[PART 1] Official BLF GT Group Buy thread. Group buy officially closed! Lights shipping.

[Pöbel]

And not to forget, the more we argue about things which won’t change, no matter how much we argue, the more TA has to read and this is directly taxing the Giggles Team.

Just wait what will come up and be patient.

[bella-headlight]

@Bozlight29

I just returned from the funeral of a 48 year old man, leaving his wife, two kids and his garage company behind. His heart stopped beating. This is drama. So sad. When you are waiting on a great flashlight and things go wrong, it’s sad also. But it will not change your life. Let’s give it a try to think along with Lumintop, wait for the whole picture and solve this problem. You can always get a refund, but it’s nicer to get a GT. Lumintop made a great super thrower, now it’s the challenge to get it to everyone at reasonable costs. If it’s a great loss for Lumintop, that’s not what a true flashaholic wants. Let’s solve this as partners, not as enemies.

Agreed which is why I said

“I just hope that something can be sorted out so that those of us who have yet to receive the lights we have paid for get them in the not to distant future & without to much extra expense.”

Nothing confrontational was intended by my post just that for some reason, possibly the language barrier, who knows, some of the information being relayed to us does not seem to be correct ?
I only posted about the UK shipping issues to give an insight into what the problem actually is so that LT can hopefully solve it :+1:

[JasonWW]

@bella-headlight

@JasonWW

@bella-headlight

Without starting an argument or apportioning blame Lumintop knew 4 & a half months ago, when the deposits were paid, exactly where & how they would be shipping these lights to.
Of the 555 it would seem that around 300 plus were to America so that only left say 200 others.
Take out those going to non “remote” destinations like the UK, Europe, Australia etc I don”t think that there would have been that many “remote” locations to find out shipping costs for.
Probably well under 100, maybe only 50, & they have had 4 & a half months to look at those shipping costs.
To now say 4 & half months after everyone paid their deposit & entered into the deal that there are shipping problems/cost issues is not very good in my humble opinion.
Just saying & in no way am I aiming any criticism at TA or the team who I think have done a great job & have been put in an awkward position by Lumintop.

If you remember, Neal was working at Banggood when this project started. I think it was clear that he had planned to use those resources for this light as far as making payments, communicating, shipping, etc… Then at some point he left. I’m not sure when exactly, but at that point he had to rethink everything and come up with alternatives. This why he spent time at the Lumintop warehouse and why they shipped directly from there. It’s why he partnered with Madmax and used his website for the purchasing.

So it’s good the project did not get cancelled, but it’s bad because Neal is one person and can’t answer everyones emails and PMs.

No matter what, there would still be the slow shipping due to slow reflector making which is out of Lumintops hands.

I don’t know, but it’s possible that Banggood might have been able to ship them a bit cheaper than Lumintop. Was the average $40 shipping cost calculated back when Neal was at Banggood? I don’t know. I wasn’t following this project way back then.

I should probably stop speculating. People don’t like it when I speculate. It’s a 4 letter word around here. Lol

Jason I have absolutely no idea what your above post has to do with my quoted post ?

It relates, you just might be having trouble seeing the relationship. I wasn’t as clear as I could have been.

Ahh, why bother posting what I just wrote? No one really cares about my ideas. I’ll just let you guys talk amongst yourselves. Maybe TA will have some news from Neal.

[koyotee]

I was in the initial 555 group, and i got my flashlights.

Regarding the extra cost of shipping:

First 2 batches were sent to the USA, we know, because it was the easiest and cheapest, but, the thing is that also people from the second group(that is over 555) recieved their flashlights before the first group.

Why would now, people from the first group, have to pay more, when they should already have flashlights in their hands for the 111$ price?

Although it is not their fault, that Lumintop sent lights to them, imho these people should be the ones donating for those who will now have to pay more due to the remote countries they live in.

But yeah, in the first place Lumintops marketing department should have calculated the total cost better.

I’m still in for another GT, but i will have to reconsider if i still want it for that price.

[bella-headlight]

@JasonWW

It relates, you just might be having trouble seeing the relationship. I wasn’t as clear as I could have been.

Ahh, I just delete all that I wrote right now. No one really cares about my ideas. I’ll just let you guys talk amongst yourselves. Maybe TA will have some news from Neal.

