The difference is the first deal was a "Gift", not a group buy and, as such was Semur's discretion to offer. Personally I think it should have been offered to everyone or no one. Kind of like in school when the teacher says you can chew gum as long as you brought enough for the whole class.
Group buys on a forum like this should be available to all members especially when the requirement is that you merely be a member. In reality being a member should be the ONLY requirement when a dealer offers a group buy. If I was Mr Admin I would set this as a standard practice rule.
If you were out shopping at a store, let's say BestBuy, and they offered you a free MP3 player (not an iPod, just a cheap Chinese throwaway player) just for being a regular customer and you said "Hey, nice gesture, thanks!" then a couple days later you open the Sunday paper and see their ad with a special for 1/2 off an iPod touch (latest generation) with no quantity limits and as long as supplies last. You go in and they say, "Sorry, but we gave you a free cheap mp3 player already, you can't have one of these". How would you feel about that? You didn't ask for the free junk mp3 player, they offered it to you. That's pretty much what's happening here. I'm not a betting man but if I was I'd bet you'd be pretty pissed and would likely take your future business down the street to any one of a dozen of competing stores. Poor business move on BestBuy's part...poor move on DD's part.
Enough of this. I don't want to come across as a complainer...just saying my peace about something that has irritated the hell out of me and others that are less vocal than I.
makes an excellent point. he probably will buy the light. maybe everyone who really wants it will eventually buy it, and if they have to pay more it probably won't bankrupt them, none the less, he makes an excellent point.
Since many folks have ask the same question, I just wanted to clarify that according to the info from Semur, he/she will provide us with a page to purchase when the group buy period ends. Just before that happens, I'll probably have to tally up the people interested and give the list to DD to ensure eligibility or whatever, so if you replied with intent to buy above (or PMed me) you should be fine for now.
Ive never purchased fro DD all I know is what Ive read here as to there costumer service and it aint pretty , but I will give them the benifit of doubt and find out for myself ...so count me in agenthex