What turns you off a light?

[ptolemy]

I know this probably has been discussed just as much as UFO has been discussed on conspiracy forums, but still...

Just the other day I was showing a light to a friend. I liked how it looked, size and it has rather rare light engine. BUT, the first thing he said was. "ugh, crappy name". I agreed with him as it was 1 of those names that sounds english but was developed by someone who doesn't speak it natively.

So here is what I am asking:
(Assuming there are no auction build quality or cost issues with it)

1. Would a color of the light be a deal breaker?
2. Would a name of the light be a deal breaker?
3. Would a resale value of the light be a dealbreaker?
4. What else is a deal breaker to you?

Looking forward to your answers.

 

[vudoo]

1. Would a color of the light be a deal breaker? Not too fussed as I like black, grey, titanium, SS etc which 90% of lights come in
2. Would a name of the light be a deal breaker? No
3. Would a resale value of the light be a dealbreaker? Depends on how long I was going to keep it for
4. What else is a deal breaker to you? Donut hole :green:

 

[^Gurthang]

Color... not an issue so long as its not floral or pastel

Name..... again not an issue so long as its not something like %*&##!!!Fire

Resale value.... not unless I was collecting rare lights as an investment, otherwise its a tool.

Deal breakers in my book: Shoddy construction, BAD light quality [read into that what you like], BAD reviews on CPF, reports of "it suddenly just exploded in my hand"...

 

[jellydonut]

1: Only if it was a ridiculous scheme, like multicolor, or fluorescent pink or something.
2: Nope
3: No, I doubt I'll ever sell any anyway
4:
- Bad manufacturer/model reputation.
- Silly, needlessly complicated UIs that require manuals and flowcharts to understand.
- Made in China.

 

[spoonrobot]

4. Forward clickies.

 

[kramer5150]

1. Would a color of the light be a deal breaker?
Yes it could be, depending on what color it is.

2. Would a name of the light be a deal breaker?
No

3. Would a resale value of the light be a dealbreaker?
No, not in and of itself. Usually however the resale value of the light is co-related to the MSRP. Even though we are not considering price, that is always a deal breaking factor in my book.

4. What else is a deal breaker to you?
Designs that only accept primary or alkaline:sick2:.
Must have some track record of design robustness and durability. Although for cheap lights I am willing to forgive this.
It should be at least water splash and rain resistant.
If its a long slender light that doesn't stand well on either end, then it needs some kind of anti-roll feature.
3AAA

 

[lctorana]

Modes.

Anything other than off-on is just unacceptable.

 

[computernut]

1. Would a color of the light be a deal breaker?
Black, green, titanium are ok, most colours would be fine except pink
2. Would a name of the light be a deal breaker?
Certain names are hard to search for to find info but wouldn't affect me purchasing one
3. Would a resale value of the light be a dealbreaker?
I tend to keep most of my lights unless I wind up with a double
4. What else is a deal breaker to you?
Modes such as strobe have to be well hidden, low comes on first. If I hand a light to someone they should be able to operate it after a 30 second lesson at the most. If a light allows you to program certain modes I don't mind it being a little complex but once set needs to be dead simple.

 

[Wiggle]

3 x AAA (really multi AAA period)

Slow reset time (if I shut a light off for 1 second and turn it back on I want it to reset to low or remember the last mode, not interpret a mode change, what do you think I have the slowest clicky in the world?)

Side switches. Unless it is for mode changing, I despise side switches.

Li-ion incompatibility

 

[SuperTrouper]

1. Not on it's own
2. No
3. Doesn't even enter my head to calculate resale values
4. A physically unattractive light to my eye is one that I won't buy.

I don't care if the light is the most advanced, power efficient thing in the world, if I don't like the shape of it, it's not gonna be bought.

 

[maskman]

1. Would a color of the light be a deal breaker?
I'm fine with basic earth tones.

2. Would a name of the light be a deal breaker?
No, not to date anyway.

3. Would a resale value of the light be a dealbreaker?
I can't say I need to think about it. I doubt I'd ever buy a light capable of over active depreciation.

4. What else is a deal breaker to you?
Blue, green, purple beam tints. Blinking modes that aren't well hidden.

 

[cottonpickers]

1. Would a color of the light be a deal breaker? Maybe (like pink..!)
2. Would a name of the light be a deal breaker?No
3. Would a resale value of the light be a dealbreaker?Main turnoffs:No

Modes with memory so you have to cycle through all the time or you switch on to the wrong setting:thumbsdow
Strobe that isn't hidden well enough
Reverse clickies are getting to be a turn off for me...

