Incredible... Now I've seen it all

[DesertRat]

...Now I've seen it all - a $2,900.00 Sure Fire flashlight. What a friggin joke. Who in their right mind would pay that kind of money for a flippin' flash light. I've cited some other outrageously expensive items at TFL and elsewhere, but this takes the cake. What is happening to our country.

www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/24204/sesent/00

Oh, BTW, I do own two Sure Fires, and they're okay, but this is absolutely stupid. Undoubtedly there will be somebody out there who thinks he can rationalize why such a thing would cost so much, but anybody who does has more money than common sense.

 

[armoredman]

Neat flashlight - I'll buy a Mag Light for $30 instead...

 

[shermacman]

Why the anger? It obviously is "over the top" in terms of price (I couldn't even afford the twenty 123 batteries it needs) but we didn't make it out of the caves by being satisfied with cooking bugs over camel dung fires. We like Kobe beef, rare. We found that an Escalade is more comfortable than stone wheels on our Flintstone mobile. Tis a good thing, enjoy the ability of human creativity!

 

[Tijeras_Slim]

I think it's one of those things that falls into the "Why does a dog....?" catagory.

 

[Krink_nut]

I could never

see myself owning something like that. That is, unless I won a huge Lotto.

Each to their own I guess, just like I don't see any functionality of the pseudo-4-door truck with almost no bed in the rear. ?????

They seem to sell, but the ones I've seen appear to NEVER get used as a truck, so why bother?

Armoredman, I like your signature line!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I am still awaiting the weapon mount kit for the Beast so that I can mount it on my Barrett. I need a good 1000 yard CQB light for it.

 

[Darkmind]

The rich people need something else to spend their money on.

 

[DesertRat]

Sherm... No anger, but what would you say to someone that said: "Hey there you consumer here's a neat new pocket lighter that'll instantly conflagrate anything it comes near but you'll only average six lights before you have to refuel and all for only $1,000.00. Don't miss this opportunity as were only making 200 of these and each comes with it's own letter of authenticity from the president of our company."

Yeah, and that same president is absolutely laughing his A$$ of all the way to the bank for how absolutely stupid these "elite consumers" are. What is this HUGE exclusivity bandwagon? I guess my issue with things like this is that it does go to a deeper level, as I'm beginning truly believe that our country is becoming to too decadent. Yes, I'm a capitalist, but I believe there is a limit to everything. These days everybody out there seems to have this overwhelming need to show everybody that "My c*ck is bigger than yours" - and this is not just limited to the guys, gals are just as guilty of it. Further, I'm guilty of it too as I own a Wilson CQB and two Les Baers. In retrospect, I wouldn't do it again, as I could have had a well known local smith build just as nice of 1911s for much less, albeit without certain features.

Anyway, sure if you have the money for a fine Mercedes, then by all means by one. BTW I've driven several of what the sales people refer to as "heavy cars" such as Mercedes 500 series, SLs, SLKs, Wagon, etc, etc. Heck I've even driven a Ferrari F-360, a Lamborghini Diablo and even two different Bentleys both Azure and Arnage. Sure they're nice, but I'm quite happy with a Chevy 3/4 truck or even a Toyota Tacoma, and I don't believe I would spring $120k (or more) for an automobile even if I had the $$$.

These days everything has the biggest, baddest, assualt and/or tactical (fill in the blank) available. Household savings is at its lowest in decades and people don't seem to think much anymore. Perhaps some of this sentiment is due to my upbringing. I guess I should just get into lock step with the rest of society and see if I can find a tactical paint brush to use when I do some touch up work on my house. Perhaps I can find one for $500.00 that I'll onlly get three uses out of before I can unlock the bristles from the handle and replace them with new ones for only $120.00 - hopefully it will have a genuine letter of authenticity too!! Ewww, Joy....

 

[24kshooter]

It's America - be glad you have a choice - just like the assortment of rifles and pistols you can own in most States.

 

[pax]

Heh, and I wanted one, too.

Still do, in fact.

pax, who hasn't got a dime and would spend it on other things if she did.

