(prototype) the GT Mini

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1223

15 ÷ 500 = 3%

I don’t think BLF has ever done a group buy on the D1S lights. So I would imagine that if there were any complaints about it, the people would be complaining directly to International Outdoor Sports Store rather than to this forum. Maybe some people would mention it in a review thread? I don’t know.

For sure the defects rates vary with every model of light regardless of the brand. Like the Haikelite MT09R. Pretty much all of them had problems. Even the BLF Q8 had issues with the switch lights in the first batches. Some light models might be 0.5, some 3, some 20, some 100.

In my opinion, it’s not so much what the percentage of bad units is, it’s how the company responds to the issues. Like the Fireflies ROT66. All the xpl-hi versions had crushed emitters. They took care of the problem quickly. This can be an inconvenience to customers, but at least it was taken care of.

Other companies like Imalent may or may not fix the problem. They seem reluctant to fix anything. Or else they will charge you for a new head, etc…

Right now Lumintop seems really good about fixing their products. It took them awhile to fix some of the GT issues, but we are currently at 7 out of 1500 needing an issue taken care of, most of which is related to missing or damaged shipments which you can’t even say is a defect. If we count all 7, this is 0.5. We hope to get it to 0 soon.

Bottom line, I don’t see how you can really bad mouth Lumintop when there are other companies that are much much worse.

1224

Not badmouthing, I have some lumintops that I am really happy with. And I am sure Lumintop will make things right. Just getting the impression that there are some QC problems with this model, that people should take into account before purchase.

Probably it’s just me being grumpy, but having to return a light or waiting for replacement parts just spoils a lot of the fun for me. Trying to avoid it even since the S41 decapitated led versions.

1225

I also thought there might be a big defect once we heard leds were turning blue and some falling off the mcpcb, plus some switches where acting funny. I told M4D M4X there could be a big issue back on Aug 27, but he assured me it’s just normal stuff and a small percentage. It seems he’s right.

BTW, achieving a less than 10% defect rate was over a 1 year period, not just when it comes out. Keep that in mind.

1226

I believe that 10% is shedloads even after a year… I bought a bit of electronics in my life and the failure rate is nowere close 1/10 and we have to remember that flashlights are relatively simple devices.

Anyway, did anyone try changing the switch themselves? I never disassembled any flashlight apart from Solarforce L2P and don’t want to make the situation even worse, so excuse me basic questions.
Basically I got to the LED after removing bezel, lens and reflector, do I need to unsolder wires from the mpcb and push the driver out? Is that it?

I’m still waiting for banggood to come up with a solution. I did actually email Lumintop service themeselves but they don’t seem to care enough to reply (another reason not to bother with them).

1227

That is it. The switch is soldered to the driver so you have to swap the driver out.

I think they will send you a new head as people can’t be expected to completely disassemble a flashlight and solder stuff.

1228

Did anyone hear anything from Lumintop service though?
Or are you talking about people who bought directly from Neals? I unfortunately ordered mine from BG.

1229

FWIW, Hank runs the store called Intl-Outdoor, there is no Sports at the end of it.

This is the home of the now legendary Noctigon MCPCB emitter board with Direct Thermal Path. And the Noctigon Meteor M43. :wink:

1230

I sent a message to Lumintop and they did respond but at their direction I have to go through Neal.

1231

I guess it was Store instead of Sports. I think of it as IOS as in RampingIOS. I guess he dropped the last part of the name. It’s confusing for me. Lol

1232

Chance to see a BLF GT 90~100 mm head?

1233

Even if the IOS means Intl-Outdoor Store, I’d think that would be a major conflict with the Apple iOS we are all so familiar with. Interesting… one would think Apple would be all over that… when I was starting my business I consulted a trademark lawyer and the rules of engagement there are very difficult to meet. I wanted to call my photography business TIME, Digitally Remasterd. I was told I would be sued by TIME magazine. Get’s to be a real pita when you’re global, like Apple.

1234

Hmmm, ToyKeeper calls it RampingIOS, but Richard at MTN E calls it the D4 UI.

