Review: Solarforce Z2 (more like mini-review/rant)

Yeah, IMGUR or TINYPIC …forget photobucket. I cant see your pics except in thumbnail form. The pics themselves show as bandwidth exceeded.

Sorry about your SF experience, the real test of SolarForce will be how they handle for it you. i would just email them directly from the site contact page. Im not sure if they have a direct presence here.

Damn ninjas

Thanks all - Pics should be back up. Problem with Photobucket billing.

Where did you buy it? Is it a Z2 directly bought from solarforce-Sale?

what's wrong with the LED?

except for some dust on the dome.

I ordered a black Z2 about a week ago, I hope it doesn’t arrive in the same condition.

I’m sure Solar Force will sort it out for you without any drama though.

I wouldn’t be too happy with the foggy/scratched emitter either, haha.

But I’m sure SF-sales will deal with it without a hassle.

I like the Z2 as a beater carry light. Granted yours seems to be a reject that got sent out. At the same time I had no expectations of it being the same quality as my Sunwaymans or olights but rather a cheap decent light for working purposes. Not saying I would not have same feelings as you about the product you got just not holding it to same standards as pricier lights.

I have several Solarforce lights and they are all very high quality. The one you were sent is in sorry shape. I’m sure that they will send you a new one. Don’t be surprised if they also offer to sell you that light at a big discount - cheaper for them than having it shipped back. They sent me the wrong light on my first order, and when I contacted them, they offered to send the correct light and I could either return the first light, or I could buy it at a big discount. Because I was already impressed with the quality, I ended up just buying it and I really like it. Of course, it wasn’t all beat up and dirty like yours.

Yes direct from http://www.solarforceflashlight-sales.com/index.php

Some dust on the dome?? I know my pics aren’t great, but maybe75%? of the dome is crud obscured. I tried to blow, then wipe the dome, and that stuff doesn’t come off. I’m not going to scrape at it or use alcohol/whatever cleaning agent and risk damage to the dome or the emitter or the traces until I hear from CS.

That LED is worse than second hand.

if you get to keep it, might as well learn to dedome (unless you already can).

Wow! One more example of why I'm not a Solarforce fanboy. That's a damned shame. I hope they make it right for you.

That seems very odd. I have ordered 3 lights from solarforce in recent months including a Z1 and all arrived pristine. Yours looks like a demo light or a return maybe. I hope they make it right for you.

Never dealt with Solarforce C.S.

I've heard in the past they are a bit clueless .

but you never know ..

the upside is these places go from good to bad as well as bad to good pretty quickly

hope they fix it for you

that looks like a return /used /abused light

Contact Jo on the Solarforce Sales Team, I’ve never had a problem with a Solarforce product and I have enough to put together around 10 various L2’s. When I have contacted Jo about out of stock and no longer produced items I was offered items from his/her own collection.
email is - sales@solarforce-sales.com
I have no doubt that they will sort you out to your satisfaction, and as you say shipping times from them are very quick.

please let us know how you get on with solarforce customer service.

i wouldn’t mind picking up a Solarforce Z2 but not till i see how they resolve this problem.

Solarforce sent me an used L2P when I made my FIRST order there.
You had the same treatment :wink:

They seem to count on it, that a NEW customer does not necessarily know how their products should look like when they get their first one.
Simple method of getting less “waste” from QA.

Customer Service update:

March 23 - Submitted inquiry on http://solarforceflashlight-sales.com/
March 25 - Heard back. Jo asked for my paypal address. I responded.
March 28 - Today. Three days later haven’t heard anything.

Yikes. Makes me glad I buy solarforce retail. They’re not gentle with the box, but at least you get to inspect the light and put a battery in it before you plunk down your cash.

For what it’s worth, I’ve bought 2 Z2’s so far (both in blue) and neither had any of the problems your poor sample had.

Ouch. That sucks to hear. I’m looking at an M6 but maybe I’ll hold off on that. Keep us updated and hope it gets sorted out for you.