I need to let things straight ; besides my 2 issues that haven’t been taken care,this GroupBuy has all been built with alot of illusion and trust,things that lately have been touched for so multiple “afairs”(i hope don’t have to mention them right now) - there have been so many people just like me that all trusted the way the group was supposed to work,reason why we paid so hapily todo a single person, not even having any insurance that things would work out,but only trusting the group; i hope,just like Martín said,there would be a “right way” to fix things up before any others money show up,future groups cannot work just the same and i hope that the right persons would arrange it ; not fair for members to explain them : you know, the american orders were cheaper to send as 2 palets as a lot …… Or that now the logistic person is in honeymoon,or CNY or he is too overwhelmed by so much work ,as this isnt he’s primary job —+common people,we are talking about 135k$ other 100k or more that are ready to pay , i believe we deserve a profesional service ,even if3 that would cost us 10$ more ,no more excuses and excuses without the proper solution
You are totally right kntx, the remaining orders and future GBs must be managed better. I know it is easier said than done, but if such problems continue, it could make the whole budgetlightforum look bad and untrustworthy.
That must be quite frustrating. Sorry to hear about it.
Lost as it is and needing replacement anyway… can’t you try to bang it back somehow? Using a hammer and a pair of wood blocks… idk. Some crafty people around may have some ideas.
About my issue I just want to get response: “Broken part you need will be shipped xx.xx.2018” I can cover shipping cost if needed.
Mike
Have all paid orders actually been shipped?
If future group buys are indeed managed ‘better’, that would be great, but with all the complexities of dealing with China (different interests, language barriers, cultural barriers, other side of the world with just the internet for contact) I do not neccesarily expect any future BLF group buy to be managed ‘better’. Every new group buy had its own ‘flavour’ of complications and with the next project there’s new unique complications ahead of us.
These type of Group buys in which completely new flashlights are developed are not a straightforward seller/customer deal in which you pay and then the seller has to come up with a perfect light in the standard expected time. There is risks involved and you know it. That the first run of lights has design flaws, that there are delays, in short that things are less perfect than planned/hoped and even promised.
I really hope for a good ending of the GT-project and I’m looking forward to the next awesome flashlight developed by the bad and untrustworthy budgetlightforum! 
I I don’t really agree with you on the complexities and i am talking to you as a person that is dealing daily with multicultural surrounding ; long time ago i’ve learned that the.customer is always right and the only thing that is tying the seller with the buyer are the money (chinese mentality,even though is international) business first - before the GT was produced, there were some big heads and hearts of people that allowed GT to be true,and all these months not much mentioned - there were people that paid much for telling the truth and ,even though i respect your opinion or point of view,i still believe that there is always space for improvement,meantime that’s the real interest (besides the money of course) - there is definetely a real need of an oficial rep. capable to inform correctly every buyer ,and i am sure LT might have them ; besides that, Martin’s idea to protect the money for the future buyers might help also,not fair a person (to wich could happen so many things) to be an intermediate of 100k $ or whatever - in europe or usa ,that would be imposible to work like this without having Sam behind
Yawn
. . . . . . . . … :+1: …
The customer is not always right. Sometimes they’re right. Usually they’re in the ballpark. Often they’re wrong. Once in a while they’re complete morons.
In this case we’re probably more participants than true customers. Unfortunately, adding an official company rep sounds like a retail transaction involving cost. It seems that this light will be commercially available at revised retail pricing. That’s the best option for those looking for paid company reps and more assurances.
I’m the meantime I’m happily and patiently waiting for round 3. I think the volunteers in this GB have done an outstanding job of managing the situation as it exists.
OK……
BUT with the same respect I cannot for the life of me think this is some plot against you or anyone else to answer your email or PM last or not at all.
I think Boots PM/email just happened to be at the top when Neal happened to check them. Therefore he just happened to get a timely reply.
THAT…. is why I call it the “luck of the draw”.
With some people emailing or sending multiple PM’s to Neal it has done nothing but to continue to overload an already overloaded situation.
That is why TA has asked people to refrain from trying to contact Neal multiple times. It only slows down an already slow process even more.
And all the pertinent information has been posted in this thread as it has been available. So multiple emails/PM’s to Neal ain’t gonna change it.
Just like the survey M4DM4X sent. There is no need at all to send it in more than one time. To send it in more than once just complicates things even more.
You did not get a reply in a day or two or 10? So what?
Is it better for Neal to try & continue to sort things out and get them taken care of with no email/PM replies…… OR ……. DO you want Neal spending all his spare time responding to hundreds of emails or PM’s a day???
Can’t have it both ways.
Could Neal probably have communicated things a bit better on a general basis by a short weekly post on this thread?? YEP…. :+1:
But that didn’t happen…. so no use crucifying him now when he is probably working his tail off trying to get everything sorted out.
Just my .02…. YMMV. 
Very well put Hugh Johnson!! :+1:
In my business, the customer is always right……
………………… right up until that time they are NOT.
THEN…. they fall right into one of the categories you mentioned.
With outright wrong & moron receiving less & little mercy…….
Especially if they are or get belligerent.
And yeah…. I think “participants” is a good way to describe us. I like how you put that. :+1:
If someone would rather have all the bells & whistles of immediate readily available customer service they should definitely wait to be a customer & not join a Group Buy.
Leo (Shirley) answered me …
interesting. … They want to make money and dont care if and when we make our last orders. And I think we do not have the first prioriti in shipping.
.
OT:
Theyr signature has the wrong order, better:
W: www.luminto…
T: www.twitt…
F: www.faceboo…
… would be funnyer. :innocent:
If there was some big retail company like Banggood for example,as it was in Q8 delivery,there was not a problem in delivering the GT parcels.But this means more money of cource…
@Texas Ace:
I also liked to read about the nasa compliments.
This flashlight really is fantastic!
You, and the whole team can be proud of this project!
Sure, communication could be better. And this it especially unsatisfactory for people having issues.
Neal simply doesn’t seem to be the most communicative type of guy. But we will have to accept that. Everyone’s different.
I still have full confidence, that everyone will get his light in the end… and all will be sorted out.
Compared to the former Groupbuys with own development, we got almost what we want and there were no bigger issue with the flashlights.
Only the timeline / communication is not the best.
I got the same response still waiting on tracking number. wow since 12-10-2017 when i purchased I think my number was 957
I’m not sure how could it be considered acceptable if one’s order is not even amongst the last ones to be shipped.
It hopefully should be in the last 50, and I’m okay whilst waiting. But saying it might not be in the last batch, unless it’s an exception, is not acceptable.
If you make the payment on December 2,2017. Why hasn’t it been sent?