 

[red02]

1. Not unless it's neon pink, or blue, or yellow.
2. Absolutely. Some brands I stay far far away from. Its 1 and gone; fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
3. No, I don't resell and try to buy only stuff I will use to 110% of its capability.
4. Other deal breakers include no momentary, if the light has mode memory (different from programming), PWM dimming and lack of AA compatibility, more than 3xAny battery, more than 3 LEDs, anything except CW emitter.

 

[jacktheclipper]

Beam artifacts

 

[Zeruel]

4. What else is a deal breaker to you?
UI: Low > Strobe > Med > Beacon > High > SOS > UFO > Disco (ie strobe as part of the main cycle)
Lights that can't use rechargeable li-ions are mostly deal breakers too.

 

[cottonpickers]

UI: Low > Strobe > Med > Beacon > High > SOS > UFO > Disco

:lolsign: EXACTLY!!

 

[mrartillery]

Beam artifacts

Modes.

Anything other than off-on is just unacceptable.

+1

 

[Illum]

Any color that appears unnaturally colorful, overly round shape, excessive knurling or checkering, or pointed ends and ribs or bezels, basically anything tacti-cool. I like my lights to have a conservative feel, not overly attractive as its not an attention getter that can walk away.

The output and its artifacts, the tint of the light, runtime, and battery type. if its 3AAA, its no good, if its purple tinted, no good, etc. I'm a runtime freak, so if it can't run more than a minimum of 2-3 hours forget it.

Modes, memory, programmability, reverse clicky
I prefer lights that I don't have to think to know how to use, for lights like certain 4sevens are out, where the bezel turning is in combination with the tailcap. If I need a different setting, I'll carry a second light.

How batteries are loaded, tail end, breech end, etc.
I need to assume when I need to change cells I'm not in a lighted room, so battery carriers are out. If loading from the head, there must not be any components that can fall out along with the batteries. the L4 is fine, the E2e not really.

Battery types, I'll bite for alkaline AAs when I fly, but otherwise I stick to Alkaline Cs or lithium.

If I wear a light on me, and it turns itself on, gets damaged by something as simple as a pair of keys and a nail file in my pocket, or it snags on clothing because the clip is too tight and can't be remedied, its out.

A light freshly out of package, cleaned, lubed, passes a simple function test but can't survive a 5ft deep pool, its out.
A light bought new, with new batteries, and burns itself out when you tried a runtime test [Ahem, DX P7...ahem], its out
If the light proves to me its memory is better than mine [I.E. it remembers the mode but I don't remember when did I set it to that mode], its out
If it can't survive a fall from lap to the concrete garage floor, its out
If there has to be modes, they better not be PWM that I can see.

For alkaline lights, I demand to see something with a removeable head and tailcap, where the tailcap and body uses conductive metals that will survive an vineagar bath

Theres a few lights I own that meets those deal breakers...but I still have them, I just don't EDC them.

 

[jamesmtl514]

deal breakers:

- Having to polish, clean, smooth out or perform any kind of finishing that should have been done before me receiving it.

- It being made of very cheap materials

- It being made elsewhere than North America or Europe.

 

[Dude Dudeson]

Dealbreakers:

1. Twisty. I'll never buy another one.

2. Strobe/SOS modes. I'm never buying a light that has these again either. Possible exception if such modes are COMPLETELY segregated from normal operation and CANNOT be accidentally activated.

3. A light which has neither the ability to tailstand OR some form of anti-roll. I don't need both abilities, but I do strongly desire at least one or the other. Possible exception for a truly awesome light, or if I can easily come up with a solution of my own. Malkoff is GOING to get me to bend on this one!

4. Incandescent. I'm aware of certain advantages they possess but I simply do not have the need.

5. Any flashlight that requires, or very nearly requires two hands to operate. Possible exception for a big huge monster of a light.

6. Warm tints. Possible exception someday if they're ever equal in output to the rest.

7. Overly aggressive strike bezels. The one on my 6P Defender is as aggressive as I will go.

8. Anything that requires more than 4 batteries, no matter what type. Exception if it's a large light with it's own rechargeable pack like an Olight SR90 or something.

9. Plastic. Unless a time comes when I specifically need that...

10. Lack of reputation around CPF. If it hasn't received some praise around here I'm not interested. There's just far too much good stuff to choose from among what DOES have some reputation around here lol!