Good news. I did finally get the bulbs in after nearly 2 weeks. That's fine, I can live with that. Well, I go to take my XM lamp out to try out the others and have the worst time getting it out. The contacts had tightened a lot and the ceramic had contracted. After about 20 mins of trying to get it out, it finally comes free. I try one of the new lamps and, you guessed it, it wouldn't fit. By this point, I'm getting very aggravated. I then try to get the old lamp back in. Guess what--it won't fit back in, either. So, I keep applying pressure and suddenly one side finally goes in (ridiculous amounts of pressure--completely unnecessary for what I should have needed). Then I can't get that other end freed. I used my gloved fingers to try to back it out after attempting to level the lamp somewhat. I still won't budge and I was uncomfortable with applying any more pressure. So, finally, the bulb gives, but only after the fixture ripped off the other end of the ceramic. By this point, I'm thoroughly disgusted with the fixture as a whole. I've never had that much trouble with a DE fixture and it was bordering on the absurd. No matter what I tried, None of the other bulbs would fit, still. Then the ceramic of the fixture itself decided to crack. Off to the junkpile this one goes, I'm afraid. I was somewhat leery of Aquamedic products, but had heard good things about the lighting. Now I know that was a mistake. It's a hunk of junk as far as I'm concerned. If I can get any money back, I will--otherwise it goes in the garbage and lesson learned.