Just to make it absolutely clear I am not having a go at any of the team or you Jason :+1:
I am however disappointed that we got this far down the road before being informed that there were unexpected shipping issues/costs especially after we had been assured that Lumintop were only shipping out USA DHL packages first as it was easier & more economical for them to & that ours would be being sent next.
I have asked to have my delivery switched from registered to DHL if that makes things easier for Lumintop, in fact I think that I was one of the first to do so on the forum.
If registered isn”t an option for the UK then they (LT) can not only switch my order to DHL they can also mark the full $114 value on it & I will pay the extra $40 it will incur in VAT & courier handling fees as I can 100% confirm to UK customs the amount I paid via paypal.
I can”t say fairer than that I don”t think :+1:

[Joey_Adams]

I bet the miller is so happy he decided to step away from his role here. This volunteer work that the blf team has put into this is now becoming all consuming. I hope all of us here remember this is a hobby for team and not their livelihood. They are making no money here and are certainly spending way too much time away from family. Sadly I think ta would not have hopped on this GB if he knew what his role would become. Let’s all take a breath and wait to see the list of countries and exactly what the extra cost will be. To be honest I’m on the fence with with what I feel about Lumintop. I really don’t like the people who have paid already being asked midstream to pay more, but I also don’t want Lumintop to lose tons of money. I keep going back to the fact that once this gb is over Lumintop will have the sole rights to sell the longest throw flashlight in the world at whatever price point they want. As I said before, I am torn. Cheers!

[DENGOH]

@koyotee

I was in the initial 555 group, and i got my flashlights.

Regarding the extra cost of shipping:

First 2 batches were sent to the USA, we know, because it was the easiest and cheapest, but, the thing is that also people from the second group(that is over 555) recieved their flashlights before the first group.

Why would now, people from the first group, have to pay more, when they should already have flashlights in their hands for the 111$ price?

Although it is not their fault, that Lumintop sent lights to them, imho these people should be the ones donating for those who will now have to pay more due to the remote countries they live in.

But yeah, in the first place Lumintops marketing department should have calculated the total cost better.

I’m still in for another GT, but i will have to reconsider if i still want it for that price.

The $111 is part of the rootcause that Lumintop making loss due to many issues and miscalculation right now, that’s why $111 payers should be asked to contribute voluntarily to any fund raising that might or might not happen.

[Bozlight29]

@seery

I’ve owned my own company since 1989 and have been dealing directly with foreign manufacturing for well over 25 years now. With 99.9% certainty, I can tell you that Lumintop is laughing [at us] as we sit here tossing ideas around on the best way to throw more money at them. Chinese businesses are ruthless, dishonest and greedy. And they are masters at manipulation. Unless you are properly leveraged and your contract with them is air tight, they will continue to bend you over and empty your pockets. Lumintop is making money on this deal, guaranteed. But in case some of you can’t see it [or don’t want to believe it], they just want to make MORE money. And trust me… They know the [honest hard working compassionate] people here on BLF will bend over backwards to throw MORE money into their [Lumintop’s] PayPal account. As many folks here struggle to come up with the additional 36% ransom [$40], the war cry at Lumintop has turned to laughter and smiles. Heck, if they play their cards right they’ll also get us to pay for the additional wheelbarrows needed to haul all that extra [ransom] money to the bank. They’ve played us for fools, and we’re acting the part.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to throw money at Lumintop. But they made a very good light at a very special price. They overlooked the shipping costs, so let’s figure out how to solve this and don’t call them names etc, it won’t help and it may not be true either.

[DENGOH]

@seery

I’ve owned my own company since 1989 and have been dealing directly with foreign manufacturing for well over 25 years now.

With 99.9% certainty, I can tell you that Lumintop is laughing [at us] as we sit here tossing ideas around on the best way to throw more money at them.

Chinese businesses are ruthless, dishonest and greedy. And they are masters at manipulation.

Unless you are properly leveraged and your contract with them is air tight, they will continue to bend you over and empty your pockets.

Lumintop is making money on this deal, guaranteed.

But in case some of you can’t see it [or don’t want to believe it], they just want to make MORE money.

And trust me…

They know the [honest hard working compassionate] people here on BLF will bend over backwards to throw MORE money into their [Lumintop’s] PayPal account.

As many folks here struggle to come up with the additional 36% ransom [$40], the war cry at Lumintop has turned to laughter and smiles.

Heck, if they play their cards right they’ll also get us to pay for the additional wheelbarrows needed to haul all that extra [ransom] money to the bank.

They’ve played us for fools, and we’re acting the part.

What’s wrong with you trying to play racist card here? You are not even paying anything yet since you are no.1595 & 1693. I think you should not join this GB at all since you seems to hate Chinese manufacturer.

seery [1595 1693] 0 0 2

[EagleShield]

I’m just confused about how registered shipping is more expensive then DHL.

