I have personally had email conversations with a number of manufacturers and dealers, and yes they often monitor the pulse of CPF. Some make comments and ask questions, others observe unless there is something so wrong they feel it must be corrected. In recent weeks, I am bothered by how critical and negative we have been to a couple of manufacturers and a dealer. For the dealer, he was criticized for having incorrect information regarding a tint of a new light(the new light being a direct result of comments made on this forum). I took 20 seconds to send an email and ask him about it-he was completely unaware of the controversy...turns out that rumors had been accepted as fact and it went downhill from there.
One of the manufacturers was Surefire-it is amazing how we criticized their stupidity for manufacturing a light that did not fit NIMH and Alkaline batteries. Had anyone called or emailed and asked it this was their intent? Nope. Come to find out their was indeed a glitch in the process that QC did not catch, or did not catch soon enough. When I received my Titan A, all batteries fit without difficulty. When someone called to ask, Surefire admitted their had been a problem and it had been corrected. If you read many of the early posts, you would think they deserved to be stoned or drawn and quartered. I know I will probably catch a lot of heat for this post, but I think the good old fashioned "treat others the way you wish they would treat you" could go a long way. There are times that a manufacturer will acknowledge what CPF members are asking for, but they do not follow through for economic reasons-David from FourSevens did a number of hi CRI runs with warm or neutral tints, but stated that higher lumens of cool white will always outsell neutral or warm tints(a fact backed up by Marshal of Going Gear). That thread has a lot of good conversation both pro and con and offers a lot of information without the nastiness of the other threads I mentioned. We have an awesome community and a great way to let manufacturers and dealers know the direction we would like to see them take. It also offers a chance for them to respond. One example is that after complaints about Thrunite's one year warranty they have announced they are changing to two years. Sorry for the long winded explanation masterP, but yes, they are on the forum, they listen AND they respond.
I've emailed Surefire many times to ask them about some of their products.....never got even one reply
I emailed Fenix and got a reply right away
I emailed Foursevens and got no reply
I emailed Solorforce and got a reply immediately
don't get me wrong.....I don't go emailing companies for stupid reasons to waste their time, but if I can't find the answer on the internet or on this forum then I want to go to the source itself. after all, I wouldn't be asking questions about their products if I wasn't interested in buying them.
and the Surefire Titan issue not taking lithium batteries.....you'd think a company like Surefire would test the fitment of all the batteries they claim the light will take before shipping them out. I'm a Tool and Die maker and machinist.....I would never make a part and just send it out without testing how it fits. it's just common sense
I love Surefire Products. I truly believe they're the best production lights you can buy (not including the more exclusive companies like Malkoff or Elzetta).......but I cannot stand the new line of Surefire products. they work great, but who's bright idea was it to make them all slippery like a bar of soap?
bring back knurling and make them usable so I can take off the bicycle inner tubing on all of them. so people don't have to use O rings to get a grip on them. or skateboard tape
I have several Surefire's, but what do I carry with me most often? a Streamlight Scorpion because it's got a rubber sleeve that makes it nice and grippy. I'm not a huge rubber fan by the way
I leave the Surefire's at home for other duties. they're ok to use as a regular flashlight but the momentary on button needs more pressure than the old Surefire's with the larger button and no lockout feature.....this combined with the smooth surface and bigger head of the new 6PX and Fury give it less gripping area and just feels like it's gonna slip out of your hand.
I have an old 6Z that is perfect in every way....it's the smooth body with no anti roll flats on it which brings me to another beef about the anti roll flats on the new Surefire's. they're practically useless so why even have them
I still love Surefire even though I have to wrap them with rubber bands
and I'm glad they got the Titan to fit lithium batteries, even though they should have tried all the batteries before they started shipping them out