LF, LLC ceiling lights and chandeliers

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Feb 21, 2018 · , sent to the company May 17, 2018 · , published by CPSC Jun 1, 2018

   The product, in the report: Utilitech 4-ft fluorescent light fixture

   First, I saw a spark or two and then smoke arising from a socket of my Utilitech 4-feet fluorescent light fixture that I purchased from Lowes store (Carbondale, IL, 62901) sometime in 2014.

   When I removed the bulb, I saw a substantially burnt (turned charcoal color) socket.

   I googled and found that the product was being recalled by Cooper Lighting Co (now incorporated into Eaton). Hence, I contacted Eaton Customer Service (800-334-6871) by phone and emails. The customer representatives were [REDACTED]and [REDACTED] (first name only). I was told that Utilitech products were manufactured by more than one maker and asked me to verify that the fixture in question was made by Cooper Lighting.

   I then contacted AFX (866-994-4148, customer rep name: [REDACTED]) on Feb. 21, 2018 around 11:40 AM because AFX was listed as the distributor of the fixture in question. [REDACTED] told me that she had no way to know the maker of the fixture, saying that she is just a customer representative. I asked for her company’s ordering department. She repeated that she was nothing but a customer representative. Lastly, she advised me to contact Lowes customer service. Then I contacted Lowes customer service (800-445-6937). I was told that I need to contact AFX, the distributor of the fixture.

   I got the impression that none of the above-mentioned businesses were not willing to help resolve the apparently grave fire hazard issue with sincerity and earnest.

   It is incredible that the vendor (Lowes) and distributor (AFX) do not know who the manufacturer is. Most likely, the fixture is manufactured by Cooper Lighting Co. Even Cooper would not willing to own up to the issue, asking me to verify that any label of the fixure included the company name.

   I re-vesited my local Lowes store in Carbondale, IL, yesterday, trying in vain to find whether indeed the store’s utilitech light fixtures had any label mentioning “Cooper”. None of them had.

   The following message (between the dotted lines) was a (apparently half-hearty) reply to my repeated contacts regarding to the above issue. I am sure that Cooper customer service would not go beyond sending me the above reply. How do I know? They read my emails a couple of days later only when I made a phone call and asked whether they read my emails, even when I sent the emails per their directive. ____________________________________________ Thank you for the pictures. We are diligently working to identify the Utilitech branded fixture from the pictures and labels. We have also reached out to Lowes Corporate for their assistance. In the meantime, please disable/do not use the fixture. As soon as we have the fixture identified we will be able to proceed with a resolution or refer you to the correct manufacturer. We will let you know as soon as possible. Please reference [REDACTED] when contacting us.

   Thank you,

   Sandy - Consumer Products Team / Peachtree City, GA

   Customer Service - Consumer Products

   Eatoncare – Lighting Solutions

   Eaton

   Lighting Division 1121 Highway 74 South Peachtree City, GA 30269 tel: +1 800-334-6871, option 2 (M-F 8-5 EST) fax: +1 770-486-4487 consumerproducts@eaton.com www.Eaton.com/lighting ____________________________________________________________________

   Finally, I sincerely hope you may resolve the issue by making Eaton (which is the parent company of Cooper Lighting Co, the manufacturer of the fixture in question). Thank you so much for reading up my lengthy report. I would like you to know that this report is to help not only me but also many other people who might have a similar issue.

   Best Regards,

   [REDACTED]

   Phone: [REDACTED] Email: [REDACTED]

   Model

   Utilitech 4ft 2-light wrap (fluorescent light fixture)

   Serial number

   184349 (item number)

   Bought from

   Lowes store in Carbondale, IL

   Bought

   Nov 20, 2013, about then

   Where

   Carterville, Illinois: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unknown

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   made or sold by LF, LLC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources