Will Mag respond to my letter ?

[GPB]

I just wrote the following letter to Mag. I am wondering if they will respond, and if they do, what they'll say. I will post any response I get from them.

To Customer Service;

Are there any plans to change to a more modern, efficient emitter in your LED line of lights ? Mag lights are such wonderfully manufactured and high quality pieces, that it is a shame to be forced to look at alternatives to get current LED technology, brightness and run times. I certainly can't speak for the flashlight community as a whole but I know there are many flashlight officionados that respect everything about your lights except the actual LED that is used, and it would seem that changing that part of your manufacturing process wouldn't be that difficult. Just as no one would buy a computer with a 5 year old chip in it, a flashlight with a dated chip will eventually be surpassed by a newer one, even if manufacturing quality is less. I currently have and use about 4 Maglites on a regular basis, but have replaced the bulbs with aftermarket LED's because yours just don't measure up, and I am sure I am not the only one doing this. (Just take a look at the web to see how big the market is for replacement LED's for Mags ) Please let me know that there is a more current and efficient LED in your future, as I would love to see Mag at the top of the Flashlight world again.
Thanks for your time.
Greg Barry

 

[Blue72]

They will respond sometimes not for a long time

you will get a simple message saying that it will be coming out next year that seems to be there standard response

 

[Jarl]

you will get a simple message saying that it will be coming out next year that seems to be there standard response

:laughing:

yup, hit the nail bang on the head there!

 

[Marduke]

Last message I sent them about upgrading (question about LED Soliraire), they said after many months of waiting that "MagLite doesn't succumb to 'fads', such as the snake light for example."

 

[orcinus]

Last message I sent them about upgrading (question about LED Soliraire), they said after many months of waiting that "MagLite doesn't succumb to 'fads', such as the snake light for example."

:wtf:

 

[GPB]

So..."brightness" and "efficiency" are fads !?!?!? I'm really hoping that they have something in the production pipeline that, while not cutting edge or anything, is at least competitive. I wouldn't think they would consider Surefire or any manufacturer at that level their competition, but when Coleman, Eveready, etc are using modern LED's they really should take notice.

 

[StarHalo]

The prime limitation of the Maglite design is its price point - there are probably a few dozen higher output/more efficient LED designs that any Mag engineer could blueprint in a few minutes, but it has to sell for < $20..

 

[JBorneu]

The prime limitation of the Maglite design is its price point - there are probably a few dozen higher output/more efficient LED designs that any Mag engineer could blueprint in a few minutes, but it has to sell for < $20..

Oh really? Because here in Europe an incandescent maglite still sells for €43 (about $55), and the LED dropin also costs you €43.

Thank god for webshops which sell MUCH better lights at that price.

 

[orcinus]

Wow, that's even more than they cost over here (in Croatia).
Here are some prices for comparison:

2D - $42
3D - $44
6D - $53
MM AA - $26
MM AAA - $20
Solitaire - $12
LED 2xAA - $52
4C/D LED drop-in - $40

 

[TigerhawkT3]

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a Solitaire costs R$76, about USD$50.



(Sorry about the quality - pic was taken through a window.)

 

[StarHalo]

Oh really? Because here in Europe an incandescent maglite still sells for €43 (about $55), and the LED dropin also costs you €43.

Correct - engineering a flashaholic-grade high-output LED into a stock Mag would roughly double the price. The 2% flashaholic demographic would be pleased, and the other 98% of consumers would look elsewhere for a cheaper light.

Think of the Maglite not as a bleeding-edge/pinnacle-of engineering design, but rather a pragmatic/bang-for-the-buck flashlight, along the lines of the Zippo lighter or the Willys/Army Jeep.. You can buy something that's got more engineering behind it for more money, but what you get for what you pay is plenty.

 

[Blue72]

Correct - engineering a flashaholic-grade high-output LED into a stock Mag would roughly double the price. The 2% flashaholic demographic would be pleased, and the other 98% of consumers would look elsewhere for a cheaper light.

Think of the Maglite not as a bleeding-edge/pinnacle-of engineering design, but rather a pragmatic/bang-for-the-buck flashlight, along the lines of the Zippo lighter or the Willys/Army Jeep.. You can buy something that's got more engineering behind it for more money, but what you get for what you pay is plenty.

Exactly,

Thats why when you go to target,walmart,home depot,lowes,etc..... you see the latest flashlights with better LED's come and go but the Maglite still hold the same shelf space year after year, as a matter of fact it seems mag has even gained some shelf space

 

[orcinus]

Correct - engineering a flashaholic-grade high-output LED into a stock Mag would roughly double the price. The 2% flashaholic demographic would be pleased, and the other 98% of consumers would look elsewhere for a cheaper light.

How exactly do the LED Mini-Mags fit into that view?
They are twice as expensive and people aren't too pleased with them.

And they... well... suck compared to what other, much smaller companies have to offer at the same price point. The only thing people here are asking is - if you're already making a "pricey" (in the average joe's view) LED Mag, why not make it better?

(Edit: Of course, the answer to that question is simple - because it wouldn't be as profitable, at least in their opinion)

 

[Cydonia]

Correct - engineering a flashaholic-grade high-output LED into a stock Mag would roughly double the price. The 2% flashaholic demographic would be pleased, and the other 98% of consumers would look elsewhere for a cheaper light.

Think of the Maglite not as a bleeding-edge/pinnacle-of engineering design, but rather a pragmatic/bang-for-the-buck flashlight, along the lines of the Zippo lighter or the Willys/Army Jeep.. You can buy something that's got more engineering behind it for more money, but what you get for what you pay is plenty.

Correct.

If anyone wants a brighter LED on a MagLED then they will have to learn to upgrade the LED themselves. I would like to see Mag switch to a new K2 soon though...

 

[GPB]

The thing is, 95% of a Mag is already designed and that design has been tested and paid for 1,000,000 times over. If Coleman can afford to build a light with a Cree in it, Mag, who has more resources, more capital, greater industry relations, and a better distribution channel, should be able to do the same thing A LOT cheaper. 10 Years ago Mag was "IT" and the most expensive light you could buy at a department store was $15-20 bucks. Now we are seeing all sorts of Dorcy's, Brinkmans, Energizer, River Rock, etc at Target, Sears, and Walmart that cost upwards of $25 bucks or more, and a few approaching $50. Mag could still offer everything they offer now if that is enough to satisfy Joe the Plumber, and with very little re-tooling costs, also offer an LED that is of the current generation. There is absolutely no reason that Terralux should be able sell a better LED for a Maglite than Mag can. The fact that they can and the do should keep every production manager at Mag awake at night.

 

[Norm]

I once worked for a computer company who thought they had the market by the b*lls, they failed to spend on R & D ask your kids now if they have heard of an Amiga or Commodore 64. Maglite should be leaders in the field not falling behind the way they are.

 

[csshih]

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a Solitaire costs R$76, about USD$50.

I'm hoping that was an accident, and they meant R$7.60

 

[Sgt. LED]

Snakelight,
:crackup:

What a reply! Snooty a$$holeZ aren't they.

 

[GarageBoy]

The new minimag LEDs are like Zippo Blus, not doing so well

 

[Magnus1959]

Last message I sent them about upgrading (question about LED Soliraire), they said after many months of waiting that "MagLite doesn't succumb to 'fads', such as the snake light for example."

Sounds a little snobbish to me.