BLF Lantern Purchase/Followup Information - Group Buy list is Closed!!!!

You may consider sending out more than 500 PM’s in the first batch. People will not buy, people will buy more than they claimed, codes will get shared, and everything in between. Might as well send out extra and let the first 500 people who are ready to go be the early adopters… Just my .02

Thanks

I’ll be sending out single-use Amazon codes so PM’ing more people than there are codes could present major issues.

If I recall correctly, batch #2 is planned to consist of 2,000 - 3,000 pcs.

Even more reason you will need to send out more than 500 then unless you think you will get 100% buy rate. You will have to cross this bridge now or later

I prefer buying from Amazon or eBay.

It’s only on the first post of the thread. (i’m sure you realized this but i’m leaving it because people make this mistake all the time)

I saw afterward… such a dummy.

Without a doubt there will be a < 100% buy rate. But call me a slacker or whatever because I don’t want to deal with getting PM’s saying why isn’t my code working, etc.

In addition I’m flagging each interest request with the Amazon code when a PM is sent out so as know that that entry # got a code and not to resend it again when batch #2 is ready. To manually have to reset flags and also modify my scripts is easier said than done.

Also there’s no bridge to cross later since as I understand it there will be sufficient codes in batch #2 is send everyone a code :slight_smile:

I have a need to order my 5 in a single order - is it a problem to wait until I have received all 5 codes to make a single order? If so I will try to make other arrangements.

Hummm….Amazon codes are single-use codes and I guess you can apply 5 codes to a single order. According to Sofirn the batch #1 codes are good for 30 days so as long as we get the batch #2 codes within that period you should be fine. If it proves to be a problem PM me (SIGShooter) and I will manually send you batch #2 codes.

Thank you that would help me a lot!

This is precisely why exactly 500 single use codes is pretty clunky.

shirnask will have inventory from batch #1 sitting there waiting for batch #2 to be become available, makes no sense. His batch #1 lights would automatically become allocated to someone in batch #2 ready to buy if you did more and vice versa shirnask would get someone else’s spot in batch #2. We’ll see how it plays out, there is no good solution so rest assured you will be bombarded with ordering problems no matter which way you do it :slight_smile:

I don’t wish to cause a problem - if it is easier or more fair for others, it won’t hurt my feelings to be moved to the end of the line

It’s hardly a problem it’s to be expected with group buys to be honest

There’s still an issue here with only sending out 500 codes. Assuming they sell ~200 lanterns of the first batch, is Sofirn even going to run a second batch? I can’t imagine they would do so if they don’t sell half the first batch. You aren’t likely to get more than 200 purchases from 500 codes, especially considering how long ago these people signed up. It seems that you should at least do a phased release of 100 more codes each week, or something, if the lanterns aren’t purchased. There will be 500 lanterns that need sold, and more than that much demand, but you won’t be connecting the the consumers with the supply.

That said, I’m far enough down that I won’t be getting one until the second batch, anyway, so this won’t affect me. I just think contacter has a point.

As I understand it, Sofirn is already manufacturing the second batch.

Any lanterns that don’t get sold into the group buy will be sold to ordinary purchasers after group buyers have had a reasonable time to order (call it a month for everyone to hit payday).

In the meantime, Sofirn will be watching the sales figures and deciding whether to make a third batch for sale to still more ordinary buyers.

Unfortunately, the Amazon one-time code system is a bit clunky, so both the LT1 team and Sofirn are having to work with what’s available to them. Trust the team :slight_smile:

Subscribed :smiling_imp: (sorry, couldn’t resist)

I think some people need to chill out and reflect upon things. First of all Sofirn is the ones making the decisions and not the LT team. It’s their decision to make the Amazon codes single-use and not the LT team. People also have the option of buying from Ebay or AliExpress. Sofirn is aware that many people may want to wait until batch 2 so that’s not going to be a surprise to them. They are currently in production for the second batch and it’s not as if they are going to stop at batch 1 if not all of them get sold.

I’m more than happy to send out more PM’s if someone is willing to handle any issues arising from that. I will also say that handling the interest list along with the associated programming for all the PM’s is not be as simple as some people might think.

+1 on the chill pill. Everybody’s an armchair quarterback these days… :stuck_out_tongue: