Any Surefire Discounting?

[ToeMoss]

I assume the posts that followed your post explained the situation. These public requests for discount information come up regularly here and do not benefit anyone.

It was a fair question, particularly from someone with 2 posts. Your reply was out of context and unhelpful.

 

[Monocrom]

.... They have contracts with the resellers that certain products sell at certain prices. If resellers fail to abide they could lose rights to sell their products later.

More like absolutely-going-to-happen-you-can-count-on-it, sort of thing.

There's a surprising number of former Authorized Surefire Dealers in NYC.

EDIT:

As far as I'm concerned, price fixing is never good for the consumer. In reference to what souptree posted, how horribly out of touch with reality is that idiot from Ping?? All of a sudden money is no object? (Maybe if the average person was born with a Silver-spoon in their mouth). Hell, there have been times when I knowingly overpaid for lights. Either to help out a Dealer aquaintence of mine (non-Surefire Dealer), or because like Al said, would rather buy from a B&M store instead of ordering online because it's more preferable to hold the light I want and examine it, before deciding to buy it.

Still, most wealthy folks are rich because they know how to not only earn vast sums of money, but how to invest it, and how to protect it. Rich folks who don't take price into consideration are either those who are obscenely wealthy, or won't be rich for too long!

 

[Monocrom]

BTW, I'm looking for their X300 weapon light....

One way to save money is to buy a similar item sold by a competitor.

Check out Streamlight's TLR-1 and TLR-2 models.

Some Surefire models, like the Kroma, have no competition. But that's not the case with the X300.

 

[Numbers]

While I agree that a manufacturer should have the right to set retail prices (and then let competitive market forces allow them to do well or not) the argument in this case, that one gets a lifetime warranty is not all that meaningful to me partially because a light bought today will probably be obsolete in the not too distant future.
Part of the cost of a SF is like paying for an extended warranty in the base price of the light. I like to buy quality from the get go and therefore, in theory at least, never need an extended warranty. I never buy extended warranties that may be offered on purchases I make - but that's just me.

 

[Owen]

My understanding is that a dealer can only advertise at the approved price structure.
I know for a fact that SF reps visit a couple of different dealers that have lights priced below retail, so if any of that "SF will find out" was directed at me, don't worry. This does not necessarily apply to ALL of their lights, and some may very well be the slow movers that they are not going to carry any more of(don't know), as djblank mentioned. The only SF product that I've bought from one of them at a discounted price was discontinued, so this may indeed be true.
Whereever you buy from, SureFire has already gotten their money. I don't see anything wrong with trying to get the best price.

 

[batterystation]

Signing up as a Surefire dealer was one of the best things we ever did. They make no doubt the worlds best flashlight bar none. The difficulty with MSRP only is moving out the old model when the new model comes out. When the X-300 came out, it made the X-200 a dust collector unless you throw in free shipping, free batteries, or something like that. We as a dealer struggle with stuff like that on all brands but have found that we can offer extra service like Al said and benefit greatly from the Surefire product line.

No offense meant at all to other manufacturers that read this, but they all probably look at Surefire closely when it comes to top of the line stuff. And I might add a big thank you to Surefire for donating flashlights for the troops in Afghanistan during Operation Afghanistan Christmas Lights this year. I am glad to be a Surefire dealer. I have carried the same L1 for 4 years now. It never leaves my side.

 

[turbodog]

Ebay.

Tons of new in box SF lights.

Market-dictated prices.

A $270 (msrp) SF U2 for about $195.

Etc.

Buy it now brand new U2 for $175.
http://cgi.ebay.com/surefire-U2-ult...yZ106987QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[JNewell]

Quite the contrary. People who are new to CPF - all CPF users - should use the search for questions like this before posting. This topic comes up all the time and a simple courtesy like investing a few minutes with the search would tell you all you need to know about this.

It was a fair question, particularly from someone with 2 posts. Your reply was out of context and unhelpful.

 

[Mash]

Interesting first hand observations there Kevin regarding the benefits of having the SF lineup to a retailer.

In your opinion if another company was offering same quality products as SF, but had less restrictive contracts, business terms etc, which one would be more beneficial to you? ie do you think you would make more profits seeling high price/lower volume rather than lower price/higher volume?
I am really asking this as a genuine question and not an entrapment one!
PS regarding old model stocks, I take it from your post that you can not discount those either, contrarry to some previous posts?

