Things to consider:
1st) I bought a crapload of Sofirn lights a few days back when Sofirn came through and stepped up on the SP10S earlier (details upthread). It was great service. They are honorable and honest businessmen. They make great product as well. I then ordered @ 5 each of the D25 headlamp with micro USB charging and 5 of the D03 dive light as they are both awesome products and the price to performance is rock solid -like most Sofirn lights. Than ks fellow BLfers for the heads up on the sales. (fin in particular)
2nd) Banggood is saying USA shipping from China is 90 days now. For anything from China, anything, and from any Mfg. You will see it move to “being shipped” or some such in a week or so, and then your package will sit. That is nobodys fault. That’s the way shipping is currently. So relax and give us a shake to wake us up August 2nd if you are still jonesing or looking for your package:-) I’m referencing free or cheap shipping from China, not someone who paid $18 for prime shipping via USA Amazon.
3rd) Realize that there are multiple issues with China shipping currently. 1st) Less airplanes. Anyone still flying even within the US point to point will tell you that they had 3 planes cancelled and then when the 4th one wasn’t cancelled there was 12 people in the entire plane.
4th) There are other large issues at play globally. The US President had blocked all Chinese flights at the end of January due to Chinese government being underhanded, disingenuous and their intransigence over their virus lies. I’m not sure where that issue is currently as the President doesn’t communicate with me, but for Chinese Mfg, as I know of it the other issue is that USA paid free shipping to our country from China is ending in July. That is, assuming we get the planes working again (likely) and that instead of lies from both sides we start a mutually beneficial working relationship again. Commercially there is every reason we should work with the Chinese. We have lots of great things they need, and the reverse is most assuredly true as well.
In case anyone is not aware, EVERY package that flew in from China that weighed less than 4.4 lbs was paid for by the US taxpayer. It was not “FREE” shipping. It was free to the purchaser and the Chinese shipper, but your taxpaying neighbors all were forced to pay for it. When President Trump learned of it he decided that was (rightfully so) an insane thing and negotiations caused that to change. As I understand it currently, the free shipping that US taxpayers have been paying 100% of will be phasing out in the next 5 years starting in July. Change = uncertainty. That’s why you are not getting product like you use to. Don’t blame the Chinese company. There have been some strong Chinese firms come out of this who will undoubtedly find a way to make it all work flawlessly, but relax and give it some time. Chinese merchants tend to be honest, smart and hard working: you’ll get your stuff (or your money back). Eventually. But relax and let it work itself out. It’s all good. Pray our countries don’t clash, we’d do well to work together, and not at each other. If we choose war, and it is a choice that may be easily made by either side, forget about ever seeing your package ever again….and likely your loved ones and everything you prize and value as well. For the Chinese, sad to say but if we get that pain coming our way, say a conflict that appears minor over the Spratlys and we get dead sailors, expect your entire country to be flattened and nothing but glass. No buildings…no people,…no animals…just glass. Pray we can avoid that, together we can both prosper as long as neither side gets greedy and we both can remain reasonable.
Regardless, to BLF forum members: don’t blame Banggood, Aliexpress or Sofirn if that occurs. As a non-related a casual aside, I need to replace the NBC filters in my Israeli made gas masks if anyone has a budget source, please post it up.
Take care all: