What is your life worth? $40? $60? More?

[MCFLYFYTER]

I always wonder why, when it comes to people who's lives depend on the performance of a tool, price would be prioritized anything but DEAD last. I see it not only here but at the gun shops I frequent also. It seems that half of the LE population buys the cheapest equipment coupons can buy. I guess they may be offset by the other half, who spend big money on equipment they are not proficient with or capable of using. Any thoughts?

 

[Search]

What are the two most popular flashlight companies used by LEOs? Maglite and Streamlight.

What are two of the cheaper flashlight companies that LEOs can reasonably afford? Maglite and Streamlight.

What are two companies that sell some of the most durable lights? Maglite and Streamlight.

Not to shoot you down, but it's a win win situation. What CPFers want and what the other folks think is best for them will always be different.

(In less than 2 hours brand A will be compared with brand B. Less than three hours and 4 pages later this thread will end without a bang.)

 

[WHT_GE8]

I think everybody is a little guilty about that. I mean would you buy a car with the highest possible crash ratings ever achieved if it cost $100,000? Maybe some people cannot afford it, or the cheaper lights get them by. I dont necessarily think a LEO's life will depend on a flashlight, but their appointed flashlights usually get the job done.

 

[chew socks]

I think the formula people use is, if we make Value of life=V Probability object will be needed (in fraction form eg. 1/100)=P and money spent=M ...then

V*P=M

I have to admit ive been guilty of using this system a few times :shakehead

 

[MCFLYFYTER]

I did not say they should spend more, I was just wondering why that mind set. I bet those same people have home, health and car insurance. Just thinking out loud, that's all.

 

[DimeRazorback]

If something is going to do a good job to keep me safe, price does not come into it.

With that being said, I wouldn't just buy something because it has a big price tag.

:nana:

 

[MCFLYFYTER]

If something is going to do a good job to keep me safe, price does not come into it.



:nana:

OK, at least I know I'm not the only one.

 

[DimeRazorback]

I think you are far from the only one :thumbsup:

Different people just means different knowledge, opinion, budget etc etc.

 

[computernut]

I think it mostly comes down to not knowing there is anything better available. At one point in my life I thought Mag was the best you could get. The only reason I even knew about Mag is that it was available at the local hardware store. Some people decide one day to google flashlights and find out what else is out there. Most people just go to the nearest Walmart and buy the cheapest thing on the shelf.

I've always worked with people that use the tools that the company provides and it's always the cheapest stuff that somebody thought would do the job. Why would somebody buy a $15 Klein screwdriver when you can get one for a buck at the dollar store? Why would somebody buy a $60 flashlight when you can get one at Walmart for $5?

I'm sure that unless your LEO or military group has a geek in your purchasing department most people will be using Mag or Streamlight which are at least decent. Hopefully your department isn't out shopping at the dollar store

My dad used to buy the disposable Dorcy flashlights for his electricians. One day I asked him why he didn't buy Mags. He told me, they would either lose them, break them, or take them home with them so why buy a $20-30 light when a $3 one will do the job.

 

[Search]

In that case I'm dead set on one brand. Mainly drawn to them for duty use but I saved a little from a few more checks to buy lights from the same company for personal use because I trusted them so much.

A few personal experiences that left me knowing I could trust them but the main reason I was drew to them was their reputation for success with various bodies.

Some of them I want to work because I need them too. The others I just want to work for a long time and know my warranty is more reliable than the sun coming up.

I would much rather save more money to buy what I perceive as top quality and most dependable. A lot of people feel the same.

I would venture to say that most people here have some lights they just wanted and that most have lights they would trust with their lives. You cannot say cheaper isn't necessarily worse. Some of the cheapest things in life work the same as similar, higher priced things.

Hmm, I would probably rather say I buy from a company I would trust highly, and price isn't a consideration.

 

[Echo63]

If something is going to do a good job to keep me safe, price does not come into it.

With that being said, I wouldn't just buy something because it has a big price tag.

:nana:

+1

I saved for ages to get my U2, and it served me well every night i needed it.
it still lives on the nightstand, and gets used regularly, but nothing like the use it was put to when i was doing security

 

[Sgt. LED]

I figured it up once and my life is only worth $8.32.


I spend a crap ton on lights and other gear so I guess I'm hoping to raise that sum to an even 10 bucks by the end of next year.

 

[Illum]

My life costs more than its worth at the moment

 

[GotMak]

I think it's a matter of price vs. performance, not just price. I research my purchases thoroughly, look for user reviews, scan forums, etc, and by the time I'm done, I've found that I usually end up spending about middle-of-the road on merchandise - not the most high-end, nor the cheapest. Not just lights, but all items seem to fall in this category. After a certain point, increased price no longer buys that much more quality.

 

[Chrontius]

My life? It's worth exactly what I can spend protecting it, no more.

Depressingly, that's only in the three-digit range to date.

What am I gonna do, rob a bank to pay for a bodyguard? :shakehead

 

[Tom_123]

Any thoughts?

Well, I'll hardly ever be in a situation where my life would depend on a tool,
but most of the time getting my jobs done depends on good tools.
So if MHO is of any interest…

Rule #1: If a tool is crucial for getting the job done you better have a backup.
If money is on stake, make this two backups.
Everything made by humans and consists of more than two basic parts
can fail and will fail sooner or later.

Rule #2: If you choose a tool, don't believe in marketing babble, see for yourself.
High prices and marketing babble are no signs for quality.
Do a research and buy the tool that gets the job done for the best price.

Rule #3: Two decent, well priced tools are much more reliable than one expensive tool.
See rule #1.

Of course, I don't mean that people should buy crap, I mean with a little research
and reasonable decisions one can save some money, have some fun
and still get the best tool(s) for the job.

Just my 2 lumens

 

[iapyx]

My life costs more than its worth at the moment

hahaha. Illum must have kids then....
At least I am in that situation icw what I just quoted.

On the other hand: I have a few very durable flashlights but I doubt if I will ever come in a situation where they'll be treated to the extreme. You'll never know... (city-) life can be very exciting when you least expect it.

 

[Kaamos]

Everything made by humans and consists of more than two basic parts
can fail and will fail sooner or later.

And most things that only have one basic part initially, will end up having two or more parts and lose a significant part of their usefulness in the process.

I don't believe in putting an "infinite" amount of money on a single tool or a few things that are considered crucial - with infinite I mean just getting the best without any regard to price. If you come to think about it, in most extreme situations you will need quite a number of things that have a role in saving your life or health, and it is difficult to say in advance which ones they are. I'm rather in favor of setting reasonable (which may in some cases be quite high) requirements for safety or security related things, but still they are a tradeoff. Getting the best in one category may mean no money left in the others.

I think that's the fact of life also more generally speaking. I should have a safer, newer car, better health insurances for the family, higher life insurance for me etc. But I simply cannot afford everything at the same time. In law enforcement there is the budget to consider, and it's basically the same government money that must buy the equipment for fire departments, SAR personnel, public hospitals etc. The distribution of course differs by country. It would always be soooo nice to get everything for everyone.

Now I don't really know if the choices made about flashlights or other gear for law enforcement in any country are good or bad. But I'm pretty sure that in many countries it is simply out of question to accept only the best regardless of price. I think enough money should be put down to get good equipment, but some compromises are inevitable.

 

[NonSenCe]

my life worth.. not much.. but there are only few dozen people whom i know and seem to be worth more than i.

other peoples lives i am not so sure as i dont know about them..

so i call their facevalue penny more or penny less than mine.. depending of my mood.

me fighting against total stranger.. im worth a penny more. but that is just my personal opinion. he/she might think the same about him/herself.

 

[batmanacw]

I think surefire is a great brand of light. Even with that said, I would not trust my life to them without back up.

I have found several cheaper light brands that I trust implicitly, but not without redundancy. Found out that reliability does not always meant higher price.

My life is worth a lot, since I may someday be the only thing between my family and starvation with the way our country is headed right now. My value is directly proportional to my ability to serve my family and keep them healthy and happy.