 

[Monocrom]

To: batterystation -

What Surefire did, that is indeed noble. But they're not the only ones donating lights to the Troops. (Yes, I know that's not what you were implying). Inova has donated tons of X5 models.

~~~~~~~~~~

To: turbodog -

New, in the box, Surefire models off Ebay = Most likely Made in China fakes. (Especially if it's a U2 model). I still remember the controversy that was caused when one CPFer did a thorough review of a counterfeit U2.

Or they might be stolen inventory.

Best to pay the extra and get a Surefire from an actual Authorized Dealer. At least that way, you know it's the real McCoy.

~~~~~~~~~~

To: Mash -

No offense, but if Surefire had a twin in every sense of the word but with relaxed policies on pricing; it's rather obvious that Surefire Dealers would be even rarer than those who own a SF Beast.

 

[TMedina]

Surefire offers discounts to law enforcement, as noted above and active duty military.

Bigfoot pointed out the lifetime warranty and good customer service. If I weren't active duty military, I probably wouldn't be as interested as I am on the final point - you're also buying the hours upon hours of engineering, craftsmanship, field testing and all-but ironclad guarantee that the damned thing is going to work when and where you need it.

Sometimes when you spend money on a name brand, you're just paying for the marketing. Sometimes you're paying for a better quality of product. Are Nike shoes all that? Not to me. A mission-essential flashlight in rough field conditions? You betcha. Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.

-Trevor

 

[Monocrom]

Depending on one's morals, an easy way to get a discount is to have an LEO friend or relative buy a Surefire for you; then just hand him the money of the discounted price.

 

[batterystation]

I only mentioned Surefires donation as this was a Surefire thread. You are correct. Inova has donated a ton of lights. As to the price vs. volume thing, that is also correct. Volume wise, we have sold a lot more Streamlight or Pelican at much lower prices so there is something to be said for that too. We are not allowed to discount in any way other than throwing in some freebie etc.

If I am caught selling on Ebay (Surefire stuff), I am fired. We adhere to the Surefire rules and play the game the best we can. It is a free market. I did not have to sign up and agree to the Surefire rules. Some of them I don't quite agree with.

Streamlight will NOT even sell me the gun lights because I don't sell the gun they go on. They only sell those to FFL customers who deal in guns. IMO, that is stupid but I sell what Streamlight product I can. It does not all make sense to me, but I did not make the rules either. I just have to decide if I want to play by them or not.

To be crystal clear on the donations, I proudly express a huge thank you to Surefire, Pelican, Streamlight, and Inova for all they have contributed for these fine troops. I cannot express my thanks enough. When you speak to these companies, tell them THANKS.

 

[Monocrom]

.... To be crystal clear on the donations, I proudly express a huge thank you to Surefire, Pelican, Streamlight, and Inova for all they have contributed for these fine troops. I cannot express my thanks enough. When you speak to these companies, tell them THANKS.

A great way of thanking them is to buy more of their products. :thumbsup:

It's been a few years since I worked in retail. One of my best jobs was selling high-end pens. And the company I worked for had a retarded policy of "No Discounts, Ever!"

I told the manager that was a great way to lose customers.... considering that every single competitor will discount, if a customer asks for one. Instead, like giving away free batteries with Surefires, we could give free refills at the time of purchase. The manager of the store, agreed with me! .... So did his boss! But their hands were tied. Sure enough, two years after I left, the company went Bankrupt. (They're back, under a different name. But with far fewer stores and a damaged reputation. High-end pen stores are very well known by collectors. Name changes don't fool them).

 

[Any Cal.]

On the other side of the coin, if a light will cost the same no matter where you buy it, you will go to the store you want to. You can afford to go to the one that offers better service and selection. I think that this practice benefits better stores, like a B&M with a large selection, and hurts small businesses and internet dealers more than anyone. It it cost you the same to buy a light at a local sporting goods store, or to pick one up off an internet site, which would you do?

 

[Numbers]

Internet - to save the sales tax, it is almost 9% here.

 

[WildChild]

Internet - to save the sales tax, it is almost 9% here.

It's 14% here... And if the package gets stopped by customs (when I buy oversea), I have to pay for sales tax + 5$ handling fees... But fortunately, it didn't happen often! I had to pay taxes for my L1 but my G2L and E2L came with no taxes bill... True retail value was declared on all the packages.

 

[Size15's]

In order to purchase a £250 flashlight from the USA I paid £122 in charges (shipping, insurance, taxes, duty, changes etc)

 

[Numbers]

Yes, I have traveled the world with my previous employer. I guess we have it pretty good here in the USA.

 

[JNewell]

In order to purchase a £250 flashlight from the USA I paid £122 in charges (shipping, insurance, taxes, duty, changes etc)

Ouch.

I was looking at a German-made, non-imported replacement tripod bracket for one of my lenses. 150 Euros...ok...shipping, 130 Euros...kinda took the wind out of my sails...