M4D M4X deals - Astrolux WP1 and WP2 LEP

There were years worth of drama, and it would be difficult to summarize in short form… but it’s pretty safe to say BLF and Manker were not happy with each other for a long time. Products got botched, promises were broken, corners got cut, people got fired, forum threads were locked or removed, people got banned, new manufacturers were hired, other companies got caught in the mess, and things were generally not peachy.

So it’s cool to see Manker is actually allowing a group buy on BLF, but it’s really weird to see a BLF logo on their products… especially on products which BLF folks were not involved in making.

Yokiamy · August 1, 2020, 10:24pm

Let them please remove the logo then if no one on BLF is involved.

Does it not infringe some of our BLF rights?

Tom_E · August 1, 2020, 11:22pm

I take this as a peace offering, fine with me. True it's not a BLF design, but it's ok for them to add some BLF labeling - it's a nice tribute. It's all good

ToyKeeper · August 2, 2020, 12:10am

I don’t think rights are relevant in this case. BLF is not a legal entity. The logo was created back when BLF was doing projects with Manker, if I recall correctly, for the purpose of being engraved onto lights Manker produced for BLF.

So it’s not that weird for it to show up here. It’s just typically only used on items which were designed by BLF or modified based on requests here. However, it wouldn’t be the first BLF-branded stock lights. It also wouldn’t be the first Manker product with a BLF-branded box created specifically for a BLF group buy. The X5+X6 had a special combo box.

If I understand correctly, this is a group buy created specifically for BLF, because a few people here asked M4D M4X if he could get a discount code… so he asked Manker, and the agreed-upon solution was to do a discounted group buy if there was enough interest. It’s not really any different than a bunch of other stock-item group buys which have been done here in the past, some of which were BLF-branded.

The weird part is that Manker has usually not approved stuff like this. So, the existence of this group buy may signal a change of heart, or a shift in company policy, or something. Or the branding may just be a loophole to get around Manker’s strict MAP policies.

Tom summed it up nicely as maybe a peace offering.

M4D_M4X · August 3, 2020, 12:08pm

thanks TomE and ToyKeeper!

Manker does not want to run discounts on items that are sold by their partner shops.

so they made a "special edition" just for this groupbuy.

I guess a "M4D edition" would not be wanted by many :D :(

would you prefer it without the BLF logo?

Tom_E · August 3, 2020, 12:25pm

Ahh, makes sense - more of a pure biz decision. Again, I see no problem.

M4D_M4X · August 10, 2020, 9:39pm

got it today and wanted to share a bit before the review is finished...

$15.04 ~~$17.69~~

-15%banggood.com

Keeppower P1835U (Ver.2020) Micro USB 18650 3.6V 3500mAh Rechargeable Battery Specification: Brand KeepPower Part No. P1835U（Ver.2020） ...

Convoy Z1 SST40 2000lm Zoomable

$ 26,95 ~~$51.55~~

banggood.com

Convoy Z1 SST40 2000lm 12-group Modes or Ramping driver Zoomable Temperature Control 18650/21700 Powerful LED Flashlight Features: -The body of this ...