Most people will never have to replace an automotive headlight bulb, so they don’t know that the bulbs should be replaced in pairs. If one burns out, it’s likely the partner will burn out soon, too. That’s what lead me to build a relationship with my local auto parts store, losing one of the headlights in my Honda Accord.
Even though I don’t think of myself as particularly handy, I can make a few repairs by myself; changing a headlight is one of those skills that I trust to myself. Eight months ago, one of the bulbs in my car burned out, just as my wife and I were driving to a semi-monthly meeting with our Marriage Encounter circle of friends. There was no time to find an auto parts store before our meeting, so, for safety’s sake, we drove off in my wife’s van.
During the social time that followed our meeting, I asked if anyone could recommend an auto parts store near our home, in Ellicott City, Maryland. One of our friends, Bruce Hudson, heartily recommended Advance Auto Parts on Route 40, just a couple of miles from our house.
Trusting my friend’s advice, Sunday morning found me driving off to Advance Auto Parts. The young man at the counter helped me pick out a pair Sylvania SilverStar headlight bulbs in the size that my car required. He suggested these bulbs as they were brighter and a new high-tech blue color, promising that they would make night driving easier. Although the bulbs cost three times as much as the OEM set, I trusted his advice; after all, he must be an expert, he works in an auto parts store. Yes, I know there’s a fallacy in my assumption, but I was too enamoured of the cool blue color to see anything other than the bulbs in my car.
Through most of the spring and summer, I drove to my evening classes in cool blue style. Then one evening in August, one of my headlights burned out. Back to Advance Auto Parts I went, again buying another pair of the Sylvania SilverStar bulbs. I installed only one bulb, figuring that it may have had a manufacturing defect, but putting a backup bulb in my glove compartment, just in case. Good thing, I bought a pair, because by the end of the month, I had installed my backup.
Through the fall, I drove in cool blue style, zooming around the backroads of Howard and Montgomery Counties, pretending that my SilverStars could make me see around corners. Not only did I think that I could see farther, but also I was sure that I looked cool in with my blue headlights.
Well, last week, guess what happened. You guessed it. It’s December, four months after installing my second set of SilverStars, and eight months after installing the first set. One of the bulbs burned out.
Off to Advance Auto Parts I went last week. But, rather than listening to the advice of the young man, who probably gets a spif commission on each sale of SilverStar bulbs, I bought a set of OEM bulbs.
Well, my story continues, with a very happy ending. Last evening, one of the headlights in my wife’s van burned out. This morning, I made my fourth trip to Advance Auto Parts, and I was prepared. I rooted through the popcorn can in the kitchen (our family’s depository of credit card receipts and bills that are destined for the shredder). I found all of my receipts for headlight bulbs (we don’t get around to shredding all that often). Off to Advance Auto Parts I went, with all of my receipts in hand.
I bought two OEM bulbs (no more SilverStars for me) for my wife’s van; remember, always replace headlight bulbs in pairs! Then I asked the young man at the counter if he could refund my purchase price for the SilverStars; obviously there was some sort of manufacturing defect, if I had burned out so many bulbs in eight months. The young man wasn’t in a position to authorize my refund, but he quickly got the store manager to come to the counter.
The store manager was pleasant, and he told me that Sylvania did not warranty the SilverStar bulbs that I had bought. He also explained that this model bulb frequently burns out more quickly than the lower-tech OEM bulbs. At this point, I was thinking to myself that I was out almost 80 bucks, when the manager offered to split the difference with me. He refunded my purchase price of one set of bulbs. I think this was both very fair and generous on his part.
I may have had a hassle with Sylvania SilverStar bulbs, but I sure don’t have a hassle with Advance Auto Parts. I’m glad that I took Bruce’s advice. Advance Auto Parts is my only choice for auto parts from now on.
Now, I hope that I never have to change another automotive headlight bulb!
Here’s the address of the store that I recommend:
Advance Auto Parts Inc
9150 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410.750.0880
