SureFire's business practices suck!

[taylodr]

FYI - before you knock the "import lights"...

From Surefire - as I wondered where they were made:

"SureFire Suppressors and Edged Weapons are made entirely in the USA, most SureFire flashlight components are made at our California factory, and all components are designed and assembled in the USA. However, certain components may not be domestically available in sufficient quantities or performance specifications. For this reason, and because of our decision to follow the strictest interpretation of the FTC guidelines, not all of our products meet the definition required for the Made in the USA label. But, as much as possible, SureFire uses components made in the United States of America. You may be interested in knowing that our flashlights do fall within the Department of Defense’s qualifications for being of US origin, which are somewhat less restrictive than the FTC’s."
Best Regards,

Brenda Alvarado
Customer Service Department
SUREFIRE, LLC


EDIT - I am not Brenda, this is the email I received from her. I was just posting the entire email as to not change anything directly said to me, and to provide a reference.

[CLHC]

(Edit we changed to the title to reflect a little more of what we are talking about)

We are taking suggestions on light manufacturers from the community that we should look into.

Any other suggestions for light manufacturers that make a product of equal or higher quality to SF?

Since 1995, I've been using SureFire flashlights with complete satisfaction! Now, I don't know about any flashlight "manufacturers that make a product of equal or higher quality" than SureFire. . .But, another flashlight manufacturer to consider may be Laser Devices Inc. They make handheld lights, weapon lights, and laser/light combs.

[El Pistolero]

I have to disagree with the statement that SureFire's suck.

Expensive, yes. Overpriced, no. Expensive means they cost a lot of money but they are worth it. Overpriced means you are paying more than it's worth. Some lights, like the 6P I feel are overpriced, simply because I can buy a SolarForce L2 that does the same thing. But others, like the Z2 or G2Z, are priceless because NO ONE makes a flashlight with that skinny-in-the-middle shape. No one makes a light with that 2-stage tailcap as seen on the A2 Aviator and the LX2. These are lights that are worth the money to me because there is just no alternative for certain lights. And their customer service is tops. I only buy SureFire when it comes to flashlights. Price doesn't matter if you buy the flashlight once and use it for the rest of your life.

I'm not a dealer so I don't have any experience with their business practices, I'm just a satisfied end-user of the product.

[Vic303]

EagleTac is a possibility.
The made-in-USA line of Novatac.
Wolf Eyes.

FYI--Novatac is kinda-sorta related to HDS lights but less $$.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Sucking is the one thing Surefire doesn't do, otherwise I'd marry it.

Lumamax LX2

Three-year old daughter lost mine somewhere in the house. I still cry thinking about it.

Surefire makes great stuff, but they are as slow as heck to inovate. I think that if someone came out with:

A 6P with Z49 tail cap standard
x300
Scout light less than a cheap upper

They could really clean house. Especially if they could do it while going to AA batteries. I'm not the brightest bulb, but it seems the 123 batteries were to get the max light out of incand bulbs, and LEDs have changed the game.

[The_Biased_Observer]

I've carried a Streamlight Stinger for almost 19 years now, been to the factory once for a rebuild and replaced the switch one additional time. I've been issued one of their SL20x's for 13 years and it's rode in the car all that time, bumping around. Works fine. Streamlight TLR1 has been on my rifle for a few years with no problems, though admittedly with the recent 200 lumen economy SF models being released, it's been replaced.

I've had nothing but problems long term with the Chinalights *(Fenix, Tiablo, etc).

[Heavy Metal]

Hey Ares, what could Surefire do to you if you bundled say an X-300 along with an ALS holster and charged one cent more than they price of the X-300?

What is the fine print in your dealer agreement with Surefire? Does Safariland even have a MAP? If not, Surefire would not have a leg to stand on.

[sonrider657]

Another +1 for Elzetta.

[Thomas M-4]

I bought my SF's from G&R because Grant threw in batteries.
If you cant do anything on the prices bundling the light with extras would make it less painful.

I have become really attached to my U2.

FromMyColdDeadHand jeez man my 3yr old has done something to my G2 also feel your pain bro.

[ssracer]

Another plug for elzetta. I have handled several of their lights...top notch quality all the way around. They had one at the shot show along with a 2x4 and nails letting passers by hammer in nails with their light. I plan on picking one up for my AR as soon as the government decides to process my tax return. I already have one of their mounts and couldn't be happier with it.

Doesn't hurt that they are made in my home state either.