Kindy's Christmas Factory Outlet

We purchased Brite Star lights for the 2008 holiday season from a large retail chain. Multiple sets proved defective after a few days and they are warranted for a year. I called this home office and was instructed to mail a package to them, at our expense, with UPC codes as proof of purchase. After sending the codes, a defective light strand, and a very detailed letter, we got back a letter stating (paraphrase), Sorry you had problems, but we cannot help you because these were made in 2006. Huh? I just bought them at the end of 2008. If thats the case, its NOT our fault that the store carried them over. Brite Star prefers you contact them first regarding warranty, but now I cannot attempt a return at the store without the UPCs. What an insult after taking time to be so detailed in my letter and package. We werent looking for a refund of money, but simply a reliable replacement. Clearly our patronage and opinion is worth less to them than a few light strands at their cost. :(