Do you Spy?

[KuanR]

I have the rail adapter but have only used it once. Really thinking about picking up the mag base to go with it.

The mount just makes the Spy lights that much more useful

 

[nbp]

Nice writeup Dan. Have always admired Data's lights, they're phenomenal. Hope to be able to shell out for one someday. Trying to keep myself satisfied with the easier on the wallet customs: McG, Muyshondt, Mac. Ok, actually, they just ate up all the funds already. :eek:

 

[stoli67]

Since the copy was released I must admit that I have had my SWGG 007 out a lot more.... Esp with it's new titanium bead!

I do love those blue o- rings! Where did they come from?

 

[Zandar]

This is my story. Back in May, I was new to the forums, and I was tooling around on the custom builders subforums, when I came across the "Cool Fall" threads. I'm looking at the pictures, thinking this is the neatest light I've ever seen. And also the most expensive light I've ever seen! I took a chance and e-mailed Data and asked if he could make me a light this year. In 2 days he wrote me back saying I'll make it for you in a couple of weeks, if you want. When I did eventually order, it took only 9 days from "paypalling" to my light's arrival and that's with an extra day for the SWGG finish option! I can't say enough good things about my buying experience with Data. If you can afford it , go with the SWGG option, it feels great in your hand! You won't be disappointed with this light.

 

[saabluster]

Well I don't Spy but that is not because that is the way I want it to be. Dave's lights are, and have been, at the very top of my wish list for years. The originality of concept, immense utility, and fantastic engineering he put into these is second to none and is the reason for my adoration.

 

[run4jc]

Nice writeup Dan. Have always admired Data's lights, they're phenomenal. Hope to be able to shell out for one someday. Trying to keep myself satisfied with the easier on the wallet customs: McG, Muyshondt, Mac. Ok, actually, they just ate up all the funds already. :eek:

Thanks for the kind words! I hear ya on the funding. Interesting - I sold off around 30 lights. Most of them lower priced, mass production lights - a few customs - and totally funded the purchase of the SWGG 007. Funded most of the second one, and ate the cost of the third one. :eek: But it has been worth it. As mentioned, the one I purchased used is with Dave being made "new" - the other new one I bought from Dave is my backup. This SWGG one has, as I've said over and over, been about the only light I've used for the past month.

And I haven't missed any of the other lights. Not once. And they were all really nice lights!

Since the copy was released I must admit that I have had my SWGG 007 out a lot more.... Esp with it's new titanium bead!

I do love those blue o- rings! Where did they come from?

A friend sent them to me, but I'm going to PM a link to you showing where you can get them. They are flourosilicone, and they are very cool...

 

[Zandar]

run4jc If you wouldn't mind, may I request the info on the blue rings as well? Thank you, and may I say that "Ode To Spy" is a great tribute to Data and all his artisans!

 

[nbp]

I think Jason from Dark Sucks lights has blue o-rings available.

 

[nbp]

Thanks for the kind words! I hear ya on the funding. Interesting - I sold off around 30 lights. Most of them lower priced, mass production lights - a few customs - and totally funded the purchase of the SWGG 007. Funded most of the second one, and ate the cost of the third one. :eek: But it has been worth it. As mentioned, the one I purchased used is with Dave being made "new" - the other new one I bought from Dave is my backup. This SWGG one has, as I've said over and over, been about the only light I've used for the past month.

And I haven't missed any of the other lights. Not once. And they were all really nice lights!

I've mostly run out of other lights I can bear to sell to fund new ones. All the mass produced and foreign stuff is gone with the exception of a few cheapie power outage lights. New stuff has to come out of my pocket. :crazy:

 

[HighlanderNorth]

The first time I saw one of these, I thought it was a lighter!

Then I looked further into these lights, and was absolutely amazed at the price. $995 for the basic, no frills model with the basic finish, and $1400 for the "stone washed Gunner grip" model.

