Of course, this is BLF. But, if you are still looking after all these years, maybe a different strategy might work better ;). Fwiw I haven’t felt that my money was wasted when I’ve bought nice lights. I can’t afford to buy lots of them, but the ones I’ve had were mostly very satisfying. If you’re into flashlights as a hobby but focusing on lots of cheap lights instead of a few good ones, you might be missing out.
I don’t feel that the D4v2 with the raised switch ring needs a lockout. It’s not a keychain light but it shows that it’s possible to make a well-enough-protected pushbutton to not need a lockout. I’d say the same of lots of tail clickies I’ve used, but those lengthen the light enough to not play well with keychains.
I’ve similarly had a LOT of small twisty lights and none of them have needed lockouts, unless their threads were loose enough that I’d call them defective. Do you require a pushbutton?
I’m not surprised to hear about Nitecore being crap. It fits what I’ve heard in general about them. Oh well.
As for pushbuttons, I haven’t seen anything you’ve said about lockouts that is different between keychain and larger lights. It’s just that the keychain lights you’ve been using have crappy switches.
Didn’t you say you are still looking for the perfect one? I’m not looking, I have found mine (the LPK) and I’m happy with it. I’d also say, the perfect one doesn’t need a lockout because it doesn’t activate by accident. The presence of a lockout is to compensate for an imperfection. If you’re still going through lights with lockouts, you’re nowhere near the perfect one yet.
At AliExpress I’m getting 18,36€ for a black with white/UV leds.
I have some coins, so it drops the price a little bit.
Shipping is free and VAT is included already. It seems to be in promotion, as the price seems to be higher.
Hm, just tried it, only for you of course. I can see €18.06 including 21% VAT.
After logging in, I can get a coupon for €0.88.
So the total price is €17.18 with VAT, and €14.20 without VAT.
But the latter is not going to happen.
Even IF I could persuade Ali to send it without VAT,
PostNL would standard charge me with 21% VAT PLUS €4.00 handling fee.
Yes, your calculations are in line with price, I provided in picture above.
I prefer to buy in USD and let the bank to do the conversion from USD to EUR.
We have 22% VAT here in Slovenia.
In the past (before 1.7.) most of flashlights arrived without VAT and custom clearance, directly in my mail box.
After 1.7., this is not possible anymore. All stores (Banggood, AE…) include VAT in final price.
Ordered one purple with UV+white lights for S$22.41, or about US$16.60. Free shipping from China to Singapore. No sale tax. Thanks to Singapore-China FTA Agreement.