ARC LS: Pearls before swine

[brightnorm]

Brief background

I received my ARC LS "Economy Pack" a few days ago and immediately realized that this was probably the best bargain currently available in the flashlight world. Peter's "Seconds" are better than most manufacturer's "Firsts." I started carrying the 123 version, a little marvel that appears to produce more light than it has any right to.

The Reason for this Post:

I work with approximately 120 colleagues. Most of them are well educated and informed, computer literate, intelligent, often technically minded and relatively open minded. Many have digital cameras and the latest notepads and other up-to- the-minute products of modern technology. Some (A very few) even carry the photon. Well, I took my tiny LS-1x123 to work this morning. I was excited about it and assumed that even my benignly derisive colleagues would at least show SOME interest in this light. It is, after all a beautiful and fascinating looking device.

The reaction?

Nothing!! Absolutely no interest from anyone except for one friend who didn't want to hurt my feelings. I realized that in this entire building I was probably the only person who was interested in and appreciated a fine light.

Of course, as an experienced Flashaholic I should never be surprised at the lack of interest among the general public, and I'm sure that most of my CPF colleagues have experienced similar reactions, along with the sometimes grudging, amused tolerance from our friends, colleagues and family.

Perhaps I should have posted this in the CAFE, but since it directly concerns flashlights I posted it here.

End Of Rant (for now)

Brightnorm

 

[Saaby]

I'm sorry to hear that Norm. I got just the opposite when I showed up at school Tuesday with my SLS in 123 config. It got passed around lots but everyone that I passed it to seemed to know that (Especially on a High School budget) it was worth a lot and it came home in perfect condition. Everyone who played with it was amazed. I took it Wed in 123 config as well as we have even and odd days. Now that I'm done wowing everyone with it it's in the 2AA config, simply because I can't afford to carry it in 123 config all the time

You do know how to get people to look at it right? Turn it on and sine it around a bit

then leave it "carelessly" sitting on your desk or something and wait for somone to fall into the trap. The next part, the part where they aim it at their eye and try to turn it on, is the best part. I am a nice guy though and always scream (Or whisper, depends on the person

) "I wouldn't do that if I were you"

 

[brightnorm]

Originally posted by Saaby:
I'm sorry to hear that Norm. I got just the opposite when I showed up at school...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Saaby,

Thanks for that understanding post.Just goes to show: kids are more open to and curious about new or unusual things. Some innate curiosity or sense of wonder seems to seep out of people as they get older. I'm "older" but I still have my sense of wonder and of "wow!". Hope I never lose it.

Brightnorm

 

[Catseye]

Yea, Brightnorm I know how you feel. Wife confronted me the other day and wanted to see that 75.00 flashlight I bought. She already knows I've got a problem from the drawer full of lights I keep locked up in the closet. So I pull out my E2E HA I have in my front pocket and hand it to her. She says YOU GAVE 75 BUCKS FOR THAT THING, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. So I take it back and give her a little blast of light. Nuf said!

 

[BuddTX]

Brightnorm,

While I have always had an interest in Flashlights, I have to say that most people have to have an "experience" before they appreciate a good flashlight.

After Flood Allison left our Hospital without power totally for 3 days, (we had like 400-500 patients stuck on the floors - no elevator to bring them down the 25 floors!) and it took 13 days to get the power totally restored, and people lived with flashlights for days, I have to say that now I can find that I can interest people when I show them a flashlight!

 

[Slick]

Originally posted by brightnorm:
I realized that in this entire building I was probably the only person who was interested in and appreciated a fine light.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">All it really takes is a nice power outage at your building while some of these people are halfway done with their busines in the shitter...

New flashaholics WILL be born

 

[webley445]

LMAO,(no pun intended)

had that happen before, gotta learn to "work in the dark", if ya knows what I mean.
the one advantage of being a smoker, had a lighter with me.

 

[x-ray]

Originally posted by webley445:
LMAO,(no pun intended)

had that happen before, gotta learn to "work in the dark", if ya knows what I mean.
the one advantage of being a smoker, had a lighter with me.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Careful, that could lead to an explosive situation

 

[Silviron]

Hmm-

I have showed the LS with the 123 pack to several folks like plumbers, electricians, heavy equipment operators lately and none have failed to be impressed with it. (I use the 123 setup to impress, but actually utilize the 2AA setup for myself)

That is, they are impressed until I tell them what they cost (I don't mention the "Seconds", just the price of "Firsts"), and then they jump back from it like it was a snake, and then they start asking me about my own mods- (The CPLS type ones are the most popular).

Find a way to cut the price of the ARC LS in half and they will sell "like hotcakes" to tradesmen.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

We had mandatory building inspections here last week, and I noticed the guy was using this POS plastic $5 wall-mart flashlight, complete with 5 or 6 rings in its feeble, yellowed beam. I happened to have the Surefire G2Z in my hand, so I handed it to him. Talk about eye-popping - this guy looked geninuely shocked at the little light. Then I showed him an assortment of LED lights, including the Arc-LS and a few others. Although he prefers the barrel-mounted pushbutton switch, I think he's going to petition SHA to look into some of these lights for all the maintenance workers.

 

[Darell]

Had to take my Honda into the body shop after a neighbor graced my bumper with his last weekend. Here comes the inspection guy with a $250 rolling creaper, a stainless steel clipboard, and a give-away flashlight (complete with trade-show logo). We're in the bright sun, and he's trying to see in behind the black radiator to the bumper mounts. The contrast is insane. His yellow light illuminates NOTHING. ZIP, out comes my smokin' Badboy-sportin' Minimag. He looks at his light, and says "I guess I need new batteries." Ha. That ain't all you need, bub.

I know exactly what you mean when you tell people how much a certain light cost. When I let people play with an LS for example, then tell them $120, they usually say something like "how many bridges did you buy today?" Some of these same people are driving cars that are worth more than my first house.

 

[Badbeams3]

Well, their obliviosly not THAT intelligent...try to pick your work buddies better. We don`t want you hanging around them type.

Ken

 

[Saaby]

Ah, when they ask my how much the LS cost I go not for the used second price but the new first price...when I tell them. More often than not my reply is "Don't ask" or "Too much" this, I have found, is the best way to avoid "You paid $x for a flashlight?"

 

[Kirk]

I was in the restroom at a fast food place a few years ago. I'm in the stall minding my own business, and the only other person in the restroom finishes drying his hands and when leaving decides to TURN OFF THE LIGHT! Luckily, I had my Solitaire with me. So I crank that baby up, stick it in my mouth, finish the job and walk out of the stall just in time to have another person walk in, turn on the light, and look at me using a flashlight, in the dark, in a public restroom! Talk about turning all shades of red! I left quickly!
Kirk

 

[Alan]

Originally posted by Catseye:
Yea, Brightnorm I know how you feel. Wife confronted me the other day and wanted to see that 75.00 flashlight I bought. She already knows I've got a problem from the drawer full of lights I keep locked up in the closet. So I pull out my E2E HA I have in my front pocket and hand it to her. She says YOU GAVE 75 BUCKS FOR THAT THING, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. So I take it back and give her a little blast of light. Nuf said!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I am glad that I have very understanding girlfriend She has a M3, E2, Scorpion, Stinger XT, MadMax, New Beam, ArcAAA LE and regular ArcAAA, Infinity Ultra, X5 .... etc. and soon to have KL1 on E1e. Yes, she also has a mini buck strider and soon to have Strider SnG when it's available.

She wants me to stay with flashlight and it's the cheapest hobby I ever have The only thing she complain about my flashlight hobby is that it kills too much of my time:-(

Alan

 

[Charles Bradshaw]

Brightnorm, the problem is that most people have been conditioned to accept the cheap, unreliable, old fashioned, and been around for a long time flashlight as normal.

BuddTX, you are correct in that it normally takes an "experience" to convert people to good flashlights. When I was living in Hawaii, I lived out of a tent and backpack. My only light was the metal body/plastic bulb cap junk penlight. The tail switch has a mind of its own: likes to click off at most inconvenient times. (2 AA and #222 bulb). I am sure alot of us have had the wonderful

experience of using one.

Many people do not understand the need to spend more for quality flashlight(s) in the short run, and save lots of money and aggravation in the long run.

Craig, evidentally he has had enough "experiences" with those POS lights to be converted into a believer. Who knows, he may even get one with his own money.

Darell, you should have shown him the business end of that minimag.

Kirk, that is why I keep a CMG Infinity on an aluminum carabiner, hanging from a belt loop at all times. You just never know when you need a light.

What percentage of us on CPF have had an "experience" that converted us to having a need for good lights??

 

[Saaby]

Originally posted by Kirk:
I was in the restroom at a fast food place a few years ago. I'm in the stall minding my own business, and the only other person in the restroom finishes drying his hands and when leaving decides to TURN OFF THE LIGHT! Luckily, I had my Solitaire with me. So I crank that baby up, stick it in my mouth, finish the job and walk out of the stall just in time to have another person walk in, turn on the light, and look at me using a flashlight, in the dark, in a public restroom! Talk about turning all shades of red! I left quickly!
Kirk

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You should have turned off the light on him when you left, then he'd undestand