Peter, Ray, CM,
After reading this tonight the marketeer inside of me was inspired. I must first give you a quick history¡ NEWBIE only by membership and investment. I've loved quality all my life and WRT FL's I've always made sure that my 4D and AA MagLights hade fresh batteries. Once I found CPF last month, after days of research and hesitation to make the $$ plunge, I ordered an ARC4 2nd and then two Photon Freedoms for the car keys; BB&MM sandwiches for my MiniMag and a PP for a LH all followed . Funny thing is all I have in hand to date are my originals as the 2nd and Photons were shipped to the US to avoid brokerage/duty and 15%tax, alas to be delivered tomorrowƒº. In the heat of my spending spree, the resent surge in the B/S/T market in the last day has tempted me too many times, and after reading this thread I thought I would ask for dibs on one of the beta Arc4's once testing was complete for sentimental and historic reasons¡ but then I thought of hot air balloons.. video cameras.. and realised that these test units are Arc's best possible marketing assets, and should never be sold! Actually I will suggest the following. This may be expensive at first but listen to the vision. Peter you could arrange to have video cameras sent to your testers to document the history of testing/abuse that these lights have handled. The records drops are not only testing the new (although this re-engineered level of functionality in my eyes was only inevitable) switches, but directly proving the design and overall supremacy (in its category) of the ARC4 as a virtually indestructible top of the line and revolutionary flashlight (EDC doesn't even factor in!). The history of the abuse could be documented both in text and rich media for promotional purposes and although newer models will follow, the testers (actual lights) should continue their documented abuse for, as a see it, eternity!!! I did mention hot air balloons.. I've never been in one and it would be interesting to know if any of you have had exposure, but I see huge sponsorship opportunities with free balloon trips for the testers (CPF'rs) in the Arc branded balloon showing off the drop test on the original ARC4 testers from not dozens of feet but thousands! Do you think they would hold up?? I wouldn't be surprised. At any rate, full fledged Air Balloons might be a bit grand for continual use, so smaller unmanned but yet visibly brand-able versions (in the shape of an Arc) can be set up for remote controlled releases at trade shows etc. This will also prove that with the exception of accidental loss or thousand foot unrecoverable hot air balloon drops, lanyards are not required for the ARC4! A video could be created for looped play at your future dealers and then ARC's would rule the world!!! OK, maybe a bit over the top but I think you really have something here. So happy testing; and I now know that once I get my hands on my ARC4 tomorrow that I will definitely not worry about any type of drop as the fix is here! Great work guys!!!
Regards,
Matthew
