Philips Hue Smart LED 5-Piece Starter Kit

I received the starter kit ($175) and 2 light strings ($79.97 per)that I ordered. I connected the Hue bridge and screwed in one of the three bulbs. I used the app to search/locate the light. The app couldnt locate it. Apparently this is pretty common. I found the serial number listed on the bulb and entered it manually into the app and it found it. All is well that ends well. I continue installing the smart switch and another bulb. The second bulb, it finds on its own. I install one of the light strings. This needs to be entered manually to be located. I get to the last bulb and it wont locate, it needs to be entered manually and there is no serial number on this bulb. I call philips hue. Israel, the rep, tells me that this happens sometimes. It is a mistake from the factory. No big deal. He says to photograph the bulb where the serial number normally is and send it with proof of purchase and they will replace the bulb.Let me just stop and say that up to this point im really fine with all of this. Things happen. Serial numbers dont get printed. Its all good. I am willing to be patient and walk through this process and the expense of mostly my time spent on the phone and sending an email. This is life.Israel knows that I bought the philips hue starter kit off amazon. I mention it several times in the course of our conversation. He sends me an email for me to reply with my pictures of the bulb lacking the serial number and my receipt from amazon which I promptly do. A couple of hours later he responds back "we regret to inform you that you are not covered under warranty because you are still covered under the retailers warranty, please contact amazon directly." Well as you all know, to make a return at amazon you need to disassemble and repack the entire item and return it. The starter kit is 175$ but the individual bulbs are $60.00. I write back to israel and tell him that I have already installed the rest of the starter kit. To disassemble it and repack and send back due to the serial number lacking seems ridiculous. I tell him If I have to do this for the one 60$ bulb, I will not be using philips hue moving forward and I will research the competition and ,ove forward with them. I wrap it up with please send me another bulb. Israel basically sends me the first stock email again.I call amazon and explain and to their credit they were very helpful. The amazon rep says he understands that I do not want to dismantle the installed philips hue system for the sake of the return. He offers me a 25$ gift card. I guess its better than nothing but It bothered me enough to write this review. I have no idea how common the bulbs coming out without a serial number are but if you get one as part of a kit you are out of luck unless you want to pack the whole thing up and send it back.