grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......... SureFire gone botach?

got this email today-

I wanted to give you an update on the KLx series bezel saga.

A few days ago Surefire told me that they were currently shipping
approximately 300 per week KL1's with over 1000 still on backorder.
Additionally they stated that they expected to be caught up on backorders by
the end of November, 2002. After being informed of this I then sent all of
those that had backorders of KL1's an email updating them of the above
information.

Since then I have heard that some customers who were ordering straight off
of Surefire's website at FULL RETAIL have been receiving them within 2-3
days after ordering so I called Surefire to ask them why they were
fulfilling "full retail" customers orders first instead of filling the
backorders in the order that they receive them like they originally told me
. They then stated that their internet purchasers expected their orders
quickly and that is why they were doing it. I informed them that dealers
and distributors internet customers expected the same and that our internet
customers were buying Surefire products through us and that they too were
Surefire customers. I also informed them that this created a "real
impression" of the factory directly competing with their distribution by
fulfilling their "full retail" internet purchasers first, while those who
chose not to pay "full retail" price for their Surefire products were made
to wait their turn. They stated that they had taken a good deal of "heat"
from both the end user and their dealers as a result of this policy and they
have temporarily suspended this policy on the KL1's. (Still unsure if they
are doing it on other SF products though)

Here is the "kicker"! They now state that are out of KL1's and DO NOT
expect anymore for 3-4 weeks. They are unsure how many they will have in
3-4 weeks and cannot predict when the backorders will be filled other than
to say hopefully shortly thereafter.

After being originally told that KL1's would be shipped to ALL backorders
around the Nov. 1st timeframe I now am unsure of when they will be shipped.
I could expand much further in regards to the frustration about how this has
been handled by them but for now will opt to remain hopeful and positive
that the "KLx" backorders will be filled within the next 45-60 days.

We very much apologize to you about this how this situation has been handled
and if you wish to cancel your order and receive a refund we fully
understand.

If you have additional questions or inquiries please feel free to let me
know.

Cordially,

Vaughn Baker - Vice President
Strategos International, L.L.C.
[email protected]
888-Low-Light - TOLL FREE
http://www.strategosinternational.com

SINCE WHEN DO THEY CHOOSE WHO GETS THE LIGHTS AND WHEN?!!!

On a side note stategos is top notch!!!!!

to clear any mixup - im not mad at strategos.

Aragorn: surefire seems to have gone through a lot of policy changes lately.

oh by the way, tell me about your FBI issued vintage surefire 6R

I thought by ordering Direct from SF at FULL RETAIL prices would get me the KL1 faster than any dealer. I placed my order with SF Oct 10th. Still no KL1. I emailed CountyComm, Sableco, and Tadgear. If any of these guys have it, I will be going through them.

Further discussion here:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=003523

TAD has in stock right now the KL1 for 44.95 plus tax. Just gave them a call. However I didn't ask how many they had left.

Beware that TAD tacks on 8.5 percent tax, at least to those of us in Calif. This can take the sweetness out of what looks like a good deal. I buy stuff all over the net and as far as I recall, this is the only place that does this.
If you're buying $500~600 worth of stuff (I buy knives) this adds up fast!

TAD is just obeying the law. Technically, if you live in CA, anybody shipping from CA should tax you.

yep Saaby is right. i live in Tennessee and dont have to pay taxes on any internet orders as long as they arent a business from Tennessee. if they are from my home state i get popped for damn near 9% state sales tax

so Jackblades, you are either ordering your other merchandise from a non CA company, or they are breaking the law.

What's more, if the business even has an outlet in your state, you get hit with tax. TX

Jack Blades:

Other reputable Cal vendors will hit you and me (California residents) with tax. LPS is so well stocked and organized on SF parts that they're still usually the best overall source of SF parts I've found even with the Cal sales tax.

On a big order from Carley I found it cheaper to ship to AKE in New York who then reshipped the 95% of the order that belonged to me back to me. You might transship to and through an out- of-state buddy on some of your large California purchases.