DQG 18650 EDC--World's Smallest 18650 Flashlight

Mine is marked as shipped on April 16 on FFL, tracking number is not working on CanPost or SingPost. Not worried about that though, I usually cannot track anything until it’s in Canada or already at the post office.

Exactly. My shipments from Chinaland usually aren’t trackable until they are almost delivered. Kinda worthless, but I don’t blame the sender for that at all.

Those of you in the US. I guess this may be a dumb question, but have you tried using the tracking number with USPS? If I remember correctly I was never able to track my last package on anything other than USPS.

Remember that shipments take the cheapest route possible (unless you specify otherwise) which means they are ever-changing and unpredictable.

[quote=milkfat]
Those of you in the US. I guess this may be a dumb question, but have you tried using the tracking number with USPS?

Every single day! Lol. I am anxious to get my light also but not worried. Ric will come through. The first shipping notice did not com out until the 15th so it technically has only been 9 days.

Just checked my tracking number. No record of it on the USPS website or on the Singapore post website.

I’m not worried though. I ordered late and only received my shipping notice email 6 days ago.

There is no one size fits all answer. Each individual needs to decide what’s best for them when it comes to filing a dispute or not.

There are plenty of other hobbies where reliable and highly regarded vendors always delivered — until they didn’t.

I think Ric will deliver but wouldn’t blame or judge anyone for exercising their right to file a dispute either.

I usually dont care much about the tracking numbers. What if it work and what if it doesnt work? Ric is reliable; on BLF for so long and giving us so many products, so I wouldn’t be worried at all!

So it would eventually come (provided the people handling the parcels dont steal it!). Save the trouble of keeping toes every hour refreshing the tracking page, and just continue with daily life or look for more lovely flashlights.

It’s like the FastTech situation. Sent out the package already, but delayed at the respective local posts. But it’s not FastTech’s fault.

And stop the commotion of fake tracking number. Why would he need to do that? Though I agree that email response and shipping response take some time, but I believe Ric is still reliable and the item eventually will arrive.

All due respect, I disagree. Why? Let me explain… I think filling a dispute at this point, in this case, would be foolish. We are talking about vendors shipping from the other side of the planet, and these parcels must go through multiple customs screenings in the process. This often (typically) takes 3-5 weeks. I have had shipments from China/Hong Kong and the like take as long as 6-7 weeks. This is not ideal or enjoyable, but it does happen.

I don’t think you can or should use Fasttech as a becnhmark. They are the exception, not the rule! Technically, I think some of their shipments are questionable at best because I have heard reports of them being marked as “gift” to expedite the process. That is another story for another thread…

My point is, it has not been over a month in this case. To file a dispute at this point would be premature. Yes, sure, vendors come and go / and have ups and downs, but I think folks are getting a little carried away now. This is a brand new release to boot!

I’ll bet most people worrying on this thread all get their deliveries the same day.

I don’t think it would be reasonable to file a dispute now but at the 44 day mark it absolutely is. And unless I was willing to personally guarantee someone they’ll get their light or their money back, I wouldn’t tell them not to file. But that’s just me.

I didn’t use Fasttech as a benchmark but glad you brought them up because they’re an example of a market force that motivates other vendors to be more competitive. So are (reasonable) disputes.

Very true. Wasn’t trying to argue or anything. Just my .02

I believe both sides are right and explaining:
Yes, a Paypal dispute could harm a (until now) good manufacturer seller
but
on the other side, it’s not normal that Ric hasn’t given any detail regarding the final product
and has not commented on anything for about 20+ days…!

Additionally, the whole story of shipping throught Singapore post, with parcels been able to be tracked after 7 days (and really not yet!), is really strange and to me, seem just like a way to “gain” some more time…

You know, there could be some truth to that. Shippers often register tracking numbers a day or two before the item actually ships. That type of thing occurs all the time.

On the whole I am trying to keep faith in Ric that he is simply very busy. I do hope he posts up a quick note to ease some folks minds a bit. That might be good.

In this case, 14 days passed since someone mentioned having a shipping notice (April 11) and no tracking info (working) yet - so a completely different story…

maybe his RL job is keeping him away. I know mine is keeping me from quite bloody everything.

Stuff shipped from Ric may be slow, but he’s very dependable. I’ve ordered lots of stuff from him over the last few years and all of it eventually arrived.

However, the delivery time to the U.S. can sometimes be quite long. I’ve had the shipments from him take anywhere from 10 days at the fastest to 2 months at the longest. I’d say on average it takes 3-4 weeks.

It’s too early to start worrying about whether your shipment actually shippped or not. I’d wait 2 months. If you still haven’t gotten it and the tracking numbers aren’t working, then it’s time to start worrying.

Even for products shipping from China, 45 days from the time of order, is a reasonable amount of time to deliver.

Opening a dispute does not equate to opening a claim.

What it does do, is extend the window during which you can open a claim, so that you can work out the problem with the seller.

Having been burned before (seller simply disappeared and over 60 days had passed), I find it best to protect myself, and open a dispute once 43-44 days have passed from the time of the order.

During the past three years, of actively buying things from china, on a fairly regular basis (probably 300+ transactions), I have only had to open disputes half a dozen times, and of those only one had to be escalated to a claim. In that case, the seller also simply dissapeared, despite having had a stellar reputation previously.

That said, if only 3-4 weeks from the time of the order passed, it's far too early to panic.

I agree with this. However it’s worth noting that according to Ric, via the dispatch emails with tracking numbers. That the lights have been manufacturered and thusly sent out, meaning that there is no reason to suspect the lights have been delayed.

I would say I’m also surprised there hasn’t been more info given in this thread to update and reassure the buyers. I want to believe all is ok. But you have to face it that no lights, no working tracking and silence from the seller are unlikely to install confidence in those who haven’t bought from this seller previously.

Hi,

I think that you “hit the nail on the head” there. It’s not so much that it’s taking so long, and the tracking #s not working, but really what worries me is “the sound of silence”. The old saying is “no news is good news”, but that’s never been my experience when it comes to business… rather, it’s more like “no news usually means bad news”.

Despite all of my cynicism, I truly hope that this is not the case here, but I also think that the seller could do his case a lot of good by simply posting SOMETHING here, or better yet, providing regular, honest updates.

I think my comments have made it pretty clear and addressed all points, but let me try again….

I said that to imply that maybe a day or two was delayed/added in this manner.

I also said previously that it is common for shipments I have received from SE asia to not show up on tracking until very late in the process - as in, a day or two from delivery.

Put the two together.

I don’t work with Ric and I don’t know him personally. He doesn’t give me stuff to review. Nothing like that. I have No reason to defend him. I tried to be impartial, but this is getting old guys. I find it more than slightly silly to complain about a lack of updates for a week or two on a forum where we typically wait a month OR MORE for lights.

Maybe fasttech or the intarwebz has made us all impatient? I could be wrong. Maybe we’re all getting ripped off on a $30 light……. sky doesn’t seem to be falling yet that I can see.

With that, I’m punching out. I will let you lot fret over a lapse of communication.

Tracking likely won’t work until it’s in the destination country, that’s what will happen with any UK orders.
Stop worrying, Ric always pulls through. He’s one of the best dealers we have.