Bargain on compact fluorescent bulbs

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I've read several instances in these forums and blogs of people saying they have gotten really good deals on compact fluorescent bulbs. I have never found them on sale. Where are you folks finding them? How often do you see sales? Are they name brands?

[poundwise]

This probably isn't what you are looking for, but I buy bulbs at Lowe's and get 4 or 5 to a pack (depending on size) for less than Wal-Mart sells the 3-packs.

I'd be interested in learning a cheaper source as well, as long as the bulbs were as good as quality in terms of actual brightness and longevity.

[lrjohnson]

I once bought a ton when Costco had these crazy "instant rebates" - it was a parnership with PG&E, I think. It ended up that a 4 pack cost $2.99, I kid you not. I stocked up, so I haven't had to buy in a while.

[DivaJen]

Rite Aid has had them in their rebate program this year.

[flash]

Last fall/early winter, GE introduced the Reveal bulb, and had the fluorescent's savings evaluated/rated. They discontinued the old packaging on the compacts, from $8 to $1 here, for maybe two days (cleared out fast), filled the shelves with the Reveal, then reintroduced the compacts when they repackaged them to say specifically how much (I think $45 a year?) they save...apologies, but I stocked up at $1, so I haven't really looked at the new packaging in detail.

We did an article on packaging, forecasting, sales.

I will try to get better at posting the forecasting...but a good tip is simply to remember that if a new product comes on the market, one has to go out...at a good price...