Sofirn SF14 should come with a warning

They do, on AliExpress. See the link for their store I posted above! Not amazon, though …

The addition of a Direct Thermal Pat (DTP) Metal Core Printed Circuit Board (MCPCB) <generic illustration below>, and a throttling back of the max lumen output from 600 to 550 lumens should mitigate thermal build-up problems in the SF14V2. According the Sofirn rep I PM'd yesterday, the new MCPCB in the SF14V2 is copper and not aluminum.

Photo borrowed from Rigid PCP.

But this doesn't help existing SF14 owners that have the flickering problem.

What is wrong?

The cost on Ali for a SF14V2 is currently $16.23. But when I checked the price there a day or two ago it was only $12.90. What is Sofirn doing?

The above screen shot is from a browser I had left open. One may just as well pay $16.09 (with the coupon code) on Amazon and get the flashlight with battery and charger.

I don’t know about the price fluctuation, but since it is a new product, they may be still adjusting it.
I remember that in the beginning the original SF14 costed a bit more than what it costs now. So maybe they are still adjusting values. Also, Coin values tends to make some (little) impact!

If you check the AE App, you’ll find a 0.88€ coupon for buying more than 13.03€, so it will bring it down almost 1 dollar!

At this writing, the listing on Amazon says the “upgraded” SF14 is expected in stock on Aug. 8, 2018.

The price for the upgraded version with battery and charging slot is $22.99.

The price for the SF14 alone is $14.99 — same as the old model.

But perhaps it is the old model when you purchase light alone, since it is rated at 6t00 lumens, same as the old. Whiled the updated version is rated at 550 lumens.

I do not see any coupon on the Amazon site, as of this writing.

Reducing the rating by 50 lumens and calling it upgraded makes me wonder what’s going on.

After this controversy, Sofirn should stop selling the original SF14. I hope this is simply an oversight on their part in updating the listing for the light alone.

Still no rating listed for Eneloops, or NiMH for those who may be unaware that the chemistry is the same.

The code I used to get the 30% off SF14V2/Battery/Charger deal (i.e.GCRBWXTC) no longer seems to work. Sorry,

The flashlight alone on this page is the old SF14.

Interesting. Can a flashlight manufacturer stay in business catering to the needs of enthusiasts? How many units must they sell before they break even? I’m using a little 14500 Olight as my EDC. My little Olight costs less than the Chinese junk garbage they’re selling on amazon. I read reviews for lights I’m interested in. Garbage, plastic lens AA zoomie gets 16,000 decent reviews. Thrunite. Olight, Nitecore, Thorfire lights that are decent, costing less than t the Chinese-Garbage lights, but the good lights have the smallest fraction reviews.

Based on reviews, a junky garbage plastic lens TACTICAL flashlight is the one you really want.

I understand that the quality and quantity of reviews can be manipulated by unethical vendors, but 16,000 mostly positive reviews?

As an example, my most recent light is the Catapult V6. Who but folks like us would buy a light like this?

I’m just saying is all…

The 30% discount code (GCRBWXTC) is listed under the “Special offers and product promotions” section of the Amazon listing, not near the price like coupons are clipped on Amazon listings.

Better yet, PM Sofirn here and see if there are any 50% codes remaining, as noted in the other thread.

Either way (if the AMZ code is not working), I’d try a PM, and they should be able to take care of things.

The promotional code works and brings the new version of the SF14 with battery and charging slot to just under the price of the old model with its defects.

I do not see any way to order the new version of the SF14, with or without the accessories that I wouldn’t need.

Of course, who knows if this listing is correct. I got an SF14 just this week and it was the old model.

You can, through AliExpress Store of Sofirn Official Store. It has been said above here!

Link: Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

The new version of SF14 was released this week! See here: Our newly Sofirn SP32A v2.0 and Updated SF14 are available on amazon.com. Order yours today with promotional 30% off code! .
If the order was done some time ago, you wouldn’t get the new version, just the old version…

I’m not sure what you mean, because your statements contradict. One says the code works on the new version, and then the next says it’s not possible to order the new version.

To be clear, the Sofrn rep here provided an Amazon link to the new 2.0 version of the SF14 in the other thread, in announcing their availability earlier this week.

There is a 30% off code on the page, or a 50% code if you PM them here and ask for it.

For the time being, both the new v2.0 of the SF14 and SP32A are only being offered in kit form from Amazon. And in the case of the SP32A, only the black color. The cheaper SF14 listing with the bare light is for the old version. In addition to the price and configuration. the difference between the two listings can be discerned by the lumen ratings, as well as the picture of the light.

Subsequently, the bare SF14 v2.0 must be ordered from their AX store, as well as the pale gold and silver colors for the SP32A v2.0.