1235

Mostly knees and hips from what i’ve seen. Infections can occur with any surgery, but I think you’re in the clear by now. A good friend of mine had both knee replacements done 5 yrs apart. Both got infected, and was hooked up to picc lines for a month+ each time. Not a lot of blood flow in those joint areas, so it’s difficult to kill off infections. Complications during surgery exponentially increase risk, ie: the longer the incisions are open, the more risk. They try and work as fast as possible for this reason. We would do extra scrub downs with the C-Arm (x-ray and fluoroscope machine) prior to entering OR, then install a sterile jacket cover over the entire piece of equipment similar to this

1236

Neal promised me to send a new replacement head so im waiting for that hopefully they will honor their word so i can actually use the light which i bought to use. For me its the first time a lights switch ever died or whatever, i think for sure they have certain issues with this model hard to deny that…

1237

…………

You guys are cracking me up…. :smiley:

From what I read Jason never said he was told this by Lumintop. So why all the ‘speculation’ that he was??

Why all the declarations & announcements that you “will never buy another Lumintop light”??
In the big scheme of things, who cares if you do or not?? Especially for the somewhat silly reasons you have mentioned.

Stuff happens….Many times things don’t work as they should. That’s life.

My switch is screwed up on my GT Mini also… So what, no big deal; this is not life & death. In time it will get sorted out & replaced…. simple as that.

Is there really any need to keep posting about it over & over? Is that going to magically fix the problem or speed the process? Personally, I think not.

I have not received my replacement head either. And I really do not expect to receive it for at least another 3 weeks, minium. Remember…. China ‘shuts down’ 1- 7 October this year, and that time is just about upon us.

But my replacement head will come. I certainly am not going to put my Mini GT back in the box to collect dust. :wink: And if I did I sure would not post about it. :smiley:

I think many times we BLF’ers must think we deserve preferential treatment & are somehow entitled to it. Nothing could be further from the truth.

We reap the benefits of great products at super great prices. Yet if there is a problem, shipping is delayed (for whatever reason), a PM or email is not replied to in what we consider a timely manner or at all, or something doesn’t work as it should…. we have a proverbial fit & meltdown first thing.

Save the fit’s & meltdowns for the last resort after other channels have failed.

Take a ‘chill pill’ & relax.
You’ll get a more harmonious outcome & not run your blood pressure up.

In other words, all these little annoyances usually work out in time. :+1:

Just my .02, YMMV……

1238

Good & interesting info RobertB, thank you!! :+1:
…
You seem to be ‘in the clear’ DB…… :beer:

1239

Thanks Robert, Teacher, appreciate the vote of confidence. My wife worked in the OR with the Instrument Processing department and has seen all that too.

I think it would be neat to buy up 4 of the defective heads and build a Mini GT quad out of em. :smiley: That would make me get the 6” 4 jaw chuck out of the box and figure out how to use it, something will make me do that some time or another…

1240

/\…. :+1:

1241

[quote=teacher]

My bad, I shouldn’t have assumed that. Who said it then? Banggood? Is yes then it makes much more sense, and is even very optimistic looking at amount of crap they’re selling in general :slight_smile:

[quote=teacher]

Cause I won’t? It’s not really big declaration for me but I do understand your point of view.

In the big scheme of things, what matters in general? Is it a reason to close this (or any) forum?
Don’t talk to me like this please, especially about sillines because at the end of the day we’re both discussing flashlights on the internet, so no-one really cares :wink:

[quote=teacher]

I’m happy for you. I expressed my dissapointment because I’m not lucky enough to get any sort of reply from Lumintop and dealers customer service was also not too helpful at the begining.
In general I don’t like buying damaged stuff and I do beleve that feedback, especially negative is very powerful tool for all parties involved. As long as it’s constructive naturally.
Just to be clear I’m not saying that siting and waiting for things to sort themeselves out is any worse approach. In the big scheme of things, it doesn’t matter.

[quote=teacher]

Just recently joined the forum so can’t say I did got used to any kind of special treatment yet. I’m just a regular guy who gets obsessed with flashlights every 2 years or so :smiley:
I have to say that I do pay attencion to how communicative companies are, especially when I’m a customer. Would’t call commenting on that a meltdown though :wink:

1242

I suggested there might be some problems to M4D M4X. He is the one who said “anything below 10% is okay for a chinese manufacturer”. I was kind of surprised, too.