Rayovac Batteries Spectrum Brands, Inc. Deceptive policy and clueless support Madison, Wisconsin

A little over a year ago I purchased two Rayovac 3 Watt LED Highbeam Flashlights while on vacation.  This April one of the two began to fade in and out and flicker.  I went to the Rayovac website and checked their return policy.  Lifetime warranty, repair or replace--

Warranty and Guarantee Information
Flashlight Warranty
Rayovac lighting products are unconditionally warranted for life against all defects in materials and workmanship. Excludes abuse and accidents. No receipt required. For replacement, ship your light prepaid to the address below.
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<!--[endif]-->I mailed the faulty flashlight back to them and waited several weeks for a replacement.  I wrote them again and inquired what was taking so long and within a few days received a letter saying they had not received my flashlight back and asked me to send them my tracking information so they could help me further. 

Tracking information?  First, I was sending a $30 flashlight at my expense to be exchanged—a LED flashlight that is never supposed to break down in the first place.  Why would I spend $15 at the post office or probably $10 at UPS or Fedx to return a $30 flashlight?  Nowhere in their policy online did it say anything about sending it return receipt, signature required or insured.

After a busy summer and looking for my other flashlight one day in September I sent them another letter explaining what had happened to this point.  I referred them to their own website to review their return policy etc...  A couple weeks later I received another letter from them saying the identical thing the first one had said back in May-- a form letter.  Nobody in customer service had bothered to even read my letter-- they just fired off anothe form letter.

So that's the story.  The other flashlight is still working just fine and it is an excellent flashlight-- the 3 watt LED is incredibly bright and the small size makes it great for my glove compartment in my car for emergencies.  I am sure every few thousand LED bulbs their is a faulty one now and then.  I understand that and just wanted a replacement.  I followed the rules and got ignored by a robotic staff and was forced to go buy another flashlight-- a MAGLite this time and an even better flashlight for a better price.

But be warned, if any Rayovac flashlight breaks down just kiss your purchase price, return shipping and first class stamps to try and communicate with them goodbye.  After being in customer service virtually all my life Spectrum Brands that makes Rayovac hasn't a clue.  I suggest buying Duracell rechargeable batteries and MagLite flashlights-- you spend your money once, get quality products and move on with your life as a more wise consumer having been burnt by Spectrum Brands.