Just Ruined $500 Microfire Flashlight Need Help

[recDNA]

Just to put in a word for 47's here, they clearly state the warranty's on their web site, and they were quite responsive to my inquiries. Also, in terms of referring me to someone to fix my light, they did suggest that someone here could help, and I do feel confident that, if I couldn't figure it out myself, that one of you guy's would have come through for me.

On the other hand, what I would suggest is that they add to their warranty information, a section on out of warranty paid repair. It would be important to someone making a decision on a light to know whether or not a company is going to stand behind their product with some sort of repair service for a fee.

Also, it would be nice if they made clear, which parts of a light the customer is allowed to access, without voiding warranty. Can we remove the lens to clean it? Are we allowed to clean the reflectors if there is a smudge in there? Are we only allowed to change the batteries in a light without voiding the warranty? The Microfire lights are particularly vulnerable to this issue, since you need to unscrew the battery pack from the head, to charge it. The way it is designed, the electronics containing parts can very easily unscrew from the middle part of the light, when changing the battery, and this apparently voids the warranty.

Bottom line is if they can't or won't hire a repair man THEY should find a competent person here who is willing (and perhaps thrilled) to take on all of their non-warranty repair work. Merely referring somebody to a website to find help is hardly a solution IMO.

 

[recDNA]

My light is working!!!!!!

I clipped a wire when putting it back together, so I had to do a second repair. It is pretty crude, since I am not a professional, but the light is working.... for now.

Oh, and I fixed the rattle too. I wrapped the pill with scotch tape, so it fit more snugly, and now it is solid.

I would feel much better if it was done by the factory, so I know it is as good as new, but at least I have the satisfaction that I was able to figure it out myself.

GREAT! I'll never buy a Microfire product but I'm happy you're not stuck. Your story really made me mad because I have neither the tools nor the time, talent nor inclination to figure out how to fix a broken flashlight. A $500 flashlight should not be a disposable item when a pill gets loose.

 

[Mdinana]

I think everyone jumping on 4Sevens is kind of in the wrong.

I mean, they're the DEALER. Not manufacturer. In my mind, they have no obligation to do more than sell you a product. I mean, it'd be nice if they could service it, but that's not necessarily what they advertise themselves as.

If the light is broken, the manufacturer should be fixing it or referring you, not a dealer, especially long after you bought an item. As for the "what can I touch" aspect, again, not a dealer's job. They can't know the ins and outs of every product. That should be in whatever documentation came with the light. Nearly everything I've bought with a warranty eventually has a page for troubleshooting and a page that says "this voids the warranty."

So, sure, blackball Microfire. Great, I think they're totally in the wrong. But slamming 4Sevens is kind of like yelling at Walmart when you're Ruger rifle breaks. Or chastizing BestBuy when your Sony HD TV breaks. Doesn't make sense. They may help you, but ultimately the responsibility is the manufacturer.

 

[swiftwing]

I agree that its not fair to jump on 47s for not pointing the user to somewhere that could potentially carry out the repairs. For 47s to recommend a place for repairs means they carry the potential liability if the place recommend does sub-par work, a liability which is not fair to ask that they shoulder.

 

[Free]

Not to stir the pot, but I am just re-reading parts of 47's site, and find the following interesting....

"Now our customers rely on us for the latest in cutting-edge flashlight technology - and equally for the dependable, personal caliber of service that comes with our flashlights. These are the foundations of our success: the best technology, the best customer service."

"Service
Our customer service team is composed of flashlight tech experts – flashaholics, if you will – who are well versed in the lore of modern LED technology. We've spent our time exploring the ins and outs of these lights so you don't have to - unless that's your hobby too! If you have a question about any of our lights, we'll have the answer."

 

[waddup]

So, the lesson here, is

dont take your $500 WORKING flashlight apart if you dont have the skills to work on it


there are several people on this forum that can get your light working again.
if your willing to pay for an out of warranty repair, a member here might as well get that money, i bet they also will do a much better job

 

[ToeMoss]

For 47s to recommend a place for repairs means they carry the potential liability if the place recommend does sub-par work, a liability which is not fair to ask that they shoulder.

No liability there IMO, just good customer service.

 

[waddup]

I wrapped the pill with scotch tape,

you probably should put aluminum foil in there.

 

[kwkarth]

My light is working!!!!!!

I clipped a wire when putting it back together, so I had to do a second repair. It is pretty crude, since I am not a professional, but the light is working.... for now.

Oh, and I fixed the rattle too. I wrapped the pill with scotch tape, so it fit more snugly, and now it is solid.

I would feel much better if it was done by the factory, so I know it is as good as new, but at least I have the satisfaction that I was able to figure it out myself.

Sounds like "good as new" would be a bad thing coming from Microfire. Very shoddy design and construction for a $0.5k light. So now you're back to better than new!