Everywhere I see DHL for shipping on an item it can be +40usd while registered shipping is free.
I have never seen the other way around and never seen free DHL shipping on an item.

[DENGOH]

@EagleShield

I’m just confused about how registered shipping is more expensive then DHL.

Everywhere I see DHL for shipping on an item it can be +40usd while registered shipping is free.
I have never seen the other way around and never seen free DHL shipping on an item.

Are those item you have seen as big and heavy as GT?
Small shipper are good at shipping smaller parcels.

[Joey_Adams]

The 111$ Price is for the people who paid 14$ down payment when there was no proof that the flashlight would be made at all. In fact, without that “proof” of interest, Lumintop may well have passed on it all together. And if you are trying to subsidize the shipping cost to other Blf it needs to be voluntary donations. If you try to “force” someone to pay more for something that they have already received, good luck. I think that they would probably tell you where to stick it. I have no problem donating five bucks to help the shipping costs for those flashlights that have ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR. The rest of the gb customers can decide up front if they want to the new higher price.

[DENGOH]

@Joey Adams

The 111$ Price is for the people who paid 14$ down payment when there was no proof that the flashlight would be made at all. In fact, without that “proof” of interest, Lumintop may well have passed on it all together. And if you are trying to subsidize the shipping cost to other Blf it needs to be voluntary donations. If you try to “force” someone to pay more for something that they have already received, good luck. I think that they would probably tell you where to stick it. I have no problem donating five bucks to help the shipping costs for those flashlights that have ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR. The rest of the gb customers can decide up front if they want to the new higher price.

If you ask me, it is actually both $111 and $155 list of potential buyers gave Lumintop confidence to go ahead and build this awesome GT with a few prototypes. $111 might lose some money or make even, $155 will surely put them in positive.

[gregor]

I think we all more or less agree that price should not be changed for people that have alrady paid for GT.

[MortyDuck]

@gregor

I think we all more or less agree that price should not be changed for people that have alrady paid for GT.

+1

[Buzzing_Bulb]

@MortyDuck

@gregor

I think we all more or less agree that price should not be changed for people that have alrady paid for GT.

+1

+1

[Aslan]

@Buzzing Bulb

@MortyDuck

@gregor

I think we all more or less agree that price should not be changed for people that have alrady paid for GT.

+1

+1

+1

In fact, lumintop received a free business idea of a flashlight with a lot of demand in the market, so they will make money on it, it not enough for them?

[Yokiamy]

@DENGOH

@Joey Adams

The 111$ Price is for the people who paid 14$ down payment when there was no proof that the flashlight would be made at all. In fact, without that “proof” of interest, Lumintop may well have passed on it all together. And if you are trying to subsidize the shipping cost to other Blf it needs to be voluntary donations. If you try to “force” someone to pay more for something that they have already received, good luck. I think that they would probably tell you where to stick it. I have no problem donating five bucks to help the shipping costs for those flashlights that have ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR. The rest of the gb customers can decide up front if they want to the new higher price.

If you ask me, it is actually both $111 and $155 list of potential buyers gave Lumintop confidence to go ahead and build this awesome GT with a few prototypes. $111 might lose some money or make even, $155 will surely put them in positive.

Actually with PP fees, is was $ 101,78 and $ 14,96 which makes $ 116,74

[fonfan]

If I have chinese address - what partial refund Lumintop will send me? I’m from $111 ($ 116,74) part. Neal not answer me at all.

[kntx]

There was a person #more that 900 on the list,who said he has got 3 lights allready; besides that LT didnt respect at all the list (no 555,neither 800 first orders),LT did actually sent lights as they desired,in the whole world (mainly USA but many other countries); that means untill now LT has been choosing the best for it’s interest and now ,they dont want to respect any deal that The Team made with them? Doesnt think at all that every customer could bring 2,3 or more others? I dont know how much money LT made with the lights (i’m sure they will never ever tell us),but surely many would get pissed off with the manner LT is treating the group buy - we were promised to stay calm even though LT didnt respect the list order,as everybody would get his light,and we hace been waiting patiently and now LT ,after one and half months,LT still looking for a registered shipping option,besides waiting for the reflector? Where are we right now? How many lights need to be sent? Lets say 200 x110$ so LT made the lights and publicity with our money,each light in the market is doing publicity for LT not having to put down their money,as the money we paid,were enough for LT to make a profit and prepare future introduction of the GT in the whole’s world market -