Rather than re-invent the wheel, perhaps referring you to this site
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/ It should be a pretty good resource for you to research some of the lights that you're interested in as well as getting some background on their manufacturers and the run times that you should expect.
With regards to store inventory ... let's just say that I don't make it a habit to go around believing what a floor sales associate or the kid who rounds up the shopping carts from the parking lot tells me. It's just kind of a wild guess, but I'd be inclined to think that outside of where the timeclock might be, they probably know nothing about the store operations. Don't you find it odd that others can find these products in their Target (or Wal*Mart, or whatever) stores and you can't? But on the off-chance that Target's distribution center does not see a need to restock your local stores, it might be a clue to start locating alternative locations.
In our area, the chains (all of them whether they be department or supermarkets) tend to stock stores based upon demographics. Some merchandise may not be stocked in all stores, there may be items stocked in some stores specifically due to their neighborhood demographics (e.g. one of our Costco stores carries Asian and Hispanic food items that aren't usually found in other stores. Similarly stores in lower socio-economic areas tend not to be well stocked or restocked as often as those it the higher socio-economic neighborhoods. I know it's not fair, but that's just the way it is, just as they'll charge you more for your car insurance because of the neighborhood or city that you live in, in addition to your driving record.
BTW, Dorcy doesn't market the Elements that are in Sam's. I believe they come from a company called Allied, the same company that packages the tools from India/Pakistan in Costco and Sam's stores (and various other places.)
Spongebob said:
So are the Elements actually the same as the Dorcy or not? The Dorcy Metal my son has has great run time on it, but the Element was horrible so I would be interested in trying a Dorcy if you are in fact saying they are better as far as run time then the new Elements. I would get a Metal (which is still a posibility) but Im trying to avoid the tailcap clicky.
Stocking the store is not the problem, Ive asked an employee several times about them and they just don't send them so I would say thats a buying issue not stocking. You can't stock something that has not been ordered.
