FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

RE: TRU-TONE PRODUCTS


ORDERS & RETURNS

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION / RETURN POLICY?

We encourage our customers to read reviews, visit the Product Guide, get familiar with our products, and double-check their shopping cart before placing an order to avoid costly errors.


If you want to cancel your order, please reach out immediately to support@tru-tone.com with the subject line "Cancel (Order #)". Cancellations are not guaranteed, and may not be possible if the order has already been processed. Tru-Tone is charged a 2.5% transaction fee on all orders. This fee is non-refundable and will be deducted from all cancelled orders. 


If you receive damaged, defective or incorrect items please reach out to support@tru-tone.com within 72 hours of delivery and Tru-Tone will replace them. Please include your order number in the subject line and a list of the damaged or incorrect items.


All other Returns are accepted within 15 days of delivery. To initiate a return, please send an email to support@tru-tone.com with the subject line "Return (Order #)." Customers will be responsible for packaging and shipping all returns. Return shipping labels are not provided. The 2.5% transaction fee and all shipping costs are non-refundable and will be deducted from all returns. Returns may also be subject to a 10% restocking fee. Returns should be shipped to the following address:


Tru-Tone Returns

466 26th St.

Ogden, UT 84401


For more information see our complete Returns and Cancellations policy in section 21 of our Terms.



I MADE A MISTAKE WHEN PLACING MY ORDER, CAN I CHANGE IT?

If you would like to make adjustments to your order please reach out immediately to support@tru-tone.com with the subject line “Change (Order #)”


Tru-Tone processes and ships orders as quickly as possible, so the window to make adjustments is limited and can depend on when the order was placed and our current order volume. Orders that have been processed cannot be adjusted, so you may need to place a second order, or initiate a return.  

Combining orders is also not guaranteed. The process to achieve this, despite our best efforts, is a logistical feat. We encourage you to double check your orders and needs before placing them to avoid these complications. 

DO YOU OFFER HIGH-VOLUME DISCOUNTS?

We offer a 5% discount on all orders of $499 and up, which is applied automatically at checkout. Additional discounts are available for larger volume orders (not for resale) of complete cases. Please contact retail@tru-tone.com for more information and to place large quantity orders. 

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF DAMAGED GOODS?

If you receive a package that is clearly damaged, refuse the delivery if given the opportunity, and contact us immediately. Each and every bulb is inspected and tested at the factory and safely packed for shipping, but many things can happen in transit. Inspect all bulbs upon arrival and contact us for swift and simple replacement of dead or damaged bulbs. Please do not dispose of the damaged item(s) until instructed to do so. Damaged goods must be reported within 72 hours of delivery.


Tru-Tone™ LED filaments are more robust than tungsten filaments but have a glass enclosure, a critical component of their appearance. Please handle and store Tru-Tone™ bulbs as carefully as you would traditional glass incandescent Christmas bulbs. See the Product Guide for more information on safe storage and usage. 

I DON’T LIVE IN THE US, CAN I USE YOUR PRODUCTS IN MY COUNTRY?

Tru-Tone ships to most countries, and offers the the latest and best option(s) we're able to offer for that particular time. 


All international shipments may incur additional duties and fees upon delivery, depending on your country.  We do our best to mitigate these fees through negotiated rates and services with our carriers.


Please keep in mind that International shipping takes longer and can be less reliable.  Estimated delivery times and tracking are provided by the carrier and are not guaranteed by Tru-Tone. 


In the event of lost or damaged orders, we will do our best to work with the carrier to resolve the issue. In some cases we may offer a refund or partial refund in place of product replacement. 


Tru-Tone does not currently offer our lights in voltages other than 110v. To use our products with higher voltages you will need a voltage step-down converter with a plug adaptor. We hope to offer other voltages in the future through local resellers as soon as resources and circumstances allow. If you have a connection with a company in your country that would be interested in partnering with us for a large wholesale order, please drop us a line!

