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

We’re still waiting for news from Sofirn as to when batch 2 will begin and how the PM process will be done. Once we know we will update this thread with that information.

All slots on the interest list have been filled as of 10/22 11:35am.

Thanks

10/9/2019

- We’re in the process of getting everything together for sending out the PM’s. This requires coordination among Sofirn and us and given the time differences and other issues may take a bit of time, perhaps a day or 2.

- The prices you may see on Amazon are not the BLF buy price so don’t worry about that :slight_smile:

- The current plan is that the lantern can be purchases on Amazon, Amazon.de, Ebay, and the Sofirn AliExpress store

  • For the initial buy (batch 1) only 500 PM’s will be sent out. You can see who will be getting one by looking at the Interest list by entry number file and scrolling down to line 500

10/9/2019

- Instead of separate codes for Amazon.com and Amazon.de there will only be 1 code that can be used on any Amazon site

- Sofirn has given me 100 Amazon codes. I’m in the midst of coding the entire process to send out PM’s ensuring that there are no duplicates now and in the future but they will be going out……soon.

- The fact that the initial PM’s will only be for 100 people does not mean that that is all there is until batch 2. I’m just waiting for additional codes from Sofirn

  • After I send out the PM’s I will edit this post to show who the last person on the Interest list by entry number file was to get a PM. You can then see where you stand in the queue.

10/9/2019

- Test of PM’s successfully done

- Waiting for some clarification from Sofirn before sending out the first group of PM’s

  • Sofirn has only provided me with 98 valid codes and has elected to hold off on sending another 100 until after I send out the first set. This is not a big deal since I’ll get each set of codes within a day (time difference with China accounting for most of it). This is not a decision made by the LT team and is how Sofirn wants to do it so please don’t say it should be done differently.

Thanks for everyone’s patience.

10/10/2019 - IMPORTANT PLEASED READ

- in order to simplify the buying process Sofirn will be directly contacting each person on the interest list so I won’t be sending out PM’s with the buying instructions.
- Sofirn has decided to limit group buy purchases to 3000 units

- read this

10/18/2019 BATCH 1 PURCHASES CURRENTLY SUSPENDED

- read this

- Basically Sofirn has suspended purchases in order to fix some of the ordering issues. When batch 2 buying begins the process will likely change (yet to be finalized) but it should result in a fairer and more efficient way for everyone involved.

- Sofirn will give everyone on the interest list at number 3000 or below the group price. We’re currently at 2,904 so there’s still time to be added.

- There is no difference in quality of function between batch 1 and later batch lanterns. Colors and a few minor tweaks are about it.

  • more updates as they become available

10/19/2019
With the recent adds we’re at 2,937 (as of 10/19 4:00pm). Sofirn has stated that everyone up to and including 3,000 will get the group price so there are still 63 slots available on the interest list. After reaching 3,000 I will stop adding to the list unless Sofirn gives me the go-ahead to do so.

Get your adds in while you still can.

10/20/2019
Sofirn confirmed that the interest list is to closed at 3,000. After that number is reached I will not be adding any more people. However they said that anyone wanting a lantern at the group price can PM them so I assume that the price will still be available for some amount of time.

10/21/2019
We are now at 2,976 on the interest list. It behooves everyone to check that their name and count(s) are correct on the 2 interest list files linked to in post #1. The files are this and this.

Once the interest list is closed I will not be ADDING TO OR CORRECTING COUNTS on the list.

The files contain the data in my database as of 10/21 6:20pm.

10/22/2019
As of 10/22 9:10am there are only 8 slots left on the interest list. When they are filled there will be no more additions to the interest list.

These are the people added since the last file updates posted last night.

21-OCT-2019 oakvan
21-OCT-2019 mitsuki08
21-OCT-2019 lumiere
21-OCT-2019 lumiere
21-OCT-2019 jimF
21-OCT-2019 Angel Mart¡nez
22-OCT-2019 oto
22-OCT-2019 All_thumbs
22-OCT-2019 Sunnysunsun
22-OCT-2019 ARMS.AARON
22-OCT-2019 ARMS.AARON
22-OCT-2019 ver_ivanz007
22-OCT-2019 Phlipp
22-OCT-2019 abneustadt
22-OCT-2019 sandanbob
22-OCT-2019 drewsonian

10/22/2019 - 1:37pm
The final updates to the interest list files linked to in post #1 have been updated here and here

You should carefully review them to be sure that your name is correctly spelled.

More information will be posted when Sofirn begins batch 2 sales and also when the notification process has been finalized.

Edited 10/22/2019 @ 1:37pm

12/9/2019 - 7:00pm

- The anodizing factory for the colored lanterns is unable to produce them due to failure to meet environmental protection standard. You can read Sofirn’s comment here

- Batch 2 lanterns are now in production and being sold per the same link above

- Everyone should have received at least 1 LT code. If you have not received at least one code then PM Sofirn to get one.

  • Those who are in for more than one LT should begin receiving them soon. The codes are being sent manually so please be patient.

Subscribed :+1:

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Subscribed … :wink:

Subscribed :+1:

Great Idea
Thanks for doing this.

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Subbed :smiley:

Can you please shed some light on the batch production and how that will play out for buyers 2,000+?

Subscribed :slight_smile:

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The present plan is to have 500 in batch 1 thus 500PM’s. I think there will be enough in batch 2 for everyone else who wants a lantern but that’s on Sofirn to decide.

Sorry I can’t be more specific. I’ll update this if I find out more.

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Subscribed

Stop this subscribed nonsense, it just clutters the thread.

There’s a dedicated button for that:

It’s probably been addressed, but I just noticed that the list jumps from 317 to 349 so your code count might end up a little off.

The entry number value isn’t used for anything other than ordering requests as they were inserted into my table. There are gaps due to people no longer being active in BLF.

Subbed

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