Now I have absolutely no doubt that its a nice light, and its probably very tough, but $1400 for a flashlight is the epitome of price gouging in my humble opinion. My uncle(now deceased) started a machine shop after he got back from fighting in the pacific in WW2, and he died in 1996, leaving his son a large, mostly automated CNC-filled machine shop, and I spoke with him about this and showed him the pics of the basic model and asked how much would be a "reasonable" price for this light, after showing him the cost of the LED, circuitry, and taking into account the idea that it is a custom design that is loosely based on an earlier design, and he said $400 tops. Even at that, he said he'd make a mint if they sold fairly well! Its not the simplest design, but its not the most complex design to produce if you have half decent equipment. Not to mention the extra $395 for a little checkering and a finish that, at least in pictures, doesnt look that much different from the basic model. Charging almost $400 for those extras takes some cojones(or audacity)!

I'd love to have one, but not for $1000-$1400. To each his own, and I've bought things in the past that other people find silly that I paid as much as I did for some things, so I know that some people will see this as a justifiable purchase, and maybe if I were a multi-millionaire, I'd buy one, but I'm not......

Dont get me wrong, the light looks super-cool, but so does the Bugatti Veyron Super sport, but it too costs way more than it justifiably should....

 

[KuanR]

What you just said sounds exactly what niteye is doing. Anybody knows a lot if not most of the cost of producing something or anything incurs a lot of development costs. So yeah for you you can say he can make it for $400 because he's just making a copy, and not making new design.

If you also do more research, the circuitry in Cool Fall lights are more advanced than anything else available on the market, there's nothing "simple" about them

 

[ScaryFatKidGT]

I really want one, just found out about them about a month ago but if I'm going to drop a grand on a light its going to be a crazy HID/short arc spot light

 

[HighlanderNorth]

What you just said sounds exactly what niteye is doing. Anybody knows a lot if not most of the cost of producing something or anything incurs a lot of development costs. So yeah for you you can say he can make it for $400 because he's just making a copy, and not making new design.

If you also do more research, the circuitry in Cool Fall lights are more advanced than anything else available on the market, there's nothing "simple" about them

Yeah, but electronics are cheap. You can buy an entire computer(less the monitor) for $300 or less, and it has hundreds of times more circuitry than a flashlight.

But its all a matter of what its worth to you. If that light seems worth $1000-$1400 to someone, then they will buy it. Thats their prerogative.

 

[ShineOnYouCrazyDiamond]

What you just said sounds exactly what niteye is doing. Anybody knows a lot if not most of the cost of producing something or anything incurs a lot of development costs. So yeah for you you can say he can make it for $400 because he's just making a copy, and not making new design.

If you also do more research, the circuitry in Cool Fall lights are more advanced than anything else available on the market, there's nothing "simple" about them

Yeah - that copy spy has no intelligent UI.

Yeah, but electronics are cheap. You can buy an entire computer(less the monitor) for $300 or less, and it has hundreds of times more circuitry than a flashlight.

But its all a matter of what its worth to you. If that light seems worth $1000-$1400 to someone, then they will buy it. Thats their prerogative.

It's not just the circuitry, it's the programming code behind the entire UI of the light - which is just phenomenal.

 

[run4jc]

After reading your post, my thoughts ran the gamut. You certainly have the right to post here and say what you think. I don't own a lathe, have any programming capability, have a shop, have any knowledge about how to build a light. So clearly much of what I say will be based upon feelings and a basic understanding of business.

"Epitome of price gouging...?"

Strong words. I suppose that the significant group of buyers that purchased 1 or more of these have been duped? I have 3 - does that make me the victim of triple gouging? Have I been duped 3 times? Perhaps you should get your hands on one before you come to some open, harsh conclusions. I dare say that any of the owners of this light will take exception to your position.

"Charging almost $400 for those extras takes some cojones(or audacity)!"

Perhaps you haven't dealt with Dave? He epitomizes customer service. His design is the result of years of work. He's a man in a shop, and that man is VERY highly thought of on this forum. He risked his own capital and resources, spent countless man hours developing these lights. He certainly doesn't need me to come to his defense, but after having dealt directly with Dave on numerous occasions, I am compelled to figuratively stand beside him and take exception with your comment. I actually probably shouldn't even dignify your comments with a response...

