*CANCELLED* - [REQUEST] 4 European members to pass-around experience: Wuben TO50R

I agree that writing a review of an interesting light that you bought is nice, I did that several times, but in that case I own and have seen the flashlight and that inspired me to tell the world about it, at a moment that suits me, the initiative is all mine. I love to do that for nothing in return.

But this case is different: a company asks me (via you) to review a light. I do not have it in hand so there is a chance that maybe once I have it I find reviewing it not worthwhile. But the most important thing: it is not my own initiative and the deadline has made it an obligation (obligations kills hobbies). So at least that asks for something in return.

5 reviews for the price of one.

I think these pass around lights work better for niche lights that are several hundred dollars that way you can try before you buy. This is not that and they probably don’t even require everyone review

Just a little perspective…

Even if you review lights on your own, at the end, you still get to keep the light.

What’s being asked here, though, is to get to “borrow” the light for a week, write a review (as thorough or skimpy as you want), and then bear the cost (or maybe not) to ship the light elsewhere, and presumably be responsible for the light. That means time to gather the packing, box it up (even if reusing the same box and materials as you received it), and then hie thyself to your post office, stand on line, fill out the paperwork, etc., and ship it.

And if you “forget” to ship the light, or lose it, or it stops working, then what? Are you responsible for the cost of the light?

So you sign up, “borrow” the light for a week, do the work as far as the review, take the time and endure the aggravation of shipping out the light, bear the responsibility of the light (if I buy a light and get reimbursed, or just get a light for free, if I lose it or it gets stolen, etc., it’s my tough-noogies… but not so with the “pass-around”), and then end up with… nothing.

Hey, if anyone there wants to sign up, B’harni bless ’em.

Keep in mind, though, I’m not telling people not to. Just “pre-explaining” why there might not be very many takers wanting to sign up.

Ok, now your point is more clearer to me! Thanks for putting this into perspective!
As someone who reviews bought and received lights, I find it funny in all of them, but being something I bought because I wanted, it makes me feel more “free” to review as I want! So I do get your point!

About the deadline, that was not imposed by Wuben, it was proposed by me, and it is negotiable! I thought 7 days would be a “reasonable” time to have the light, test it and then send it to the next person. That way the pass around wouldn’t take 3 months or so to be completed! That was my idea, but I may be off again…

When you mean ” they probably don’t even require everyone review”, you mean the light, or Wuben? If Wuben, this is a quote from the message I received: “after they receive the to experience, they can post the review in the forum.”

Hum, yes, perhaps prototypes, expensive lights or custom lights are more suitable for these pass-around experience. That explains why I saw some things about pass-arounds with the Freelux Sinergy and another custom light by Cereal_Killer.

So, your probably right! I guess I will include that argument in my next talk with Wuben, then!

Yes, it is pretty much that you’ve explained Lightbringer! So I do understand that people are not willing to take all that trouble for ending with nothing and having all that work just for the sake of doing a review of a light they may not even like.

Well, I didn’t thought it would be this “complex” to put this on march, but you all have very “on spot” points! As I said before, being within the process may be blinding and somehow may lead see things in only one direction.

I may need to reflect on this experience and reformulate it or simply “delete” it! Your points are fair…

At this point I’m glad I didn’t even thought about insuring the light :smiley:

Wellp, that’s enthusiasm. Nothing wrong with it, but sometimes it’s like jumping into a pool and not realising it’s the deep end, and there’s no ladder to climb out.

Then you get stuck with the big net and are expected to scoop up the “floaters” you didn’t notice before. :confounded:

I guess you’re right… I should have learned something with life till this point! :zipper_mouth_face:
It is time to sleep now, in the morning I will send message to Jelina pointing out the points expressed here to see if they still want to make this or not. I don’t have more answers than questions about the feasibility of this experience. So I will pass the ball to those who invited for it in the first place.

What’s the torch worth?

As shown in AliExpress, 150€ !
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000031738548.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.367f71d30uKYX4&algo_pvid=415aa93d-7e1d-45b2-be39-fabe296f447c&algo_expid=415aa93d-7e1d-45b2-be39-fabe296f447c-0&btsid=2ab90de5-712e-4b96-8b9b-698fc972088a&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_8,searchweb201603_52

https://www.selected-lights.de/led-lampen/outdoor-und-camping/selected-lights-wuben-to4650r-4-hi-cri-led-2800-lumen-21700er-akku-wiederaufladbare-led-taschenlampe/a-3396

I REALLY like this light. It has minor yet critical flaws here and there that can easily improved by the manufacturer. It’s a very good flashlight but it has to be better for EU150. It’s not going to sell easily at that price point. I almost did a voluntarily review just because I want to share my satisfaction but my friend borrowed and use it constantly for his work.
Why don’t you just do the review yourself Mascaratum?

[Clemence]

What Clemence said, it has to be very good for 150€, even the GT was cheaper with the groupbuy.

Did we forget where the B stands for in BLF?

BLF has over the (few) years of its existence become more than a refuge for a bunch of budgetlightlovers who got scared away by CPF. There is also non-budgetlight lovers now who still got scared away by CPF :party:

But seriously I think that in the meantime the majority of members did not come here via CPF, and they come here for all sorts of things, like the testing and innovation that is going on, and the BLF-specials, not just for cheap flashlights.