All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income. -- Samuel Butler

 

[pax]

Hmmm, now that I've tossed off the flippant answer, I have a more thoughtful one.

DesertRat, do you own a cell phone? I'm willing to bet that you do -- the vast majority of Americans do own one these days, and most of us on this board agree that they are almost indispensable equipment in emergencies.

Back in the early 80's, my dad bought a car phone for himself and several of his salesmen. At that time, a car phone was just that, a car phone. They were permanently installed in the vehicles, with a special little spiral antenna mounted on the roof of the car. They were also clunky, had poor reception in most places, and had a fairly limited range. There wasn't a cell tower network everywhere, just in a few spots. And they were frankly a pain in the patootey.

For that, Dad paid something like $4000 per phone, plus a phone bill of roughly half that every month.

The neighbors thought he was decadent, stupid, etc. Thought it was just another case of Conspicuous Consumption run amok. Thought he should have given the money to help the homeless instead. Thought the gadget was useless and the price exorbitant.

The reason you own a cell phone today is because people like my dad bought that stupid, useless, exorbitantly priced gadget ... and put up with people sneering at him for it. It was those Conspicuous Consumers that funded the research that went into the small, inexpensive, powerful cell phones we all carry everywhere today.

So yeah, the SureFire gadget in question sure seems stupid. And useless. And expensive. And probably the money would be better spent in dozens of other ways.

But that's where progress comes from.

pax

 

[hksw]

Yes, I'm a capitalist, but I believe there is a limit to everything.

Why? What's wrong with continuously developing better products?

If there was a limit to everything ever made, we wouldn't have a fraction of the stuff we take for granted today.

Like everything else, new stuff always comes out expensive at first. Eventually the price drops as competition ramps up. How much were DVD players when they first came out? How about color TVs? Remember when the TI-30s first came out? How much do you think 15 million cp (claimed) spotlights were 5-10 years ago? I just got one for $65 last week.

Some folks think that having the biggest, baddest, best is the most important thing in their life. What of it? It's their money, why waste the time and effort thinking about why it's important to them?

 

[DesertRat]

HKSW - Money cannot buy happiness. Further, I hardly need a lesson in economics or capitalism as I'm also a Certified Public Accountant who has a unique perspective of things because prior to going into law enforcement I worked in a prestigous firm and I've seen the top of the mountain from an outsiders perspective. I did not like what I saw. I have seen excesses that would boggle your mind. Some of the wealthiest people I met were also some of the unhappiest people I've ever met. Many of them would do anything, and I mean anything to increase their fortunes. End of rant.

 

[OF]

It's America - be glad you have a choice.

Exactly.

Money cannot buy happiness.

But everyone has the right to find that out on their own. And I'll tell you this, Mr. Been to the Mountain, being poor ain't so hot either.

Yes, I'm a capitalist, but I believe there is a limit to everything.

Says who? Lets put what you mean by 'limit' in some kind of concrete terms. Limit what, exactly? 'Luxury items' that you feel are 'over the top'? I thought you were the guy with 2 Les Bears and a CQB...

Everything is subjective and depends on a point of view.

- Gabe

 

[Justin]

Uh-Oh, somebody got into the Hatorade.

HID flashlights are freakin' cool! I once met a guy who had one of these monstrosities, evidently the same model, or one similar to the ones used in Jurassic Park.

We stepped out on his front porch late one evening. He points the thing in the general direction of a house about two blocks away, and the thing lit up like daylight.

Pointing it into the sky yielded something akin to a giant lightsaber shooting off into the infinite.

Evidently this particular model was bright enough that one could be standing roughly a mile away from the light, and it would illuminate a newspaper enough to read by.

When you start dealing with power and excess on such an unbridled scale, there can be many reasons and justifications for it, but as far as I'm concerned, COOL is probably the main one.

 

[Reyn]

I bought 3 of them. ....just kidding

 

[Vitamin G]

Designed for open-area tactical applications such as border patrol, maritime interdiction, and long-range target identification,

I know a group of people, better than I am, about to walk along the US?Mexico border that might chip in for a couple...

 

[halvey]

Now I've seen it all - a $2,900.00 Sure Fire flashlight. What a friggin joke.