"I'd love to have one, but not for $1000-$1400. To each his own, and I've bought things in the past that other people find silly that I paid as much as I did for some things, so I know that some people will see this as a justifiable purchase, and maybe if I were a multi-millionaire, I'd buy one, but I'm not......"

Then buy a used one. Give yourself the chance to speak from a position of first-hand knowledge rather than...
And oh, by the way, I'm not a millionaire - not even close. I work hard for my income and to provide for my family. The word "silly"....:thinking: ... maybe to you...

"...but it too costs way more than it justifiably should."

Again, what do you base this on? Your deep, intense technical knowledge of programming, CAD design, the worth of a man's efforts, the value of his intelligence and his work?

I honestly don't think you meant to offend - yet it wouldn't be a surprise if many members found your comments offensive, and if I were Data, I'd definitely be offended. But he's proven himself time and time again to be able to handle such comments far better than I am handling yours.

Perhaps I need a time out, and if that's the case, so be it, but your comments are bordering on...

 

[fishndad]

I think the spy might not get alot of attention due to its design.
Its not all that appealing.
I do respect different strokes for different folks but the spy is kind of dorky looking IMO.
As far as price is concerned the majority of folks arent willing to dish out $400 very often and are more likely
to choose a custom light more conventional in design.
No offence just my 2cents.

 

[run4jc]

I think the spy might not get alot of attention due to its design.
Its not all that appealing.
I do respect different strokes for different folks but the spy is kind of dorky looking IMO.
As far as price is concerned the majority of folks arent willing to dish out $400 very often and are more likely
to choose a custom light more conventional in design.
No offence just my 2cents.

No offense taken. He just sells every light he can build. And I think it's far nicer looking than most of the "me too" round lights. IMO.

 

[fishndad]

I bet he does and if i was a highend light guy i would snach 1 up.
By the way just got back from DC visiting the in-laws.
they live up by the zoo in NW. nice area

 

[KuanR]

Run4jc well said. Data has no trouble selling every light he makes, that speaks for itself. It's the equivalent of someone telling me that I should put my Rolex's down and wear a fake and consider it the same. Same folks will probably tell me I got a deal on it:D

 

[badtziscool]

I think there's a lot more to what your friend sees in the light. There have been plenty of talented machinest here on CPF that have praised the works of Dave at Cool Fall. If the price was considered gouging, then I don't think any of these machinests would have praised it otherwise.

If you think the Veyron Super Sport is unjustifiable at $2 million, then you might be surprised that the cost to manufacture a SS, after design, R&D, testing, and certification, comes to something like $6 million per car. Every car they sell, they lose money. I'm not saying that this is the case with the Spy, but for certain it's not a ripoff.

The first time I saw one of these, I thought it was a lighter!

Then I looked further into these lights, and was absolutely amazed at the price. $995 for the basic, no frills model with the basic finish, and $1400 for the "stone washed Gunner grip" model.

Now I have absolutely no doubt that its a nice light, and its probably very tough, but $1400 for a flashlight is the epitome of price gouging in my humble opinion. My uncle(now deceased) started a machine shop after he got back from fighting in the pacific in WW2, and he died in 1996, leaving his son a large, mostly automated CNC-filled machine shop, and I spoke with him about this and showed him the pics of the basic model and asked how much would be a "reasonable" price for this light, after showing him the cost of the LED, circuitry, and taking into account the idea that it is a custom design that is loosely based on an earlier design, and he said $400 tops. Even at that, he said he'd make a mint if they sold fairly well! Its not the simplest design, but its not the most complex design to produce if you have half decent equipment. Not to mention the extra $395 for a little checkering and a finish that, at least in pictures, doesnt look that much different from the basic model. Charging almost $400 for those extras takes some cojones(or audacity)!

I'd love to have one, but not for $1000-$1400. To each his own, and I've bought things in the past that other people find silly that I paid as much as I did for some things, so I know that some people will see this as a justifiable purchase, and maybe if I were a multi-millionaire, I'd buy one, but I'm not......

Dont get me wrong, the light looks super-cool, but so does the Bugatti Veyron Super sport, but it too costs way more than it justifiably should....