This does not apply to all Chinese manufacturers. But it absolutely applies to lumintop.
Acebeam,Thrunite,Olight, Imalent probably more ,ALL have facilities in the United States. I’ve used them and they’ve all been very helpful and I was reimbursed or given another light. With little cost on my part, I just had to ship it to them. No complaints paying 10 or $15.
Back to Lumintop which is the issue. I will also say that I should have read the warranty. Before I bought the lights ,so hopefully this will save someone else from wasting their money and time.
I have just over $700 invested in two of Lumintops lights including 2*49650 batteries.. $50 a piece!
If you have a problem with the light you have to pay for shipping to china. I’m having a problem with one of the lights.
Years ago I bought this crappy light from Haiklite.. broke within a few days. It was worth $95. They said I had to ship it back to them which would have cost $70. I took the loss and tossed light in the trash.
Think I would have learned from that! LOL
Getting Lumintop to respond is another issue. August 6th I sent them an email. Heard nothing August 12th I sent them another email heard nothing I just sent them another email a couple hours ago. Today is August 22nd 2026
The lesson here is the Chinese manufacturers that have no facilities in the united states, you’re bound to have to pay for shipping back to china. And it can be very very expensive a lot of times it cost more than the light is worth itself.
I know one thing for sure I will never buy another Lumintop light again or any other Chinese light that doesn’t have a facility in the United States.
The statements you make are true. The problem is there are hundreds if not thousands of sellers and manufactures on Ali and BG that only exist in China. Some of these items are cutting-edge and worth the risk to get as they dont exist anywhere else.
I think the wrong lesson is being drawn from your experience. Your experience has much more to do with how Lumintop operates as a company than whether any given manufacturer has a US facility or not.
A prime counterexample is Convoy, which operates entirely within China yet has one of the best (and most consistent) warranty services in the flashlight industry, despite not even having a written warranty program! On the contrast, you will find many stories about the manufacturers listed above failing to honor an explicit warranty.
I do agree partially, but there are some aspects to be taken into consideration.
If you buy something (anything) it’s a deal between you (the buyer) and the seller.
Think twice before you follow the “friendly” suggestion of the seller to take up things directly with the manufacturer.
That way the seller is off the hook, and that is the main and/or only reason for that suggestion.
IF you make contact with an overseas seller/manufacturer, you’ll notice that return shipping is very costly,
DON’T follow his advice for the cheapest way of shipping. Chances are he’ll claim it never arrived, when you don’t use/pay for track and trace.
There are companies that keep track of their serial numbers, and refuse to send you spare parts if you buy a light from an unapproved seller.
When you ask for a list of approved sellers, things become very silent.
That’s why I only buy cheap enough lights that I’m okay with writing off if they go teats-up.
No idea which light you’re specifically referring to, but it might be a better deal to sell it cheap for parts if anyone wants to take a whack at fixing it or using it as a host.
The lesson is simple. Stay informed, do your research and know their policies.
However, there is no excuse for not responding for 17 days. Pathetic. Rarely if at all does that happen in the United States . For the most part, companies here are responsible and reliable.
If we are painting generalisations, then businesses in the US are absolutely not the beacon of responsibility you claim, profit is prioritised over human health/rights and the environment. Checks and balances are sorely lacking, the sooner US consumers realise they’re getting a raw deal, the better.
Have a look at EU consumer rights if you want to see what I’m talking about. Items must be fit for purpose and last an adequate time. Sellers have the obligation with the buyer, they can’t fob the customer off to the manufacturer.
Unfortunately, in the UK, the turkey’s are voting for Christmas, and those who will be negatively impacted the most are actively pushing to be more like the USA.
I’m talking about my experience. Opinion and experience are two different things. Your point of view is from england. Do you live in the United states? Again my experience from dealers in the United States is tremendously more reliable than china.
I am reminded of a joke…
All generalizations are false.
…
I’ve lived my entire life in the U.S., and there’s no other place that I’d rather live.
That said, the U.S. has so many problems that it’s not even funny.
Day 22 and no response from Lumintop. Not expecting any at this point.
I need to keep these things in mind.
I can’t change anyone but myself.
I will never buy from China again unless the manufacturer has a facility in the United states.
I do pretty well at #3 but sometimes I still forget.
Forums are littered with know-it-alls, control freaks and minions!
As soon as I recognize one of these the best thing for me to do is ignore them. Wasting energy trying to let people know how easy it is to look right through them!
That’s kinda silly. I 'd understand if you said “never again” to Lumintop but there are so many reputable sellers in China that it makes no sense IMHO.
Silly?? No. It’s logical and practical . I don’t like spending more for shipping than the light is worth! Makes no sense? Are you sure you understood what I wrote? It makes perfect sense. Because if they don’t have a facility in United States you have to pay for shipping from here to china. You don’t live in the usa. Maybe you’re basing your opinion on the European cost to China not the USA cost.
It makes total sense to me I’ve already experienced the loss because of those policies from Chinese manufacturers in China and the responsibility for us fine Americans to foot the bill which is usually more than the light is worth itself!
I’ve had a Emisar D1K where the UV LED nuked itself after 20secs on turbo. Dropped Hank an email and ~2 weeks later I received a new flashlight head at no cost.
I’ve heard similarly good things about Simon from Convoy and I’m sure there are many others.
. My citizenship and then Germany and Italy my bloodline. Here, I’ll post it for you 