PRODUCT QUESTIONS

WHY DO YOU SELL YOUR BULBS AND LIGHT STRINGS SEPARATELY?

Selling bulbs and strings separately enables you to select which type of cord and which type of lightbulbs you want, independent of one another. It also allows customers to purchase only bulbs if they already have strings or other items they want to use our bulbs in,  so we prefer to offer our customers a choice. 

HOW DOES THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION COMPARE TO INCANDESCENT CHRISTMAS BULBS?

Tru-Tone C7 and C9 LED bulbs consume 0.6W (watts) each. That’s a whopping 88% in energy savings over incandescent C7 bulbs which use 5W and 91% over incandescent C9 bulbs which use 7W. Our S14 bulbs consume 1W vs. 11W incandescent, for 91% savings. See our Product Guide for more examples of how Tru-Tone bulbs save you energy and money. 

HOW CAN I TELL TRU-TONE™ BULBS APART FROM VINTAGE INCANDESCENT BULBS?

As of 2022 all Tru-Tone bulbs are marked with a discreet logo imprint near the base of the bulb, and stamped on the collar of the brass base. Bulbs from 2021 have only the stamped base, and those from 2020 have only the logo imprint.

DO TRU-TONE BULBS FLICKER?

All LED bulbs operate by cycling on and off and sometimes this is more noticeable to the naked eye.  For the vast majority of our customers, there is little to no reported perceptible flicker for all Tru-tone bulbs. Many common LED Christmas lights are half rectified, cycling at 60Hz but Tru-Tone cycle at twice that frequency at 120Hz, which means they are illuminated twice as often. Perception of high frequency flicker is somewhat unique to each of us, and is usually noticeable only though peripheral motion. There are technological advances that can further reduce this, but they would require significant design compromises and greatly increase the cost of our bulbs.  

HOW LONG DO TRU-TONE BULBS LAST?

Tru-Tone™ LED Christmas Bulbs have a vintage appearance but are the result of modern electronic developments. The stated average lifespan of our bulbs is 25,000 hours , determined by strict lab testing by the LED component manufacturer, Epistar. Our own, ongoing, outdoor testing in northern Michigan has surpassed 20,000 hours (40+ holiday seasons) with zero failures (as of Summer 2023). None of these lifespan statements are indicative of a warranty period. The most vulnerable components of our bulbs are the glass enclosure and colored coatings. See our Product Guide for more information about storage and fading.

CAN I USE TRU-TONE LIGHTS OUTSIDE?

Yes. All Tru-Tone bulbs are sealed, have corrosion resistant bases and can be safely used both indoors and outdoors, in cold weather and with precipitation.  Please be aware that the colored coatings on Tru-Tone bulbs are susceptible to fading, which can happen more quickly with extended, direct sun exposure. See the Storage and Care section of our Product Guide for more information about fading and how to get the most out of your bulbs.

WHY DO TRU-TONE BULBS COST MORE THAN SOME OTHER CHRISTMAS LIGHTS?

There are many factors that affect the cost of our products but here are the biggest ones:


QUALITY: Most LED holiday lights are mass manufactured from cheaper components, which is why many of them have a lackluster appearance and high failure rate. Tru-Tone bulbs are made from high quality components like those you would find in household LED products from major brands. In order to achieve their warm glow and authentic vintage look, we use older, smaller scale production techniques that are more labor intensive, less common, and cost more. Every detail such as the color temperature and shape of our filaments, the unique shape of our C7 bulbs, and our finely tuned color coatings, add to the cost but are also what make Tru-Tone bulbs so special.


RESOURCES: Tru-Tone is still a very small company (presently 3 full-time employees) and has limited resources. Large corporations are able to achieve lower costs by manufacturing in massive quantities. The comparatively small size of our production runs means that everything costs a little more. We hope that with your help and enthusiasm, we’ll reach a point where all of our products cost less, so we can pass those savings on to you. 


