Ever regret your investment in flashlights/gadgets?

[carrot]

I finally got around to adding up the general value of my collection and let's just say I was a little surprised! I thought about all the things that I'd like to have now outside of flashlights, knives, etc and realized I could have had those things by now if I wasn't afflicted with the syndrome known as flashaholism. I've been wanting a netbook and an Xbox 360 for awhile but every time I have the cash I tell myself "that's too expensive" and buy another flashlight.

Maybe if I'd discovered McGizmo and just bought one light and never visited CPF again way back when I was new to flashlights, maybe if I hadn't fallen in love with the aesthetics and build of Surefire, maybe if CPF wasn't fueling my addiction like a crack addict with a problem...

I have no interest in slimming down my collection at this point, and maybe you don't either, but does anyone else wish they maybe didn't discover CPF and catch the bug?

 

[Till]

Bought a HP "upgrade" kit for my streamlight stinger last week.

Kept it one night, and then took it back the next day.

With the HP head attached, the beam was full of rings, dark spots, and the spot looked like something that comes out of a stock Mag, not a Streamlight product. And one huge donut-hole even when I focused the beam the best I could.

It was to the point where I considered it might be defective, but then someone told me that's just the way they are.

Very disappointed with the HP; I'll stick with the stock Stinger.

 

[Black Rose]

I'd be further ahead right now if I hadn't gone so gung ho on the LSD batteries and chargers, but that investment will pay off in time.

On the flip side of that, if I didn't buy the batteries I would have spent the money on something else that probably wouldn't have been as good of a deal in the long term.

I'm rather frugal when it comes to lights. I don't spend huge amounts on them so I don't regret buying those.

 

[cl0123]

No.

.... and my nose is growing...

Part of the fun of this hobby is having the right tool for the intended purposes. While not all of my lights are exactly 100% tailor-fitting my intended uses, I am still finding them pretty amazing.

Disclaimer: Opinions from a geek who still buys and appreciates stock 2AA Mini Maglites.

With Aloha,

Clarence

 

[shakeylegs]

The last few weeks have had me thinking about it, but I rationalize the cost as disposable income (even if it isn't always) spent on a passion I enjoy rather than other more damaging vices or even therapists. Thinking of it as investing in my mental health and a path toward enlightenment.

 

[ampdude]

No, not at all. I have more expensive hobbies than this as I imagine a lot of people do.

 

[HKJ]

I have been collecting a few different things in my time and have never been recording price before. With flashlights I am recording the price and I am surprise how much money I am using on it.

But I do not plan to stop it or sell any lights, but instead I am looking at more expensive lights, not just another Q5 light, but something that has some more to it (It might still contain a Q5). I am looking forward to receive a Tomahawk and a Spartanian II.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I finally got around to adding up the general value of my collection and let's just say I was a little surprised! I thought about all the things that I'd like to have now outside of flashlights, knives, etc and realized I could have had those things by now if I wasn't afflicted with the syndrome known as flashaholism. I've been wanting a netbook and an Xbox 360 for awhile but every time I have the cash I tell myself "that's too expensive" and buy another flashlight.

Maybe if I'd discovered McGizmo and just bought one light and never visited CPF again way back when I was new to flashlights, maybe if I hadn't fallen in love with the aesthetics and build of Surefire, maybe if CPF wasn't fueling my addiction like a crack addict with a problem...

I have no interest in slimming down my collection at this point, and maybe you don't either, but does anyone else wish they maybe didn't discover CPF and catch the bug?

You're better off without the Xbox 360. It's not worth that cost in flashlights. My brother just sent his back for a replacement. Apparently, they designed it to last about three months of use before a red ring lights up telling you that it won't work anymore. I think they have had lawsuits over this. You made the right choice spending that money on flashlights.

 

[ozner1991]

trust me not knowing about cpf would not slow me down

 

[ampdude]

I can justify it pretty easily. At least flashlights, such as Surefires in general don't lose value. You can't say the same thing about a new car, XBox360, or spending it at the bar. :huh:

 

[jzmtl]

I don't think it qualifies as an investment when you know at the beginning that there is little to no chance for its value to increase.

