I would prefer to buy lights that are already tested or reviewed. Doesn’t matter if its a group buy or not.
And I think, from a manufacture standpoint, it would be wise to have at least a couple reviews online before selling a light. It would greatly increase the sales, especially when combined with a group buy.
Ok, good points. Thanks again.
Yeh, I gotta confess that as much as I like Nitecore lights, almost all my purchases were either secondhand from some really nice people here, or when already- or about to be discontinued.
I like seeing a rather extended pedigree, and to see if there were any issues over time like quality-fade, etc.
That said, I also gotta confess that I don’t recall ever going in on any GB, no matter how nifty-looking the light. I just hate the idea of being a beta tester, and paying for the “privilege”.
And a lot of new lights are just variations on a theme. Same ol’ X, only with a ’351 inside, or in Cu or Ti, or with temp-reg and not timed-stepdown. <yawn>
Not to say others shouldn’t enjoy that first-kid-on-the-block feeling if they want to, but it’s just not for me.
I seen you posted last summer about the Jetbeam M2S and said it was also performing half of was the specs were. So now your Jetbeam M1x is doing the exact same thing?
I can’t afford them when group buys are organized. I have to save money and buy later. By that time, the kinks have reared their ugly heads and exposed themselves and I don’t buy, or there’s no problem and i do buy.
What about having a group return option after they are tested ? All group buy flashlights come with a free return label in case there are issues .
I don’t think that’ll work because it would cost a lot and profit margins are already slim with discounted group buys.
Personally I have bought lights from bangood and sofirn after the group buys have ended for pretty much equal to, or even less expensive than their group by prices. Sometimes you just want the newest greatest thing but I’ve been fortunate enough that I’ve only really come across and considered lights long after the initial purchasers have received them and made the rest of us aware of their flaws.
yeah, I just want the newest greatest thing 
I’m not sure if my RRT-M1X Raptor is faulty or not but mine also doesn’t put out the 480 lumens. I am only able to tell that it isn’t putting out that much but I am not able to tell how much exactly it is putting out. Though In a real-world test. It will cast light 1.2 miles away. It throws just a bit more than my Noctigon K1 W1 Green. As that will throw a mile in the real world testing I have done. (That is the furthest I have tested) But being that the light is not much more than a full moon I’m not sure if it would make it past 1.3 miles. I could not tell with the naked eye but using optics, It will cast usable light 1.1 miles. The light is just a little brighter than the light of a full moon. But it does make things visible.
Can someone tell me if this is decent? Or doess it not add up with CD?
Most reviewers are affiliate reviewers anyway who only care about commission. You take your chance on any light. I like to think I’m honest but even I miss glitches and flaws, especially internal things like lack of thermal paste which I don’t check for. I missed the recent K9.3 Aux light glitch 
I rarely do drop and water tests too.
First of all, I really like watching your reviews because...
...you don‘t fear to mention negative feedback if there is anything wrong with the product. I can‘t stand listening to Charles BridgTec‘s continuous adulations for each reviewed light of his.
...your reviews are somehow consistent with the same locations and same structure.
...your taste for music is great. Unfortunately, embedding music in YT videos is a dangerous risk in Germany for legal reasons (copyright etc.).
...there’s (almost) always a story when you enter the „dangerous place“ and I admit, I can‘t wait to see who’s coming to get you (again) at the end of the review. :-D
I wonder how your public feedback is appreciated by the vendors/manufacturers if there was anything negative to say. I made negative experiences with a premium flashlight manufacturer who asked me to revise my review until THEY considered it right. I am pretty sure they would not want me to review any of their flashlights again. :-D
Don‘t worry about that aux light glitch in K9.3. I only discovered it by chance because I left my K9.3 in lockout mode for some minutes the way it arrived.
I believe I’ve lost IMALENT after reviewing 3 faulty MS03’s, 2 of which they said they’d personally tested. Possibly Lumintop too as I’m always complaining about the switches.
Most other manufacturers actually appreciate that I notice or point out flaws. Especially Fireflies!
There are only 4 brands that can take more than 100 bucks of my money.
Surefire, Acebeam, Imalent and Olight. In that order.
Very boring lights. No surprises. No regret.
Cheers.
Here we go again, and again, and again, and again.
Nightwatch.
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/69645/113
And the Astrolux MF01X
https://1lumen.com/review/astrolux-mf01x/
How many times do we need to repeat this?
unexpected bugs happen, once a product is released
for example the SP10 PRO, which was thoroughly tested, has a shutoff bug that dims the light before turning off. It can be fixed with a reflash, but I dont mind, and call it a feature.
my first generation SP10 PRO works great, for my expectations. I do not feel a need to learn how to reflash it.
I totally agree.
Even if several people review 1 light, there might still be glitches that were overlooked.
But at least it will likely reduce the number of bigger issues, if the group buy can wait till a light is tested.
The groupbuys run by people who helped building the light, are usually safer, because they were tested by several members.
I agree with you because many have happened to buy flashlights that did not meet the specifications, you should buy a product only after reading one or more reviews made by serious and prepared people but sometimes you buy "on impulse" because dazzled by the novelty or the alleged performance, sometimes the opposite happens as for example the new Nightwatch with SFQ55 which did even better than the specifications but in general the opposite happens.
I typically pass on group buys, and I won’t buy from any outfit I don’t have confidence will make things right for me if I do get a dud. I have no desire to rush into a product when I can easily wait a short period of time and verify that it will perform up to my expectations. I kind of feel like group buys are buyer beware, buying cheap crap from questionable vendors carries significant risk.
Clearly there are enough people out there willing to shell out large amounts of money for questionable goods to make it profitable so I’m sure the practice will continue.
Output measurements seem to be inaccurate. Did Gabriel perform those test with that deformed spring?
I avoid preorders in general, group buy or otherwise. It’s both a matter of principle and practicality. I really dislike how pervasive they have become, even big automakers are doing preorders for EVs. As a consumer, it should not be my responsibility to subsidize the risk for a manufacture. This of course is very different from a commissioned piece, where you are now a collaborator and consumer, and it makes sense for the risk to be shared. It may feel like a deal, but one bad experience is likely to erase any value you got, not just from that preorder, but possibly from all of them.
Group buys can occur after a product has been launched and reviewed, it’s effectively the same dynamic as a wholesale order. I think this is a perfectly acceptable thing, and is probably a net benefit for both parties. These flashlight manufacturers are realistically catering to a small and niche market. Rewarding diehard enthusiasts with deals or group buy opportunities for products that actually exist can foster a sense of community and good will. They can also be an effective way to clear out older stock or create liquidity for future product development.
My advice is to Be smart with your money, don’t buy stuff that doesn’t exist. Do with it what you will.