately after the bulb was broken - and sometimes even after a cleanup was attempted - levels of mercury vapor exceeded federal guidelines for chronic exposure by as much as 100 times."
""We found some very high levels [of mercury] even after we tried a number of cleanup techniques," said Mark Hyland, director of Maine's Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management."
"The study recommended that if a compact fluorescent breaks, get children and pets out of the room. Ventilate the room. Never use a vacuum, even on a rug, to clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamps. Instead, use stiff paper such as index cards and tape to pick up pieces, and then wipe the area with a wet wipe or damp paper towel. If there are young children or pregnant woman in the house, consider cutting out the piece of carpet where the lamp broke as a precaution. Place the shards and cleanup debris in a glass jar with a screw top and remove the jar from the house."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/26/mercury_leaks_found_as_new_bulbs_break/?page=1

Manufacturers of the compact fluorescent lamps do not warn at all about mercury danger when the lamp is broken:
" http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#flourescent CFLs contain small amounts of the toxic element mercury. If a bulb is broken, it releases mercury vapor. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has released a document on cleaning up broken CFLs, instructing people to not vacuum, to open windows and leave the room for 15 minutes, clean up the pieces while wearing gloves, use duct tape to pick up small pieces, and double-bag in plastic all broken pieces, in order to avoid mercury poisoning. These precautions are not printed on the packaging of CFLs in the United States. "

Remember that if there will be any visible drops of mercury and they will not be collected, they will be evaporating staying in the gaps in the floor for years (not for 15 min like it is suggested above - 15 min airing of room is sufficient to remove only mercury vapour if there are no drops of spilled mercury, which would release new vapour), poisoning slowly people living in such house, and causing over years a myriad of illnesses (mimicing other common illnesses: http://www.immunesupport.com/library/bulletinarticle.cfm?ID=3318&EM=020602&PROD%20=PH155 ), which nobody will be able to track back to a mercury drop evaporating over the years.

The amount of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps is relatively small (usually from 1 to 30 milligrams of mercury), but if you think about bilions of such lamps ending up on our tips then it is a significant environmental and health hazard (tons of mercury just from compact fluorescent lamps).
"The nonprofit cited a New Jersey study that estimated that about 2 to 4 tons of the element are released into the environment in the United States each year from compact fluorescents. That number is expected to grow as sales do. In comparison, about 48 tons of mercury is released into the environment by power plants each year, according to federal statistics."

So if you are sure that you are saving environment by buying compact fluorescent lamps, think twice.
It seems for me that this "fashion" supported (unfortunately?) by governments is only for the good of compact lamps manufacturers but not for the environment or our health.

There are also other disadvantages of compact fluorescent lamps listed here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banning_of_incandescent_lightbulbs#Controversy

Just thought that you should know, better be safe than sorry.

BTW, it is interesting to know that in the case of organic mercury compound dimethylmercury, just one drop is enough to kill:
http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19980309.html

Francis1980

My local ASDA had a reduced to clear selling energy lightbulbs for 10p each.

*Jelly_Tots*

dragonfruit wrote: »

It looks like the manufacturers convinced governments that it is good for environment, while it might not be at all. ................................Just thought that you should know, better be safe than sorry.

BTW, it is interesting to know that in the case of organic mercury compound dimethylmercury, just one drop is enough to kill:
http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19980309.html

Thanks for that - it's worrying.
There's no way anyone is going to "consider cutting out the piece of carpet where the lamp broke as a precaution" - it would be hilarious if it wasn't so risky. Governments are so short-sighted - it's obvious too little research has been done on the long-term disposal of these bulbs.

Jamsyke

Sid_Harper wrote: »

@jamsyke: please do tell us what sort of seasoning and cooking method you use for your hat!

I'm not much of a cook, a couple of minutes in the microwave will have to do (unless I can get it to fit in the toaster!).

Was I proved wrong? When TescoEmployee said the offer was funded I assumed he means funded by a 3rd party rather than funded by Tesco, but I could be wrong. Maybe Tesco are prepared to do this just to appear environmentally friendly but even if they are losing money it's still likely that whatever they're paying is a subsidised cost.

But it doesn't matter, grab them while you can. I'm just speaking as a frustrated business struggling to compete against subsidised products. It's not that there are cheap products available, that's life, it's that it devalues the market and people now think that £1.99 is expensive when in reality it is not.

oskar.marke

Jamsyke wrote: »

I'm not much of a cook, a couple of minutes in the Was I proved wrong? When TescoEmployee said the offer was funded I assumed he means funded by a 3rd party rather than funded by Tesco, but I could be wrong. Maybe Tesco are prepared to do this just to appear environmentally friendly but even if they are losing money it's still likely that whatever they're paying is a subsidised cost.

I don't think Tesco would sponsor this, It's too expansive. Has to be some charity.

Bigun28

It might just be that Tesco sold them that cheap for 3 reasons:

1. Sell them at 1p as a loss maker (for which they sell other products as) but at least it gets the customer in the store. Then there is a chance that the customer, in addition to buying the light bulbs, will buy other products as well (eg bread, milk, bottle of wine etc) for which they do or may make a healthy profit from. Wasn't there a finite limit of how many bulbs in total Tesco would sell across the UK? Hence, they have already calculated how much of a loss they will make on the bulbs, but conversly calculated that the extra customers will increase overall takings. It will also rely on appealing to people's 'guilt' trip. People will feel guilty going into Tesco only to spend say 8p on some bulbs. They will often buy other things as well to bring the total bill up to a more realistic amount.

2. It jumps on the government's current 'go green' bandwagon which is highlighted in all of the media and is seen as supporting the current 'cause'.

3. Overall, it is good advertising for Tesco. As they say, 'every little bit helps'.