 

[Free]

dont take your $500 WORKING flashlight apart if you dont have the skills to work on it


there are several people on this forum that can get your light working again.
if your willing to pay for an out of warranty repair, a member here might as well get that money, i bet they also will do a much better job

My flashlight may have technically been working, however there were parts inside that were loose, and needed to be fixed. Since Microfire does not provide out of warranty repairs, it was necessary for me to try to fix it myself.

While I may not be as skilled as others on this forum, I was able to figure it out, and repair my light, so apparently I do have the skills to work on it.

 

[Free]

you probably should put aluminum foil in there.

Sorry, but that sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Larbo]

I have been finding myself looking at the Microfire Warrior III K3500R 35W / 3500 Lumen HID quite a bit lately which means sooner or later it ends up in my collection, however there is NO WAY I will drop that much cash on something that nobody will fix if it breaks.
I think 47's should at least take notice of this and contact Microfire on his behalf!
I know I would be mad a hell if they told me they wont repair my light.

 

[Juggernaut]

No offence but no one forces anyone to buy a certain flashlight. Whether or not you think it's worth the money is up to you and you alone. If people are willing to pay $500 for a light, then it's worth $500. If no one bought these "over priced" light the manufactures would have to come down on prices they respond to "you" the buyers. If you have the money to buy a $500 light / it breaks and you go "oh well I just have $500 sitting around might as well buy another" then it's the manufacture who is making off scot-free. For some of use $500 determines whether or not we have new tires on are car to pass inspection or fix the EFI so we can actually drive around without having to worry about the car stalling on the highway:shakehead.

 

[waddup]

Sorry, but that sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

scotch tape likely will do some weird stuff when it gets hot, ive seen people use aluminum foil in this application before,

i was trying to help

 

[ToeMoss]

No offence but no one forces anyone to buy a certain flashlight. Whether or not you think it's worth the money is up to you and you alone. If people are willing to pay $500 for a light, then it's worth $500. If no one bought these "over priced" light the manufactures would have to come down on prices they respond to "you" the buyers. If you have the money to buy a $500 light / it breaks and you go "oh well I just have $500 sitting around might as well buy another" then it's the manufacture who is making off scot-free. For some of use $500 determines whether or not we have new tires on are car to pass inspection or fix the EFI so we can actually drive around without having to worry about the car stalling on the highway:shakehead.

Is there a point in here somewhere, or are you just giving the guy a hard time because he could afford the light in the first place?

 

[IMSabbel]

Let me chime in,too.

There is nothing wrong with selling a light for 500, or even 2000.
Also, the warranty void is totally justified, in my oppinion. You dont open a device with warranty on it without calling back on it.

But not even offering _paid_ repairs is stupid on many levels. Not only do people _expect_ premium service for a premium product. But its also a good way to make money. Somebody who spend 500 for a light wouldnt mind spending 50 or 100 to get it working again if its broken.
And in that case, it would have been 2 minutes of work for somebody there. Easy money and a happy customer.

I am not into buying premium gadets, but premium scientific equipment, and there people are more than happy to repair _anything_ you mess up on you own. And even if you drop a spanner into a turbopump, they will smile and give you a invoice. Repairs and service are more than half of the total income.
The mircofire way seems to be a bit shortsighted. Buy seeing the insides of the light was really a bit eye-opening, too. The difference from a DX light seems to be the neater shrink-tubing

 

[Juggernaut]

Is there a point in here somewhere, or are you just giving the guy a hard time because he could afford the light in the first place?

No, just saying a flashlight is worth what ever someone is willing to spend. A gallon of water is worth a million dollars to a man lost in the desert, while a bag of diamonds are only worth as much as the sand he walks on. There is nothing wrong justifying a $500 / $1,500 / $2,900 light if that's what you want:thumbsup:. I was just trying to tell people that if they think this light is only worth as much as stuff from DX then it wouldn't cost as much as it did.

 

[Free]

scotch tape likely will do some weird stuff when it gets hot, ive seen people use aluminum foil in this application before,

i was trying to help

Wouldn't the aluminum foil have the potential for shorting something out??

 

[Free]

Well... I just got back from the Post Office, and my brand new second L500R arrived today. Brand spankin new out of the box... and the head rattles. So, I is that a defect, or a design feature??

I am debating whether or not to keep it. On the one hand, I am not happy with the thought that I am out of luck once the warranty expires. On the other hand, with all the lights I have (and believe me I have a hell of a lot) I have not found one light that throws a beam quite like this one.

....also nice to have spare parts if one of them breaks.

 

[Moto EMT]

I'd suggest you contact 4sevens and notify him of the issue, and then return it. This defnitely sounds like a defect, ask him if he checked the light personally and if he says he did, then engage in filing a shipping claim, hopefully you had the package insured for it's full value. I personally will be avoiding microfire in the future.