I think I started on this forum back in 2017. And I remember several forum members that you could tell were some of the originals and their comments always received respect. What happened to all them guys? Seems like they are all gone. Also, I remember there was always “group buys” seems like every week, now not so much.
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Yeah, I haven’t noticed a group buy in a long time.
I’ve been on BLF since 2010, and I miss a lot of people that have disappeared over the years. 
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With companies such as Emisar/Noctigon and Convoy being like a sweet shop for enthusiasts, and other companies such as Sofirn and Wurkkos collaborating with enthusiasts, there has been a declining need for group buys.
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Not to mention, almost everyone on this forum has been tricked (at least once) into a group buy only to find out they would be beta testing problematic light or overpaying for it. Or both.
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I joined the BLF to participate in the BLF-A6 group buy. I was (still) a noob in the flashlight scene. I have participated in other group buy’s as well. I do miss that aspect of this forum.
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I feel like there’s still a wealth of knowledge being shared in this forum. For example, when the D3AA was announced thefreeman released technical docs about the driver and answered a bunch of questions from the community. Maybe a few years ago a light like that would have to have been a group buy but we’re very fortunate now to have manufacturers with mature, proven businesses selling the lights we want.
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People get tired / disillusioned or just plain satisfied with what they have and move on.
My ZL SC600mkII is over ten years old and it’s still my most used light today.
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Agreed, I am just plain satisfied. The lights that I imagined , around 2001 or so , are here. And surpassed my expectations! I ended up with more incredible flashlights than I will have lifetime to use and enjoy.
Nowdays, I lazily and infrequently look for the flashlights that I gifted, but miss, and want to reacquire … Arc AAA and Nitecore EX10, etc.
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I think it’s less active here since the forum redesign and a chunk of people moved to reddit.
Reddit is more casual in my opinion. People just go there and share collections pictures and show off beam shots.
BLF is more technical, people discuss driver specs, LED specs, batteries and everything in between. It is not as appealing to the new guy who knows nothing about nothing. Unless the guy, or gal, is ultra nerdy and has nothing better to do with their lives LOL just kidding…
For example, there are a lot of noobs on Reddit asking for recommendations of lights that otherwise would never have even heard of.
Regarding the group buys, I believe in what others have said already, usually the price is higher than the final product and they get to be guinea pigs to test the new lights.
I have joined BLF just to buy the OG BLF GT with the XHP35 HI. Because that blew me away.
Since then I have never joined another group buy ever again. And even without group buys, you guys have managed to make me poor…
So… its all good for me 
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I also joined BLF for the original BLF GT. That light blew me away. Till this day, my wife always says that she has never seen me as happy as she did that day when I opened that delivery package lol
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Damn, so much has happened since then… crazy how life is isn’t it?? But my GT still sits on my shelf! Today with a XHP70.3 HI. Still crazy as always.
Do also remember as some users leave, or become less active, new ones also join; koef3 and ebastler, to name just two, are pretty actively contributing lots to the forum and hobby, and they weren’t on BLF when I joined.
I resemble that remark! 
Started off more on CPF, but the whole gunz/tacticool/“your life depends on a good flashlight all the time so spend $300 on every light you own” got pretty boring, so I came over here… And basically been here ever since… One day I might even add an avatar pic…
Life has been busy (good busy) the last 3-4 years or so, I’ve a few lighting projects I might actually finish off in the spring, time dependent.
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For me personally this was the main reason. I really enjoyed spending time here reading about lights and people experiences with different models, parts for flashlights, modifications, repairs, questions and answers…
Redesign just killed this place for many members unfortunately. Also there was an extensive amount of knowledge, people reported when they found good quality lights for affordable price or hosts that had excellent potential for modification (anyone remembers Courui D01, I still have that host), tested all different components, modified different lights, reported results… all these threads (my subscription to them) dissapeard after switching to new “forum” engine.
Back then, place was much less commercial and much more people oriented, people reported good deals, cheap and quality lights, but over time “group buys” shifted to higher priced and brand name light because companies found her a target customers and exploited that.
btw, I finally found info about when I joined this place (March 2012) it only took me 20 minutes of searching through different options, before you could find this info about any member in like 0.5 seconds. If I had to summarize the change in only one sentence that would be about it.
I would bet that you could still find some great knowledge here if you have plenty of free time, only question is how much of it is relevant now because of technological progress.
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I bounce around. I have a lot of hobbies, and I’m usually on Reddit because there are so many different interests that I can track in one place, whereas I only think of BLF/CPF occasionally.
In my opinion the forums are the best for historical information because it’s easier to find things I’m looking for. I don’t really like how some threads go on for years though and I have to sort through several pages of stuff to catch up.
Since the redesign I have no idea what is going on here, it broke the site, the reading, the flow, and the connectivity and continuity for me.
All I see now are bits and pieces of stuff. and I don’t bother trying to decipher what the other 98% is.
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I used to take part in the group buys, they seem to have died these days. I rarely bother coming on here now.
I agree with many comments. I’ll add an opinion -
For many years led flashlights gained popularity as everyone was in awe and wonder. Everyone was happy to buy the latest at group buy prices.
Nowadays flashaholics have found the niche aspect that suits them, and use multiple platforms to discuss only the subjects they are interested in.
Speculation here > at some point there will be a drop off in interest and a declining community. Saw this (all points above) happen in RC when lipo/brushless became popular.
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I’m here since 2013, I agree with Painkpanda, Interest winds down, I myself do not post nearly as much, i stopped building stuff almost completely, not that it became boring, but got 2 kids, and now do not have either time nor place, honestly not sure i’ll ever resume it as much as before, stil have boxes of parts, don’t want to get rid of it, but doubtful i’ll ever need them again.
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