Even if one doesn’t require the battery/charger, the Amazon SF14 option is clearly preferable, as either the 30% code can be used to bring the kit to the same price as the bare light on AX, or the 50% code to make it an even sweeter deal. And it will arrive within a few days for Prime members once it becomes available, versus weeks from AX.

Selecting and buying from these hobbyist-oriented Chinese brands requires some caution and some attention to detail, because their marketing and methods of distribution can be confusing, but that’s nothing new, esp. for BLF members.

I think I’ll wait awhile….

Sure, but 4A is enough that the voltage drop due to resistance in the spring, switch, etc needs to be considered.

Yes, but that would be an issue with poor design.

For example, the Zebralight SC5 has no issue putting out over 500 lumens and running an Eneloop over 5 amps. The Eneloop handles it just fine. But, you’re right, the flashlight probably has little other resistance to get in the way.

I don’t think there are many manufacturers that can afford to cater only to flashaholics. Even Zebralights, which are moderately expensive even by flashaholic standards, must have to sell far more lights to “regular guys” than they do to flashaholics. So there must be a market for selling $100 flashlights to lots of people. Granted, they’re probably outdoor enthusiasts and not couch potatoes, but they must outnumbers flashaholics by a large amount.

The only brand I can think of that likely caters to flashaholics (and maybe some ridiculously overpriced government contracts) is HDS. But with them you’re paying astronomical prices for a relatively unimpressive light (though very tough from what I hear). They probably have to charge so much because the volume is so low.

Sorry, but this seller may not be ready for prime time.

First it sent me a defective SF14 AFTER announcing that it had a new, improved model.

Then, when I placed a second order, for the new improved SF14, it said no stock available until Aug. 8, for a nearly two week wait. Fine, no problem. Then, suddently, it said my item was in stock.

Finally, it sent me some other model: a side switch instead of the tail switch I wanted; 18650 instead of the AA I wanted; and a confusing user interface. I would gift it, but doubtful that a non-flashaholic would want it.

Sorry dude. Contact us via email or PM us, we will make it right. You are right, it’s not Sofirn’s prime time. We are trying to survive in the market actually. :cry:

This is the thing. We sent inventory to amazon FBA warehouse, then it depends on amazon when it would be available, not Sofirn. :person_facepalming:

And then the weird issue happened, some items are relabeled! the wrong label is of SP32A V2.0!

We put the two product in different boxes and sent together. Don’t know why they are mixed up. Who relabeled our inventory? How many of them are incorrectly? amazon told they need time to investigate and can’t tell more information before they make it clear. :person_facepalming:

All right. We closed the listing of FBA, what’s all sale now will be shipped from China directly. Amazon.com

Hope amazon will make it clear and tell us what’s wrong. Below is how I was answered :frowning: :frowning: :frowning:

Just hang in there Sofirn & weather the storm. Sorry the mislabeling thing happened ar the Amazon FBA Warehouse… but that is not your fault.

It is just an unfortunate thing that happened. My SP32A V2.0 order was mislabled also. A SF14 V2.0 had a SP32A V2.O label on it.

I have sent pictures & you all are working on the problem…. good enough. :+1:

You will get it sorted out & hopefully things will go smooth.

Take care & keep going!! :slight_smile: I am liking your lights a lot!! :+1:

Well as far as I am concerned it is a shame that it appears Amazon puts the wrong (Amazon) label on the lights at the FBA warehouse in the USA & then it takes them (Amazon) 14 - 21 days to “investigate” their mistake??? :person_facepalming:

That sux, in my humble opinion. :frowning: … Amazon should own it & fix their mistake quickly.

I ordered a Sofirn SP32A V2.0 & it arrived in 2 days.

Only problem was it was a Sofirn SF14 V2.0 that had been incorrectly relabeled as a SP32A V2.0 with a label stuck on right over the original part number on the box.

See the picture below. The incorrect label has been peeled off & is now stuck above the part number on the box.

.
From examining the two above pictures it appears the labels of the SF14 V2.0 and the SP32A V2.0 were reversed & put on the wrong boxes.

Hopefully it won’t take Amazon 14 - 21 days to figure this out.

This is one of the reasons I don’t buy more from Amazon (apart from the aspect that most of the things don’t ship to Portugal…).

I prefer to way about 3 weeks or a month to get a thing from the original store/seller (like from AliExpress stores) than buying from Amazon! Only when I need things “faster” I order from there…

It is a shame that this “store” (Amazon) harms sellers and products from companies that are struggling to make the things right, like Sofirn (despite all the “mistakes” that Sofirn may incur in)!!

We got your back Sofirn and it is good to have a manufacturer like you on BLF, making lights, asking buyers and enthusiasts opinions, accepting small and big projects that other “major” brands don’t accept! It surely tells me (us?) that if we can count on you, you will probably count on us too :+1: