How hard would it really be?

Ryobi P701G rechargeable flashlight
(Source: https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.one-18v-li-ion-ultimate-combo-kit-6-tool.1000751346.html)

Light bulb replacement instructions, Ryobi P701G flashlight

Flashlights need to two things, batteries and bulbs. In this case the battery power is provided by a rechargeable battery and a recharger provided in the 6-tool kit. The bulb on the other hand is a consumable and eventually must be replaced.

A customer would reasonably expect to be able to buy replacement bulbs from the place that sold the flashlight in the first place, Home Depot.

But Home Depot does not see it that way. And the staff in the poorly named "Customer Support" department made it abundantly clear that once they sold the flashlight that was the end of Home Depot's interest in you.

Home Depot has not make the same decision about other consumables such as drill bits and saw blades, but for some reason the light bulb is not sold at the store.

When I enquired the response I got was, "The replacement light-bulbs for the Ryobi P701G flashligh (sic), you are interested in, is currently not available to purchase through Home Depot. We invite you to communicate with Ryobi-the manufacturer at 1-800-525-2579 as their agents are better to indicate how-through which channels-you can procure the said bulb."

What a pain! If I wanted to deal with the manufacturer I would not have bought the light from Home Depot in the first place. Perhaps in future I will bypass the retailer and deal direct with the brand. A retailer like Home Depot seems like it is actually not that interested in dealing with customers.