Yeah, BudgetLightForum doesn’t sound very inclusive to people who like mid to higher priced lights. :smiley:
It’s a nice idea but the shipping is not so good for everyone involved to pay.

Thanks for the input Clemence!
Actually, now that you talk about those flaws, I went to search for any review here on BLF and, strangely, there is none! Only the Feeler thread (Feeler thread / sneak preview: Wuben TO50R HC ("The Flashlight")) and the GB thread (Group Buy: Wuben TO50R HC ("The Flashlight") - 90+CRI, 2500+lm, EDC - CLOSED!) have that information. None of those who bought the flashlight did one to show what it was like and if it was worth buying “post” GB… :zipper_mouth_face:

About the price, only yesterday when asked by Nev, I had the real notion of the current price on that, because the price I had from before was from the GB and it was way below. :open_mouth:

If Wuben sends the light for review, I will do it, and I would do it also in the pass-around experience. But that decision is not up to me. I’m not sure it they will send a flashlight that expensive for just 1 amateur reviewer like me that doesn’t even have the ability to make elaborate tests, only some photos and…a lot of text :stuck_out_tongue:

Also, I guess their idea was to “save” some lights (money?) and putting one to pass around by different members. But this beyond my factual knowledge :wink:

I guess we didn’t forget that Yokiamy! Perhaps the “budget” experience in this case has more to do with the shipping itself (and the work done for the review, paperwork, etc) than with the flashlight value! And I do agree with that having to pay for work is not a kind situation, specially without any kind of further “gratification”.

About the BLF GT, it was cheaper on its GB, as the GB for this TO50R was cheaper too, about a third of the MAP (current) price.

I guess that independently the place were we started, we all are, in some way, budget and non budget lovers! I am both, and sometimes I don’t even like it if it is for free :smiley:

I’ve seen here pretty expensive lights and collections that would probably make members from other forums (I avoid talking about CPF, it doesn’t matter to me how it works, I just love BLF :heart_eyes: ) blush!

Again, maybe this experience of passing around was not so much budget in case we have to pay for shipping and get nothing in the end. It is an idea that may not fit this forum, or even that may not appropriated for this light, but it “had” to be tried. Let’s see where it ends!

Damn, I wish I had some very expensive lights along with my Sofirn C01 and FW3A, just for the sake of having them and playing around once in a while :smiley: But it doesn’t happen :zipper_mouth_face:

I will not beat the dead horse, and I will agree again, shipping is not be the best solution! I will check what Wuben says about this!

Conditions for SHIPPING changed:

Where it was read:

It now is:

So, one of the problematic things have changed!

Do you feel that it would be good to increase the number of days for this pass-around? Lets say from 7 to 10 days?

What would you change more?

Please bear with me that I am doing honest questions about this!
In case there are no conditions to implement this experience, I just have to communicate it to Wuben!

I really appreciate your efforts to enable BLFers joining a passaround review.

But as many others stated before, it will be hard to find reviewers if there is an imbalance between the benefit for Wuben and the reviewers.

My suggestions (to Wuben):

  • Offer each participant of the PA-review at least a 75% discount voucher for buying the TO50R from a European distributer or offer a free flashlight of your lower priced models.
  • Have the flashlight sent by a European distributor as custom fees and import taxes may apply to the first participant (= Mascaratum?).
  • Specify in detail at what extent you expect your reviewers to share their impressions (pictures, videos, outdoor/indoor use, basic functions or detailed view on single components). This will effectively sort out those reviewers that just tell you how amazing the TO50R is by waving it back and forth in front of the camera ("wooow...look at this grrrreat beam....isn't that cooool?")
  • Add something that will motivate reviewers to join the pass-around, e.g. taking these people into account for future reviews.

I have been known for being honest, unbiased and rather nitpicking in my reviews, not only highlighting the good sides but also aspects I would like to see improved. I can't abide the idea of kiss-assing the manufacturer just to get something free of charge. This will not help anyone and it will not help the manufacturer to become aware of weak points in their products. However, it seems my reputation precedes me. All "premium" brands I have asked about making a review have either chosen not to respond at all or to give me these typical "thank you for asking" answers. Well, that's fine with me. :-)

This is just too much hassle, for reviewing a flashlight. I dont see any benefit for the reviewers, even with shipping hopefully covered by manufacturer. Getting five honest reviews means at least five working days total for one flashlight provided, is just bad deal in my book. Anyone jumping on this probably values his time at 1 cent per hour. I would understand a passaround perhaps with some very high end flashlight model, but their flashlight is nothing that special worth this extra treatment.

Not interested, sorry. I would be devoting my time and effort to generate sales for Wuben, in return for nothing. Writing advertising copy, taking photographs, going to post office, paying shipping, all with strict deadline…

Why would I do that? :stuck_out_tongue:

If they could spare five samples for European user reviews, that would be wholly different deal. But from the current perspective of Wuben expecting us to generate sales for them for free, this whole idea can be seen as pretty rude and disrespectful.

Its not a bad idea as a community It brings us together in a sense that can actually do this and people can be trusted to share a light around? like no one steals it or sells it. That part is good.

The shipping fees kill it because you may also get caught with import tax also?

For some one who wants to starts doing reviews its an easy way to get a review out without buying a light? Generate some exposure free of cost.