IMPORT COSTS: International freight and import taxes are currently high. Because of current trade relations with China, some of our products also incur an additional, and extremely high tariff. 

ARE TRU-TONE BULBS MADE IN THE USA?

Tru-Tone LED light bulbs are designed here in the USA and are made to our finicky specifications by a leading manufacturer in China. There are not currently any US manufacturing facilities with the practical capability to create our products. Rest assured that your purchase is supporting a small, American business with a unique focus on quality retro details and a great customer experience. We are open to the possibility of domestic manufacturing in the future, and welcome any leads or personal connections.

DO ANY OF YOUR BULBS USE COLORED LEDS?

No. All Tru-Tone™ bulbs use our own ultra warm-white (2200ºK) Tru-Tone™ filament which is what gives them the warm, bright, cozy glow of vintage incandescent bulbs. While vividly colored LED’s have unique benefits, they tend to have a more modern, saturated and cool or “electronic” appearance from their very narrow spectrum of light. 

MY TRU-TONE BULB HAS A RATTLE SOUND. IS IT DEFECTIVE?

While very rare, we occasionally come across what we refer to as “jingle bulbs” that have a high pitched rattle sound if shaken. If the bulb is transparent, you wouldn’t see anything floating around inside the bulb. This can occur on occasion during the forming of the bulb. A very small piece of glass becomes loose inside the base. It poses no hazzard and does not interfere with the functionality or life of the bulb.

IF A BULB GOES OUT, WILL THE REST OF LIGHT STRING OPERATE?

While you shouldn't expect a Tru-Tone bulb to prematurely fail, if this does occur, the rest of your lights will remain lit. All modern threaded base bulbs are powered with light strings wired in parallel, not in series, which some vintage light sets or mini-light strings may utilize, so each will illuminate regardless of how many other lights may or may not be on the string, or if one experiences a failure. Tru-Tone covers premature failures, so be sure to reach out to us if you find yourself in this situation! 

WHAT IS THE TOTAL LENGTH OF YOUR LIGHT STRINGS?

All 25-socket light strings are 26 ½ ft. total. Our 10-socket light strings are 11 ½ ft. total.

All light strings have an 18″ lead from the plug. The sockets are spaced 12 inches apart, and there’s a 12 in. tail leading to the female socket.

DO YOUR LIGHT STRINGS HAVE CLIPS ON THEIR SOCKETS?

All of our Classic (vinyl) light strings have integrated clips on each socket. Our Deluxe (fabric) light strings are made with the only available modern sockets for this type of light string, and they do not offer clips. In our own experience with them, we rarely find the need for a socket clip as the light strings are very flexible and both drape and lay on greenery very well. If a socket needs more precise placement, you can easily twist the wiring apart  near the socket and place over a branch tip to secure, or use a simple twist-tie or zip tie.  As we grow we may be able to offer clips on our Deluxe light strings. 

ARE YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHT STRING SETS SAFER THAN THE ONES I FOUND IN MY GRANDMA'S ATTIC?

Our custom-assembled vintage-style decorative cord sets are not currently listed with an electrical testing organization (UL, ETL), however they are assembled entirely with UL and ETL listed components. Both plugs and receptacles are ETL listed, and the sockets and wire are both UL listed and over-rated when using Tru-Tone bulbs. We don't yet have the significant resources to fund and maintain the certification of the completed set, but our prominent manufacturing partner follows UL/ETL best practices, and electrically speaking, nothing is novel about their assembly.

Additionally, the very low power consumption and nearly no heat output of Tru-Tone™ LED bulbs reduces risks when compared with using incandescent light strings. We recommend only the use of Tru-Tone™ C7 LED bulbs in our light string sets for the best and safest performance, but they are rated for using incandescent lamps as well. 

Our light strings operate with standard 110v, so they are not toys. While tempting, please refrain from wrapping them around your loved ones (human or fur-covered) for photo-ops.

