How do you guys get your alkaline batteries to leak?? The only time I've had alkaline batteries leak is when I've left them inside something without being used for years and years. I had an old flashlight that I hadn't used for maybe 5 years and that one had one leaking battery. I've never had them leak in anything that I actually use once in a while.
Just consider yourselves lucky! I've come to the conclusion that they can leak at anytime, although the older they are the chances increase. I've had AA's leak inside the package. One of my ARC AAA's leaked after not using it for 2 months. :( Both these situations had unexpired brand name cells.
And of course, there are the long forgotten cells inside various devices that have been neglected for who knows how long. lol
I've seen premium alkies (Duracell, I'm shouting at you) assembled back to front so the nub was negative. Tossed 4,000 of them we did. Put those in the flashguns we sold (This was 30 years ago) and death happened. At a huge loss to all concerned. Tried to get the boss to buy only Japanese cells which were much less likely to pull such stunts. But failed. Guess how much he got in kickbacks from the crap alike makers?
Alkies can't be trusted. The issue (brand new) Rayovacs in the issue pager leaked destroying it - at a cost of around $800. OK that was pager number 6 - one of which died from being dropped in the toilet and one of which died from my reversing a 6 ton bus over it - the belt clip design is really awful. The old ones - about the size of a 1990 cellphone never broke. But weighed more than most 2x18650 lights.
I actually played with them in home depot this weekend and thought they would be good as little beacon lights since the whole body flashes when in beacon mode. It was hard to tell the real brightness actually since the section they were in was pretty bright to begin with but they seemed to be equal to 2d flashlights or perhaps slightly brighter.
While true that they can leak at any time, by far and large it happens when they are old and have remained discharged for some time. Duracell has a program for reimbursing you should a device get ruined by one of their leaking batteries, although they might ask you to mail them the device for their inspection. I had the chance to try their reimbursement program last year when they sent me a check to cover a destroyed maglite and coupon for more batteries in less than a month. Their replacement division contacted me via email within 7 days and personally answered subsequent emails within 24 hours... very impressive.
Costco's Kirkland branded batteries are Duracell's that have been rebranded, although Im not sure if they carry the standard Duracell guarantee or responsiveness to fulfilling their promise.