I will wait for future codes. I don’t like the preorder thing. That’s is 50 bucks I can have in my hand for a extra month or so.
Hi, Miller! I already ordered all the Q8s I asked for, but I may want one more.
Thanks!
Nope, sorry
We know soon (tomorrow?) when the production is resumed and again soon (tomorrow or day after?) when shipping starts or can start.
See earlier text:
BLF A6 was a very profitable project for the manufacturer, sure they kept it open for as long as possible 
Had it be much closer to production price surely they would have limited the number of actual lights sold for a groupbuy price. Like if we would have said $50, oh then the “special code” could run for months
Sorry man, I can’t add much to this, we really did our best to get all things perfect, with 7 team samples and an outside review for an objective look. Team reviews that were honest and showed all.
We, no I simply hadn’t thought about the possibility that pre-production samples could be better then actual production because of the care in assembly.
We were so clear on specs of parts like FET and MCU, I see the rubbing rings on arriving Q8 lights proving all were tested. We have supplied a manual making sure that all can play with Narsil without the need for a computer of phone.
We tried to avoid pitfalls from the past BLF projects like lower quality parts used on drivers. Negotiated the testing of all before shipping, but still 11 switch assemblies have failed after some use.
As soon as it became clear we started specifying the last bits and pieces and now all i’s should be dotted, but still we thought this was done before.
I see a chance for somebody who has a faulty Q8, if he/she orders it 
Aww come on, just order it! Don’t you want to be part of the ‘first wave?’ :partying_face:
Besides, I wanna see the Q8 on your YouTube channel!
Huh. I would have taken for granted that would be the case.
It’s a classic situation.
That’s why the Consumer Reports company says they buy their test products from retail consumer sellers, rather than risk getting specially prepared samples from the manufacturer.
Here’s a description from a blog that focuses specifically on Chinese production: https://qualityinspection.org/pre-production-samples/
(my italics added — h)
I’d like to see a “Lessons learned” list develop for future reference.
FWIW, when I ordered my second, predicted shipping date was “Expect ship in:Sep.26,2017 - Oct.08,2017”
Fingers crossed.
I really wanted to order this and the D4 around the same time and not wait ages. So I don’t mind waiting I have more important things to pay first. (probably buy some tools for work)
Only 4 lights I am buying this year those 2 and the K70 and the astrolux thrower. I don’t have the spare cash 
I have bought heaps of parts this year I like moding and building. I am also building a light bar.
I know I’m late but…
Is it too late to ask for a discount code?
I’m certain many knew that a small number of prototype is not the same as production. But honestly, what could have been done about it? In an ideal world, a slow ramp of production would have been great (ie. a batch of 50, then 200-300, then all others). But there would have been even more “I want my Q8 now” grumbling and perhaps the manufacturer would not have wanted to go along with it (delaying revenue for sunk development cost, higher per unit cost for small batches). There’s always a cost to quality and it looks like this project hit a fairly good balance.
i used 3.3mm drill on the driver.
driver is siting flat now.
got some crap laptop batteryes inside to test.
whent outside, and click.
bottom line, i got a big smile on my face., love the UI
thanks alot for the dev team :+1:
If the improvements promised come good, I will be very happy. I’d even have been content with the first batch problems, having participated in a few BLF special adventures, and had to fix them up myself. Really, I think that things are a bit out of proportion here, and thank you early adopters for flushing out the first batch minor issues. I hope you are taken care of once the hoo-ha has died down, and we are generally pleased with what still seems to me to be a very fine product, at an unbeatable BLF price.
$40, £30 is I think a bargain however you look at it. I’ve spent 2/3 that on SRK clones with counterfeit emitters, crappy drivers, little modding potential, rough metalwork etc.
I can’t see that price happening again, codes or otherwise, for some time, but what do I know ?
Chin-up The Miller.
Welcome to BLF!
Code send
Would be so funny to reach 1750 pre orders, we have crossed 99% of that I just saw.
Cue Bangood website going into meltdown with last minute orders
How many will it be in the morning ?
Thank you! I appreciate it.
> what could have been done …?
That site I linked to above has some suggestions. Look for the clickable link that looks like this:
You’re right that the “want it now!” contingent here was pushing too hard, as we knew they’d be doing.
Rushing production has never worked out well.
But the main problem is whoever at TF managed the process didn’t understand
how to keep his company’s best long-term interest in mind.
(but obviously he was clever enough to find someone to rush and then blame, sigh)
Oh boy.. Thanks for all the pm's!! Lots of offers. I'd like to see the responses if I posted I'm having trouble paying my taxes or something 
No, please don't send money!! 
Just paid for my 3rd and last, should have me and my family well set up for things that go bump in the night.
2 of mine came in. Nice build on these lights but some things needed attention first thing. I expected some black gunk to be on the ring inside near the circuit board, and wasn’t disappointed. It appears that when these lights are tested the cells they use are dirty. A “pink pearl” pencil eraser removed the black deposit without much trouble. I had to blow out the eraser dust.
One of the complaints folks have had are buggered up screws. Mine had possibly a little of that but not enough to mention. I did need to put some grease on the o-rings and threads, there was some on the threads, but the o-rings were dry. The cheat sheet fit right into the end cap slicker than snot. Another complaint heard is that the switch LEDs are of unequal brightness. Both of mine appear to be of the same brightness or close enough; I didn’t need a lit switch anyway, but it’s a nice touch. Thanks for including it Thorfire! So far in the Q8 I’ve only used the UI functions available in the Emisar D4 and it’s Narsil Lite UI. Later tonight I’ll play with it more. Physically it’s longer than the Meteor M43 with a diameter roughly the same but that too was expected since this light has reflectors and the M43 doesn’t.
Some folks complain that the flats on the battery section don’t line up with the milled sections on the head. Mine don’t either. Big deal.
I kept it on turbo and sure enough in 3 minutes it stepped down. I might change that to temp’ control just in case I need turbo for longer and it’s –20°. In those 3 minutes the head got decidedly uncomfortable to hold. I’m thinking temp’ control or no control (ones own hand being the temp’ control) is the way to go.
I probably knew it, but had forgotten… It has no hole for a lanyard, but it does have a threaded hole in 1/4-20, so it will accept a d-ring or some such, or go onto a tripod. I haven’t decided yet, but I may drill and tap a hole in the endcap for a lanyard ring. Dang! I forgot! I bought a camera hanging dingus that goes on a belt to hold the light. I just tried it without the belt and it’ll work fine for using it for nighttime chores. It just needs a bit of blue loctite on the threads, and a belt.
The smoke grenade pouches work great and if anything are just a hair snug, but that means they will pull out and not fall out.
I’ll keep cells in both of these for a few days to make sure the switch LEDs are “burnt in” and working.
These are very nice lights! Quite a light for being a “budget light”! I have yet to be disappointed with any BLF light.
My hat is tipped to the team! Kudus! You folks did a great job and produced a fine light! But again, I have not been disappointed with any BLF light that I’ve purchased. It’s definitely worth more than what I paid for it. It was also interesting to watch the process an idea to completion and now I have them on my desk. It can’t get dark soon enough
It hasn’t been that long ago (back when Americans made stuff) that we just blamed assembly problems on “Friday afternoons” or “Monday morning hangovers” of failing Union negotiations. I don’t think I ever heard anybody blaming it on American workers trying to get a product out the door too quickly.