So don't buy it then.

 

[DigMe]

He points the thing in the general direction of a house about two blocks away, and the thing lit up like daylight.

..and then immediately burst into flames.



brad cook

 

[444]

When I read posts that center around how much something costs, or how someone can justify what something costs or anything along that line: I have to wonder about the motivation. I mean, what does it matter to you what people spend their money on ? I start thinking of things like class envy, jealousy and things along that line.
$2900 is not a lot of money.
If someone wants to spend it on a flashlight, so what ?
I can tell you that I definitely would like to have one.

 

[Quintin Likely]

Price be damned, I just think it's cool. One more thing to add to the "List of things I'm gonna buy when those Mega Millions numbers come together." Who needs a gun, just shine that badboy in the general direction of the threat and watch them spontaneously combust.

Edited to add though: About having no filament to break, that's fine and dandy and all, but coming from an automotive background tinkering with vehicles equipped with HID lighting, I wonder if that badass light operates on the same principal that an automotive HID light does? In which case, no, it's not the filament one needs to worry about, it's the ballast. In a Mark VIII, replacement ballasts for the HID lights are about $800 a side if I remember right. Surefire probably has some kinda whiz bang system to make it run, but that's just me thinking aloud. Gotta be solid for those "tactical operations" like the aforementioned guys walking the borders between here and there.

 

[hksw]

HKSW - Money cannot buy happiness. Further, I hardly need a lesson in economics or capitalism as I'm also a Certified Public Accountant who has a unique perspective of things because prior to going into law enforcement I worked in a prestigous firm and I've seen the top of the mountain from an outsiders perspective. I did not like what I saw. I have seen excesses that would boggle your mind. Some of the wealthiest people I met were also some of the unhappiest people I've ever met. Many of them would do anything, and I mean anything to increase their fortunes. End of rant.

Certainly there are truly unnecessary excesses such as 24k gold plated Desert Eagles that do nothing but feed the ego but what about items like that 2000 lumen light initially posted? That amount of light output is phenomenal from a package that small. More than likely you and I will probably never need that much for what we would normally use a flashlight for but what about rescue workers? By limiting product development, you would never develop products that could potentially make life better, easier, less impact on the environment, or even save a few lives. Quite a few years back some folks would probably think a Chevy ¾ ton or Toyota Tacoma would be decadent. So who should decide what is over the top and what isn't. Should it be you? Should it be me? Should it be the Amish? Should it be Bill Gates?

It seems you're focusing on the emotional effects of high end products on the people who buy them. That is, the products don't do anything but waste their money. Your solution would be not to manufacture those products. Does this sound familiar?

I say, built what you want and price it as high or low as you see fit. If people are willing to buy it, it'll be a success. If not, oh well. It's up to the individual to fix his mental problems, don't blame it on the gun.

 

[TechBrute]

Money cannot buy happiness.

Money CAN buy happiness, because money can buy jet skis. Have you ever seen an unhappy guy on a jetski?

Ok, seriously, money can't buy happiness, but the lack of it can sure cause unhappiness.

I'm never sure where all this hatred of the "rich" comes from. It's all about priorities. There are very few people on this board that couldn't afford that light. Sure, you may have to go without cable for 29 months, or stop drinking, smoking, shooting, or whatever else you consume, but we could all come up with $2900. Some can just do it easier than others.

Heck, my wife was watching "Newlywed" with Jessica Simpson, and she'd go out shopping for 4 hours and spend more than that on underwear and bedsheets. If you had that kind of disposable income, you wouldn't at least consider it?

I'd buy that light in a heartbeat if I had that kind of disposable income.

 

[444]

I am not sure what "happiness" means.
Does it mean that every minute of your life is filled with joy ?
Does it mean that you are completely satisfied with yourself and every aspect of your life ?

Very few people fit in either catagory.

Money might not be able to buy happieness, but it will buy goods and services that make me very happy for some period of time.

 

[slzy]

obviously some must have missed the bulb may not need replacing,batteries are included and the bezel is protected by rubber. now,what colors are they available in?