New neon batch

[Autumn]

Spencers now has their new batch of neon lamps. The first one I bought I returned before I even left the mall because it was cloudy, but the second one was only very slightly cloudy. The lamp does clear up when running fortunately and the flow is also very active. It may not be like the 90's lamps with lots of stretchy blobs, but I feel that with the amount of activity in these lamps it is forgivable. I plan on picking up a neon yellow and a blue/red tonight. I will post photos of them in the next few days.

 

Base and cap: 7/10
Glass            10/10
Clarity:            9/10
Flow:              8/10
Color:            10/10

 

Base and cap: I don't care for this style of base, so my rating is because of personal preferences.

Glass: Very few bubbles, no noticeable flaws.

Clarity: Very close to being crystal clear. I am actually not bothered by the slight cloudiness, but it is a flaw.

Flow: It is not American flow, but it is enjoyable to watch.

Color: I love the neon series colors.

 

[Ben]

The Spencer's at my mall has always let me open them in the store. I know the manager a little bit through shoplifting arrests and she's cool with it, as are the other employees (usually stoner-looking dudes who are a bit put-off by a detective in a suit buying lava lamps on display next to dildos and pot-related knick-nacks.) The manager damaged out 2 Elmo lamps after we opened them in the store and they actually looked clear & fine. She's pickier than me, I guess! This manager also said she bugged the company to include law enforcement in their 10% off deals for military & fire employees and she says it went company-wide at her urging. I think it's great but I can't see many of my fellow cops buying beer pong accessories, black lights, or pot-plant boxer shorts.

[Phishy Lava]

I love these neons! I finally found all four. The watermelon is funny......pictured on the box (tube), it totally looks like its pink! But once its broken in, it's a bright, almost fluorescent red. It's gorgeous!!!! And yes, I also agree that the yellow flows the best!

[Bridget T]

I keep waiting for the watermelon's to show up locally, I so want one.

[Matt]

Went to 2 different stores and FINALLY found all four (I'll never order online again). The folks at both stores were nice enough to let me open the lamps and check for cloudiness before I left. These lamps are beautiful! The watermelon color looks like a bright red when flowing. I hope they make an orange lamp or a blue lamp (or both!) in this neon series!

[Erin]

Awesome Matt! That's cool that they let you open the lamps in-store. 

[Kirk]

Matt/Ben - my experience at Spencer's brick and mortar store has also been good.  The manager at my Spencer's knows me now, and she lets me know what's coming and when.  I remember Spencer's when growing up in the 70s, but can't remember the lava lamps.  The lava lamps are defintely a big seller for them, and they seem to be sensitive to the quality issues.

Shows I'm getting old and a bit conservative (did I say that?), some of the items are definitely more risqué than I remember...

[Erin]

Good place to pick up a vibrator (Spencer's)! LOL I feel like such a dork being in that store. I'm wayyyyy too old and yes, the other products in the store, while not offensive to me, are just really immature. LOL *sigh*

[Matt]

Yes, the lamps in my store are right beside the "toys." Makes for some interesting conversations in the checkout line!

[Ben]

Great flow on my neon green!  Seems to get better with age.  I just missed a decent shot of this column:

[Keith]

They won't let me open them, they open them for me. ;)

Matt said:

Went to 2 different stores and FINALLY found all four (I'll never order online again). The folks at both stores were nice enough to let me open the lamps and check for cloudiness before I left. These lamps are beautiful! The watermelon color looks like a bright red when flowing. I hope they make an orange lamp or a blue lamp (or both!) in this neon series!

[Erin]

Watermelon Neon now has wax stuck to the bottom. Also, the yellow one, which previously had excellent flow, is now flowing weirdly. 

[Phishy Lava]

Same here, Erin. Yellow used to flow beautifully. Past 2 days, it makes a weird cone shape and spits off tiny little goo balls. Is that what your yellow is doing too?