Both our Classic and Deluxe style of vintage-inspired Christmas light strings are the result of months of sourcing and testing to achieve a safe, modern-day version of the original Christmas tree light sets that our grandparents would approve of. 

USING TRU-TONE PRODUCTS

ARE TRU-TONE BULBS DIMMABLE?

Yes, all Tru-Tone bulbs offer full-range, smooth dimming capabilities. Not all dimmers will offer acceptable results. Visit our Product Guide for more information and helpful suggestions for using your lights with a dimmer.

HOW MANY LIGHTS DO I NEED FOR MY TREE? C7 OR C9 SIZE?

This is really a matter of personal preference, but for a rough estimate and to find other great ways to get the most our of your Tru-Tone bulbs and light strings, visit our Product Guide.

HOW MANY LIGHTS CAN I SAFELY STRING TOGETHER?

Using only Tru-Tone bulbs and light strings, you can safely connect 24, 25-bulb light strings (600 lights!)


Tru-Tone bulbs can also be used in combination with your other favorite incandescent or LED bulbs on the same string or circuit. Be sure to keep track of your wattage to ensure you don’t overload your circuit, a single run of lights should not exceed 360 watts /3 amps.


Always be mindful of the maximum wattage per socket:

- 7w per socket max for our Classic (vinyl) Light Strings

- 25w per socket max for our Deluxe (fabric) Light Strings 

CAN I USE YOUR LIGHTS ON MY VINTAGE ALUMINUM TREE?

We strongly do not advise using any electric string lights on aluminum trees. The fringe can make contact with the electrical current through the space between the bulb and the socket. This can short out your bulbs, or worse, lead to extreme hazards such as electrocution or electrical fires. Vintage packaging for aluminum trees warn of this, and it is why they commonly use a color wheel spotlight instead. Tru-Tone lights use very little electricity, but they operate at standard household voltage. We care about your safety; please don’t use electric lights on your aluminum tree. Modern, metallized polyester trees and garland are generally considered safe with electric lights.

CAN I USE OTHER BULBS ON THE SAME STRING OR CIRCUIT WITH TRU-TONE? 

Tru-Tone bulbs can safely be used in combination with your other favorite incandescent or LED bulbs on the same string or circuit. There is no practical evidence that doing so will cause any damage or stress to either the LED or incandescent bulbs. Using an incandescent bulb in the mix with your Tru-Tone bulbs can even provide dimming stability when using a smaller number of Tru-Tone bulbs with a standard dimmer designed for larger electrical loads. 

PRODUCT UPDATES

WILL YOU MAKE TWINKLE BULBS, MINI LIGHT STRINGS, C6 BULBS ETC.?

We love all of the vintage bulbs, but limitations on resources, time, and available processes make it impossible to re-create all of them. Presently our primary objective is greater availability of our core products to better meet demand. We are always working to expand our line-up of products and try to prioritize the items we believe are the most popular and practical. Please continue to ask for what you want and hopefully, before long, we’ll get to your favorites.

HAVE ANY OF YOUR COLORS BEEN UPDATED OR MODIFIED?

Yes. We are always working to improve the fidelity of our colors, and for some colors, making minor adjustments to the shade based on feedback and our own views.


In 2023 the most significant changes are:


Jeweltone Blue: This color shifted to a deeper, cobalt color in 2022, but will return to the original, slightly warmer blue from previous years in 2023. If you would like to purchase from a limited supply of the 2022 Cobalt Blue, you can do so here, while supplies last. 


Classicolor Purple: This color as shifted slightly toward the blue spectrum to give it more separation from our Classicolor Pink. We believe it now reads more solidly as Purple. We still have a limited supply of the 2022 Purple, which is now referred to as "Light Purple" on the C7 and C9 light bulb pages.


In addition to our intentional changes, minor shifts can occur in a color formula from batch to batch. All of these subtle shifts are the same as would happen with vintage incandescent Christmas bulbs, and we believe only contribute to their retro charm. We always welcome your feedback on colors.