Why I'm into Dorcy and DieHard lights and batteries right now...

Hi everyone I’ve been interested in flashlights for as long as I can remember. It seems like I get really into one type or another type of flashlight or one manufacturer more than another every now and then. Lately I’m on a Dorcy / DieHard kick, and here is the reason why:

I just wanted to let you know about the very cool thing that Dorcy flashlights did for so many of us who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. I’ve become friends with a guy who works at Dorcy. When he heard about our area being hit by Hurricane Sandy, and being without power, he reached out to me and offered to send a bunch of flashlights, lanterns, headlamps, and batteries to me so that I could pass them out to those in need. Mark sent three 50lb boxes to me overnight, completely free of charge.

With a few hundred flashlights in hand my wife and I set out on foot around our neighborhood in the dark, giving away the flashlights to our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and strangers without power. We even had enough flashlights to give several to a few groups taking donations for those in need, as well as the group of volunteers I work with on the Auxiliary Police Department, and my wife distributed some to the people who volunteered along side of her at a “soup kitchen” to help those in need.

Along with each flashlight we handed out an abbreviated version of the Dorcy products catalogue. It was just a small paper flyer with some of their product and contact information on it, but we hope that the next time people are looking to make a flashlight or battery purchase they remember the generosity and support from Dorcy during Hurricane Sandy, which created power outages lasting 10 days or longer for so many of us in our area. And I’m glad we were able to reach out even further with the help of friends who are re-distributing the Dorcy lights to people who are still displaced from there homes and without power even now as Thanksgiving has just passed.

Also worth noting - When Dorcy recognized that an order for lights or batteries was coming from the NY - NJ area affected by Hurricane Sandy, they automatically upgraded the shipping to overnight shipping free of charge!

For those of you reading this who would like to take a closer look at the Dorcy website here is the info: www.dorcy.com or to purchase products go to www.dorcydirect.com and you can use the coupon code FALL for a 15% discount, free shipping and free batteries with purchase! And I think they are having some even better discounts on their brand new line of DieHard flashlights and batteries for black Friday (25%off!!! and free batteries). Check it out on the Dorcydirect website.

I know for some of us Flashaholics, Hurricane Sandy offered an opportunity not only to put our love of flashlights to good use, and to possibly share our interest in lighting with others, but for so many people this storm has just been a living nightmare. Situations such as Hurricane Sandy bring out the best and the worst in people. As witnessed by news reports, people were fighting in long gas lines, people were stealing generators right out of neighbors backyards, looting stores etc, However, it is refreshing to see a company like Dorcy step up and reach out and shine a little light on an otherwise dark time!

So keep an eye out and you will likely see a few Dorcy or DieHard light reviews from me here on the BudgetLightForum. I believe in suporting the companies which step up and help people out, and so I actually bought a bunch of Dorcy and DieHard products to use as Christmas gifts this year …and a few just for myself :wink: And so I just want to get this out there… despite Dorcy’s generosity and the fact that I’m friendly with someone who works there, when I review their lights weather they are great or junk, I will say it like it is - keeping in mind the price point they are sold, and the design intentions of the light. I don’t expect a $20 or even a $60 dorcy flashlight to be on par with a $225 Surefire or even a $100 Fenix or JetBeam. —Tim

Hey, Tim. Thanks for taking the time to post this. I, too, have been on a Dorcy kick (back in ’09 and ’10 before the XM-Ls came out and I knew about budget lights). They are nice storebrand lights for general use. And let me add that when I’ve had to get a light replaced, Dorcy always responded back to the email well within 24 hours and had a new unit in my hand in two weeks. Great service. And it’s so good to hear what you just presented to us. I may buy up one just on account of it.

Tim,that's an awesome story,that kind of outreach from a large company is really great and seldom seen.I don't blame you for liking dorcy and these seem to be quality built flashlights.Our local radio station filled almost 3 tractor trailers full of batteries,garbage bags,flashlights,food and many other items needed for the Sandy relief effort.It was good to be a part of that and know that it helped.

Thanks guys :slight_smile:

and I just posted in the deals alert area their Black Friday deals, which are going until Monday: Great deal on Dorcy/DieHard flashlights and batteries: free promo items too.

Thanks for the headsup KartRacer31

Got hit with a 6 night outage during Sandy but - while we weren’t at a loss for light due to my loads of batteries and lights and headlamps - I learned my ol’ (really old) 4xDcell Coleman/krypton bulb lantern had lousy continuous runtime. Picked up their 80 lumen 4xCcell led lantern (reviews - and some pics - round the net indicate high satisfaction and runtime). Along with free batteries, free Fedex and the BF discount it came to a whopping $22.50 :slight_smile:

Since you can’t have too many lights, “Thanks again”!

You are welcome. Sorry I didn’t see this before you pointed it out.

Bump!
I don’t know how I missed seeing this the first time around.
As a longtime Dorcy / Dorcydirect fan, and as the equinox runs over us again, I though it worth a bump up.
Check it out if you haven’t.

Only Dorcy products I have are the 3V LED conversion bulbs in a few old rayovac industrial Yellow flashlights. Very happy with them as they make an otherwise Dead D cell useful almost forever, and still brighter than a new D cell on an incandescent bulb in the same light.

Yep. I have in my earthquake/emergency kit a bag full of old 2D lights with those LED conversion bulbs, and a stash of Dorcy’s cheap but fairly stable D-cell alkalines from their occasional deep discount sales.

Every few years, the current age cohort of neighborhood kids gets my aging-out alkalines to burn up in their toys.

Yeah I have a few Dorcys I picked up almost a decade ago…