FastTech problem

I ordered a Sipik SK68 clone from FastTech a few weeks ago and it arrived with one of the clip screws mis-threaded and completely stripped, so the clip cannot be removed (see pics below). After sending it back to theri Florida address and waiting about a week and a half, the “replacement” arrived, and it appears to be exactly the same light. They either put my defective light right back in the box and sent it back, or there is a serious issue with their assembly line. Has anyone else had this happen?

I know it’s a cheap flashlight, but another return and replacement hardly seems worth it. At some point these “budget” lights start costing more than a $50 light that you only have to buy once!

FastTech item: 1 x UINFIRE B68 Cree XP-E R2 240-Lumen 3-Mode Zooming LED Flashlight 1 *AA / 1*14500

Pictures:

EDIT: Looking at the pictures of the first light I see that the problem is on the other screw. Weird! Here are the pictures of the first light:

Simply use the tongs to remove the damaged screw.

Sounds like they’ve got a manufacturing problem. I’d send it back again, as long as the time-cost to you isn’t too high. Otherwise, you could visegrip the stripped one out and re-tap the hole, but that’s getting a bit time-consuming as well.

I’d rather just have the product perform the way it should (and I may want to replace the clip).

That’s what I was thinking: this all takes far too much time for what should be a simple light.

So then learn to live with it, it is ridiculous enough to buy a light that works so well for $5.90. Part of that deal as far as I am concerned is a good chance on issues. So many lights I bought had issues, I see them as a challenge to make my own inprovements. If I want less issues I buy a more expensive light.

Sorry, but it shouldn’t matter whether it’s $6 or $60. It should be as pictured on their website and be fully-functional.

It is fully functional, isnt’ it? The light turns on, right? And the clip stays on and clips to things?

The item description does not say that the clip is supposed to be removable.

I can send you a screw from my Sipik. If the price for delivery no more than a new Sipik.

I’m sure that FT will look after you if you lodge a(nother) ticket, but I agree that the QC needs to be stepped up to avoid this kind of thing.

Eg;

  • I just received some of these batteries from FT yesterday, & two of the four base-plates were so out of center, they are flush with the side of the battery.
  • My previous order contained a Convoy L2, & the brass contact rings in the battery tubes were out of round, & the sharp edge shaved some of the cover off the side of my new 26650’s…
  • Prior to that, I ordered a couple of the ‘East 92’ drivers, but got the ‘92 b’ version which wasn’t direct drive.
  • …& I also got the new ‘5a’ ramping driver which struggled to put out 3a…

The only ticket I lodged was for the East 92 drivers, which FT gave me store credit without any fuss.

The other issues I can either live with, or have rectified myself.

I think FT need to invest in better QC in order to maintain their good reputation for the go-to place for our goodies :slight_smile:

That shouldn’t have even passed quality control and should have never been shipped out. It’s like getting a light that’s all scratched and scraped up. Sure it works, but would you want to keep it

I’d send it back and get a replacement or a refund if it was my decision.

Thanks for the offer, but I have just added the issue with the replacement light to my existing return ticket from the original light. I’ll give it one more try.

They will pay for your shipping too if you take a picture of the receipt and e-mail it to them.

As for the thread I would try and remove it with a pair of pliers/vice grips.

No. A removable clip should be capable of being removed and reattached as needed. Just like my other lights with screw-attached clips. If the seatbelt in your car clicked in but wouldn’t release when you got to your destination, would you consider that “fully functional”?

Where does it say in their listing that it’s a “removable clip”? You’re just making an assumption. It might be a reasonable assumption, but it’s still an assumption.

I’m surprised when they’re not stripped, but most overseas assembly is decent if not perfect…but really, how do you screw up a screw that badly screwin’ into aluminum…?
The screw must be too soft, or the tool bit was worn, but you can replace it with a good one from the hardware store for a nickel.

Speaking of stripped threads, I once saw a “Mexican Tire Pro” cross thread a lug on a Vette at a tire shop changing a tire, and you shoulda’ seen the hoopla around that. They had to tow the vehicle to a machine shop to fix the rotor. There goes the profit margin, the owner’s low-cost labor probably cost him a grand that day.

Air tools and 2nd language English speakers are a bad combo…I saw another genius nail his hand to a 30’ beam with a air-nailer!

But anyway, it should come out pretty easy…use a vice grip or large pliers, or cut a slot in the screw with a saw and take it out with a flat-blade screwdriver.

Just get a good quality replacement hex screw from the local hardware store, It’s really not worth anyone’s time shipping these back and forth…and not really FastTech’s fault either that they had a careless worker at that factory.

Just to be clear: I didn’t post anything about the poor QC of the first light. What I find unprofessional is that I emailed Fasttech, initiated a return, took and sent them pictures, and then no one could be bothered to take the replacement light out of the box and look at it.

Yes, that’s a good point…but the warehouse boys pulling barcodes probably aren’t even allowed to open the packages, especially if they have to get out thousands of orders out every day.

The only way they really have to deal with the defective units is to send out a replacement and hope for the best.

A friend of mine used to run a US optical company and they ended up setting up a lab in their warehouse and checking every single unit before they shipped them out due to the high rate of defects. He had to go to China several times a year to keep the factory in line. When he was there OC was up…when he was stateside, QC went down.

A Sipik is a Sipik…buy em cheap and stack em deep!