Hi, news from today: i've received the package finally, after almost 2.0 months!! Obvious reason for the late delivery, the USPS address label sticker did not show the full address because parts of the address (ZIP code, ..) were truncated by the label printer machine. i dont know WHO printed the USPS address label sticker (Flashlights USA?, USPS?, moron?, printer?,..), in any case the package was mal-addressed and the address had to be corrected/completed by ingenious German post officers ("to re-address").
happy with the fact that the waiting has ended, huge relief, i am not satisfied with the product itself; the shipped sample could be much better ( i know it because i own the product already hah!! ). instead of following the PP route even longer/more i decided to close the PP dispute AND contact the company (CS + CEO) to ask for an offer of amends. the point is, if some great recommended seller like HKE sends me flawless specimen i will not complain ever but accept the higher HKE prices. so when some other dealer (Flashlights USA, 1st time shopping experience) sends me a specimen which my otherwise preferred dealer (HKE!) would not have dared to send me without a clear warning, then i cant accept the shipped quality (poor QC by Flashlights USA!).
I certainly regret 2 things regarding this order:
1. i should have placed the order with HKE in the 1st place, as always! trying to save a few bucks (by ordering from Flashlights USA) ends now in more trouble.
2. i should not have ordered the product at all. it was a rash purchase decision, and i am not interested in the product anymore.. also because i own it already.
Great reviewer as i am (with trusted recommendations and helpful details in my reviews), HKE is a great seller (with trusted warnings and honest assessment of stocked samples) as well. kreisler, HKE, Flashlights USA?? --- great, great, not too great. ( i can blow my own horn cant i? ;) )
So my advice to you guys is:
Dont buy a flashlight which you dont really want to buy!
On a side note, different product: Just to give you an example how clear HKE checks samples in stock and communicates with full expertise and wise reasoning:
From this email the reader can conclude that both samples are not fully satisfactory to the critical eye (like bada$$ me!), and one feels warned.