Hi I am new to this forum and I am confused about these group buys specifically.
On all these group buys I can usually go to GearBest or wherever with the links provided and but the light. However, everyone is always talking about codes and I don’t really get what this means. Can someone explain to be how this whole process usually works.
If this is the wrong forum to post this, I apologize.
Welcome to BLF. Each groupbuy is different, I assume that the codes refer to Discount code or “coupon code”
Feel free to post a link to a specific deal
For instance I am looking at this reylight pineapple. And there is a link to a massdrop that ends in like 5 days but you can also buy it on banggood right now for cheaper. I just find all this very confusing…
You are right confusing,.
I couldn’t figured it out which one is $500?
What?
David,
There are several different types of “group buys” on BLF and they do get kinda confusing when new to the forum. The following describes my understanding of the various group buys I have seen, but there could be nuances I have misstated.
1) BLF Special Edition Products
These are group buys where BLF members design, either from scratch, or modifications to an existing light, and work with a manufacture to get the light produced. You sign up on the “interest” list for the light and when they are available you receive a PM with a code to buy the light from a vendor. This type of group buy can be found in:
2) BLF User Negotiated Deals
BLF members negotiate a price with different vendors on commercially produced lights (stock lights). You will go to the vendor’s web site and put the item in your cart, at the price it is available to the general public. When in the cart there is typically a place to enter coupon codes, and when you enter the code you will receive a discount off of the published price. You will get these coupon codes from the BLF member who has negotiated the deal. Sometimes the codes are posted in a thread, but often you get the code via PM. (The BLF member may get a small cut from the vendor for each light purchased via their link or coupon code.) You can find this type of group by in:
3) Manufacturer or Vendor deals
Sometimes manufacturers (thorfilre, jaxman, etc) or re-sellers (bangood, fasteck, gearbest, etc) will post special deals. Sometimes these are new products they want to promote (and BLF is a great place to do that due to the many flashlight fanatics enthusiasts), or older models they want to get out of inventory. Again they will often have special coupon codes that you need to enter when the product is in your cart. You can find this type of group buy in:
For me, the first is the true group buy, and involves a custom or semi-custom light. However, I gladly take advantage of the other two to get nice lights at budget prices.
Mr. Scott
Some times it can be for related parts such as drivers or cells.
Ah, yes. All three of the above can apply to parts, not just complete lights. (Thanks Rufus) But that got me thinking about another category.
4) BLF member made parts
Many BLF members have incredible skills and will make parts for their own use and will sell parts to help other flashlight moders. You will find heatsinks, drivers, etc. in the Want to Sell forum. They will be intermixed with people selling their unused lights, but something to watch for if you mod your lights. Not sure this is a “group buy”, but it is an aspect of BLF which I really appreciate. You can find it in:
So do these codes work the same as coupon codes, or am I missing something there?
I love the talented blfers who make and sell stuff and have already made some purchases that way.
If you do not participate in the group buy and instead use a regular coupon code found elsewhere to buy the light when it is publicly available from a vendor, you are not guaranteed to be getting the same specified light from the group buy. It can be a second run without some (or any) of the features or specifications. If you want to purchase a group buy light, you should do so through the group buy, with the group buy code. This gets you the negotiated price on the special version of the light.
But to answer your question in another way, yes the codes function the same as a coupon code, by giving you a special discounted price.
Alright, so the seller sees the code come through, knows your are part of the group buy and sends you the arranged on item. If any old joe just buys it without a coupon, they get what?
That would be the million dollar question.
In this case who knows what you will get (besides a higher price).
Based on buys like the BLF A6 and the Kronos X5/X6 , I’ve been under the impression that initially you could not even buy the light without the special code which you receive via PM. At some point, if all the lights haven’t been sold, the code will be posted in a thread so anyone can buy the remaining stock.
Kronos X5/X6:
BLF A6:
After the BLF group buy is complete, the company may offer the same/similar lights under a different label.
BLF A6 Astrolux S1
Kronos X5 Astrolux S3
Kronos X6 Astrolux S2
What do you mean you can’t buy the light without the code? What happens if you check out and enter no coupon code?
During the Special Edition Product (#1 above) group buy, I’ve been under the impression you can’t even buy the light w/o a code. After the vendor starts selling it on their own, if someone has arranged a User Negotiated Deal (#2 above) you wouldn’t get the discount.
Don’t know. Never tried. Probably a question for one of the buy organizers.
You are saying you can’t buy the light without the code. But thats not what you mean. You mean if you do buy the light without the code, they will cancel your order or send you another product or something.
Yes, I am saying my understanding is that you can not buy the light without a code. This IS what I mean.
No, this is not what I mean. Sounds like you should try and let us know what happens. Empirical evidence would be good.
Note: Behavior could vary between vendors (banggood, gearbest, etc) and the capabilities of their web site.
Okay thank you for taking the time for explaining that.
You may find that the vendor has set the price without coupon at $10,000 or some cost prohibitive price. This ensures that lights people signed up for through the group buy are not sniped by people who did not sign up.
These lights are produced in limited quantities, catered to the number of group buy participants.
The vendor will use appropriate measures to ensure that the lights go to the gb participants first, then any other waiting list, then (if any remain) to the general public.
The purpose of the group buy is a limited quantity run.
It is by default not sold to the general public but to participants of the group buy.
The special coupon code is one way to ensure that the lights are sold through the group buy.
Thank you. I would never try to get into a group buy I want part of by buying a light out of turn, I’m just trying to understand the nuances of howe this works