 

[brighterisbetter]

No regrets for the purchases so far at all, just a few regrets for buying so much at once. I need to learn to be patient and content with the lights I already own. What I've done is order more lights, when I still have some in transit from previous orders. I'd like to be able to order a light, wait to receive it, then order another instead of ordering 5-6 at the same time. On the flipside though, I'm always pleasantly surprised when I get home from work and see 3-4 packages in the mailbox

However, one other regret that is somewhat tied to my impatience, is selling off lights to fund new ones. That really sucks when that happens, because you know what's coming....which of my lights are expendable? That's always a tough call for me, as I love all of them.

 

[cfromc]

I guess you could say I've spent 90% of my money on lights, fine dining, good wine (and beer and booze), women, motorcycles, cigars, knives and guns. The rest was just wasted. No regrets.

 

[bullfrog]

No, not at all. I have more expensive hobbies than this as I imagine a lot of people do.

+1

100% dead on - for me, out of all my hobbies I have ever had, this is easily one of the least expensive.

 

[Juggernaut]

You're better off without the Xbox 360. It's not worth that cost in flashlights. My brother just sent his back for a replacement. Apparently, they designed it to last about three months of use before a red ring lights up telling you that it won't work anymore. I think they have had lawsuits over this. You made the right choice spending that money on flashlights.

As almost everything in my life I have, there are those that give up and break right off the bat and things that seem impervious to harm. My Xbox has been running in a hot enclosed cabinet for a year now and has given me no problems. Though I have to say in my humble opinion that gaming systems and games are not worth what flashlights are. I have a friend who has replaced his Xbox 5 times in 3 years and has over 87 games for it. As fun as that money dump is, it only works inside his room. Flashlights are in the real world, besides you can't even be a flashaholic in video games.

 

[bullfrog]

Flashlights are in the real world, besides you can't even be a flashaholic in video games.

I don't know about you, but I'm constantly exhausting my light in halo

 

[ozner1991]

I don't know about you, but I'm constantly exhausting my light in halo

+1

if only i could upgrade the light the chief uses

 

[bondr006]

Take heart Carrot. I too after becoming severely addicted to and spending mega$$ on flashlights and mods finally got a hold and said stop. There are definitely other things I like and cannot afford along side the flashaholic hobby. Like you, one of the things I wanted was a netbook....so I sold my Milky U2by2 for $700.00 and bought myself a nice Asus Eee PC 1000H netbook with a bunch of accessories to go with it. I was very sad about parting with my U2by2 at first, but I still have a bunch of nice lights......and it wasn't long after I got my Eee PC that the loss of my U2by2 didn't hurt quite so much. Yes, the lights are very useful, and have a permanent place in my life.....But they are not the be all and end all to my needs and wants. Check out what parting with one of my nice lights got me...All for under $700.00. Here is a review of the 1000H netbook. This thing is so dang portable, that I take it with me all the time...and I can access CPF anywhere now....:thumbsup:

1000H Fine Ebony, XP SP3, OCZ 2GB DDR2 667 (PC2 5400)SO-DIMM, WD Passport Essential 250GB, 16GB Transcend SDHC, Logitech VX Nano, SAMSUNG USB 2.0 External 20X DVD±R DVD Burner

 

[bullfrog]

And don't even get me started on the weapon light in Metal Gear Solid 4 on PS3 - it actually stuns your attacker for a few seconds when activated as you initially fire... :huh:

Flashlights are in the real world, besides you can't even be a flashaholic in video games.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

I can justify it pretty easily. At least flashlights, such as Surefires in general don't lose value. You can't say the same thing about a new car, XBox360, or spending it at the bar. :huh:

Funny you mentioned investing in a car. This year, I chose to buy a new car instead of paying a fortune to fix up my old 99' Kia Sephia. I got a 2009 Toyota Corolla. I am saving way more in gas money than I would ever have made in interest letting the money sit in the bank or investing it anywhere else. I get almost double the gas mileage and the air conditioning actually works on all levels. Kia Sephias have undersized wires to the A/C blower fan. If you put the fan past two out of four bars, the wire overheats and fries. It's a $150 repair to get a new, undersized wire. Now what I saved can be used to buy more flashlights.