How reliable are these LED lights? Others having troubles?

[fnsooner]

I think flashlights are more reliable today than they have ever been. I have had one flashlight go bad in the last five years and I am fairly hard on flashlights.

I think it is probably a case of bad luck wvdavidr. Unless there is a known problem with the models you mention, I bet you will get years of use out of them when you get them back.

Do some research, buy yourself another quality user and in a couple of months, you will have three nice lights.

Dealing with returns is frustrating but I have found that if patient, I get taken care of. I am dealing with a couple of return items at the moment and I am trying to follow my own advice of being patient and realize that this is what I signed up for when I started buying things online.


Edit*** Oops I just saw the date on the OP. I hate when that happens.

 

[SubLGT]

……….Dealing with returns is frustrating but I have found that if patient, I get taken care of. I am dealing with a couple of return items at the moment and I am trying to follow my own advice of being patient and realize that this is what I signed up for when I started buying things online.

I keep telling myself "be more patient". Right now, Illumination Supply is testing my patience with a flashlight return.

 

[fnsooner]

I keep telling myself "be more patient". Right now, Illumination Supply is testing my patience with a flashlight return.

Yeah, I had been on a two or three year roll without having to deal with returns and emails and responses etc. That changed about a week ago and now I have a couple of different dealers I have to contact and test my patience with. If that isn't bad enough, I made an order yesterday with Illumn.com and then a few minutes ago I read about them getting broken into last night and that customers are going to have to be patient with current orders. i hope that doesn't affect your dealings with them.

I think it is time for me to cool off a bit and take a break.

Breathe in, breathe out. There, I feel better.

 

[ForrestChump]

Yeah, I had been on a two or three year roll without having to deal with returns and emails and responses etc. That changed about a week ago and now I have a couple of different dealers I have to contact and test my patience with. If that isn't bad enough, I made an order yesterday with Illumn.com and then a few minutes ago I read about them getting broken into last night and that customers are going to have to be patient with current orders. i hope that doesn't affect your dealings with them.

I think it is time for me to cool off a bit and take a break.

Breathe in, breathe out. There, I feel better.

Had an issue with a local "Authorized service center" for a StreamLight ProTac 2L I just got that had a bad lens gasket ( new old stock, the new ones look better ). I thought they would swap it, but that specific store is airtight with extremely stingy policies. Said they didn't have the inventory, meanwhile I picked up a Key-Mate ( COOL LIGHT ) off of there stacked rack of lights that were MSRP. Good thing the Key-Mate was only $12.00. There excuse was SL decides wether the light is repaired or replaced. Considering it looks like a fish bowl and takes 2 CR123's, I think it was a safe bet to think they would replace it.....Not to mention they tested the light with 2 different brand China made CR123's that looked like they went through a washing machine.

Really pissed me off, they had enough on the rack to stock a platoon. It's a Cop shop.....I have no idea how they rip off so many LEO's to make numbers, what a sham. I bet if SL walked in that store, we'd have a different Service center.

I'll just deal with SL direct as they seem to be uber fast.

 

[ForrestChump]

I have had ANOTHER! A Fenix HL55 headlamp. It worked fine since last winter. It won't work at all now. Not abused, no battery leaking, etc..

I need to remind myself: "No more lights that are worth a bother- just cheap lights that are thrown away when they fail!"

Now that we are way off topic...


How bout it OP? What are your thoughts given the input here? For a little more you can make the jump to Malkoff..... why bother with disposables?

 

[wvdavidr]

Now that we are way off topic...


How bout it OP? What are your thoughts given the input here? For a little more you can make the jump to Malkoff..... why bother with disposables?

As OP, I am not sure if Malkoff for reliability or cheap lights to throw away are best; I am thinking the in-between (Fenix, others) are the WRONG place to be- worst of both worlds. A different strategy is needed for me!

Thank you all for your replies.

Off to mail the HL55 for warranty service!

 

[SubLGT]

...I made an order yesterday with Illumn.com and then a few minutes ago I read about them getting broken into last night and that customers are going to have to be patient with current orders...

Where did you read that?

 

[fnsooner]

Where did you read that?

reddit flashlight but I just received a shipping email from Illumn.