FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

I like it the way it is, I have other Flame Throwers’ but only a couple of sane pocket lights, the FW3A met and exceeded it’s design purpose and then some, you just can’t beat it for the money, no way no how…

Guys, sorry to hijack the thread but this guy Neal is not responding to my emails and I need to contact him.

Long story short - after 33 days of waiting I got a defective FW3A - one of the LEDs is not working. Asked Neal what to do, he wanted a picture, I provided a picture, he sent me a tracking number (supposedly for a replacement device), but when I checked it a week later turned out it’s my OLD tracking number from my original order. Since then Neal is not responding to the emails I send him for about a week now.

Thanks Neal for providing the correct information about all these optics and lens issues so that everyone can relax and make educated choices and comments going forward.
The users on this forum are pretty lucky to have a guy like you looking out for us Neal!
:partying_face:

It’s not very encouraging, but just keep emailing him. It’s been 50 days and I still haven’t gotten a light, including about 5 of my emails that were ignored. He sent me a new tracking number a few days ago, we’ll see if it gets here.

The general consensus is that he will eventually stand by the product and make it right, just be prepared for LONG delays and a lot of emails that will be ignored.

Not true, sales potential was unknown when the project started. If the design had gone in a different direction, interest could of been lost and the project canceled. There is always a certain amount of risk when starting a new project.

I have a 20th Anniversary Citizen Attesa with domed sapphire crystal. It has been bumped a number of times over the 10+ years I’ve owned it. I can see only one very slight scratch on the crystal when observed up close.
I find the domed lens effect appealing. It actually magnifies the labeling on the inside rim for easier viewing.

The goal was to make it short, small and light for every day carry. The fact it has a really strong Turbo mode is kind of secondary.

That’s why it’s recommended to use a high capacity battery and not high drain. You get a bit slower heat build up.

I see your light is modded using 3 x Samsung LH351D 5000K emitters. What battery are you using?

Cool video BTW.

I used a brand new VTC6

That’s definitely high drain. I don’t have any high capacity non protected cells, but if you do, it would be neat to see the effect on Turbo. Theory says it will pull less amps which means a bit less lumens, but longer Turbo run time. Probably not much more, maybe 10 seconds more? I think you got 16 seconds?

I got 15 seconds using a 30Q. Maybe a high capacity cell will only extend it 6 or 7 more seconds?

(Also keep in mind the ambiant temperature might need calibrating)

Interest could have been lost if the flashlight wasn’t at least similar to what was intended. There was, however, a huge pre-release interest list, most of whom were going to buy. That doesn’t happen very often with new flashlight releases. It is a huge leg up on just a regular new flashlight introduction. It absolutely does come with a huge amount of potential immediate sales.

lol, he will reply back to you almost immediately if you reach out to him during his normal business hours.

So you don’t find either of the three (3) options satisfactory. And even though one option is a refund, you say… “I suppose in a day or so I’ll just open a case with PP?”

Wow… that is impressive. :person_facepalming: …. Please recognize the extreme sarcasm in that statement of mine.

Why would you do that?? Just to show you can? … Why not just put your ‘big boy panties’ on and ask for (and get) the refund that was/is offered??

Now, as far as the three questions you asked above….

1. “How is everyone jumping for joy?”

  • Because three very acceptable solutions were offered to this unfortunate situation.

2. ” Am I missing something?”

  • Obviously…. you are.

3. “Am I retarded?”

  • No comment.

Well im not aware of what Tidio is capable of but thanks for informing me, good to know. My name is Trevor, been meaning to join this forum for a long time, been a member of CPF since 2003. I have had very good experience with Neal and I think the options he has given us is great!. Also I reached out to him through facebook messenger option in the past during his bushiness hours overseas and he responds to me pretty much immediately, im sure it depends on how busy he is but I have had good luck that way.

I tried this, then FB Messenger. Neal replied within minutes thru Messenger.

9pm US eastern time, is 9am his time. His hours are 9am to 10pm. :slight_smile:

Robin, normal business hours, in a (likely) one man operation, overseas, with small profit margins, are whenever the small business operator can get to his large workload. Teacher’s response is not emotional, it is logical. Your consideration of a PayPal dispute is emotional. PayPal disputes should be for unresolvable situations, and not applicable here, since three viable resolutions are available. Since you asked for a refund, I’m sure you will get one.

Have you yourself ever dealt with Neal before?? Or could it be you are basing your commentary on a few excerpts you have read from a few disgruntled customers. Have you read the tons of positive comments about dealings with Neal?

“Sluggishness”…… :person_facepalming: …. Not at all. I PM’d him this morning with my option A request and heard back in less than 5 minutes. We messaged back & forth 3 more times each about random things.

You want a refund, you’ll get it. Go ahead and do your PayPal thing… it will take you much, much, much longer to get it that way. :wink:
edit to add: Not to even mention you will appear to be a ’nut case’ since Neal has already offered a Full Refund.

I got that impression from your first post. If you had read closely Neal asked us to Email or PM him with our choices. He never once mentioned “live chat” to address this issue. To bad you didn’t use PM here on BLF…. you might well have received a speedier reply…. as I did.

No “emotional response” here. Just commenting on the ridiculousness of your expectations, as well as you basing some of those expectations NOT on your past personal experience with this vendor…… but the experience of a few unhappy people. And do not forget, you only hear the side of the story the “unhappy people” present.

There are always two sides to every story……

Buying from China isn’t for the impatient, plain and simple. If you don’t mind waiting, you’ll usually get a really nice product at an unbelievable price. And you’ll even find a few places that offer very good customer service given the circumstances, and Neal is one of the best of them.

Please feel free to state the facts here about whatever problems you’re running into with the FW3A. But please limit it to the facts, state your case (once), and leave it at that. And please avoid fighting and arguing at all costs. Thanks in advance.

Group Buys are obviously not for everyone.

It’s to bad more people, instead of just being interested in a good deal & deep discount; do not thoroughly read the OP & pay special attention to the parts such as I have quoted below.

A word of warning for BLF specials:
The BLF part is done by BLFers who do it in their spare time, despite they may seem professionals and the work they do is at professional level, BLF is not our full time job. So give us a break and relax if thing are not going as fast as you want.

Nothing is sure so expect waiting:

- Waiting for news and updates.

- Waiting for the project to come to fruition.

- Waiting till the result can finally be ordered.

  • And then waiting for arrival at your home, shipping from China can take a long time.
    So relax, enjoy the many other facets of BLF while you wait and remember:
    It is done when it is done:slight_smile:

Just to be clear, I never said I “emailed”. I said I “sent PM’s here on BLF”. That is most likely the difference in our experiences this morning. I got a timely response.

Yes they are. And you can be 100% positive if Neal offers a Full Refund…. you will get it.