I bought a 3 Modes Zoom Super Bright CREE Q5 LED Flashlight Torch from the Ebay seller tomtop_w. I wanted to check out the zoom mechanism since it was different from my other zoom flashlights (head doesn't move when zooming, only small ring around the head to turn).
The light worked fine as I quickly tested it when it arrived. However the day after when I turned it on it just flashed once with normal brightness and then went ultra-low mode, so dim you could look straight into the led and barely see it glow. Also the modes didn't work so I contacted the seller by sending a message through Ebay.
I received a quick response and even though they didn't ask for a video I sent them one anyway that showed how the light malfunctioned when you turned it on. They offered to send me a new light or a full refund. I chose refund since I didn't want to wait for a new light, especially now before the holidays. Within 24 hours I received a refund to my PayPal account.
This is the first time (so far) that I've received a "faulty" flashlight. IMO the contact with the seller and the refund went smoothly so I can recommend this Ebay seller(NOTE: this is just my opinion based on my dealings with the seller in question). I will probably buy more from this seller, got a couple of Sipik clones on the way atm.
Hmm just won an auction from that seller this morning, which included that same light, 2 unprotected 18650 batteries, and a dual 18650 charger for $13 shipped. Hopefully mine won't be a dud like yours. How did you like the light during the short time that it functioned properly?
I didn't have that much time to test it, but what I liked most was that it "preserved" the zoom, i.e. if you put it in your pocket it didn't change the zoom like e.g. the Sipik clone with the "push/pull" zoom. Build quality in general was ok for that price, switch and threads were ok. However the o-ring at the tailcap was a bit squished on one side and the clip material felt a bit too soft. Also it can't tailstand.
I probably would have liked the light if it would have worked for more than approx. the 10-15 mins that I got to test it. I had planned on testing it more the day after it arrived but then it didn't want to turn on properly. I'm gonna see if I will pick it apart when I get some time and possibly post some pics of it.
The light needs some tweaking. I always got a green turning ring never gray and i would have liked that. Anyway, heatsinking is poor, lack of thermal goop (at least on my samples). Better to improve heatsinking yourself if you manage to accomplish that. A bit crude finished but overall just a tiny improvement would be needed it to be very decent. on AAA it would probably last. On a decent li-ion probably not, at least on high. Mine drew quite over 1A. The led will eventually fail from massive overheating. To all owners try to hearsink it better if you can. I left it alon as AAA only... perhaps with a 700ma driver li-ion would be suitable...
So we still don't know if the TomTop version is three modes then? I actually doubt it somehow, but I have one on order so I guess I'll find out when it arrives.
The light I linked in the first post has three modes, high-low-strobe. I have no idea about the Sipik clones, haven't received those yet but I suspect they are one mode.
I've tested the light with three different 18650s and also with 3 x AAA.
I recommend them as well. Even though I haven't received my product yet, I've had very good email correspondence with them and "Mike" says to let him know if I don't receive my light at which time he'll make things right.
(I've contacted them about my tracking number showing "no such package exists".)
Garry, I think you and I are in the same boat. Our stories match exactly down to the day paypal notified us of a refund.
The tracking number Tomtop emailed to me was bogus as well. The tracking number shown on my ebay "recent purchases" like yours shows the lights in Chicago since the 9th.
At this point I am convinced that I wont receive the 3 lights from TomTop. I did however receive the refund from Paypal so nothing is lost
+1 Ordered a pair on 12/17 also. Last tracking results indicate processed in Shanghai, China and nothing more.. apparently not dispatched to USA or no record of such. Post office gives same results.
that showed how the light malfunctioned when you turned it on. They offered to send me a new light or a full refund. I chose refund since I didn't want to wait for a new light, especially now before the holidays. Within 24 hours I received a refund to my PayPal account.