Surefire overpriced

[DrDremel]

Does anybody else think that $200.00 for a FLASHLIGHT is crazy. I don't care how much light it throws. It is not really that much more complex or expensive to make compared to a normal maglight or such. Yeah they are smaller than a similar normal flashlight, but not to justify a 1000% increase in price. I have never been in a situation where i have found myself saying "I would give $180.00 for a flashlight that is double the power. I could see double the maglite prices but not 1000%. Are they made of kevlar reinforced platinum/gold mix with Titanium bushings or something. Can somebody explain why they cost that much more? It is not that I don't have the money, just that I would feel like I was robbed if somebody tried to scam me for $200.00 for a flashlight.

 

[Spark]

CNC Machining. R&D. Power to weight to size ratio. Convenience of carry. Durability.

When you own the market, you can set your own prices.

 

[hksw]

Well, why would anyone buy a SIG P210-5 over a CZ-75B? Both throw lead down range pretty well.

Some folks just like the higher quality and performance (no matter how big or small, real or perceived). This is true in any subject, guns, knives, flashlights, cars, electronics, etc.

You should check out the Candle Power Forum. There are some real hardcore flashaholics over there. Learned a lot concerning hand held light emitters on that site.

 

[444]

I think you are kind of overstating things. Yes, Surefire HAS flashlights that cost $200 and more, but most of the popular Surefire lights are far less than that.
I use two of them every day at work. One was $44, and the other was $80 something.
I have seen someone on this very board selling one model for less than $40.

 

[Navy joe]

My $250 model has already defused one little problem that would have been less controlled without a light. The fact that the guy turned around twice in a circle tells me the light was a deciding factor. Maybe a maglite woulda got it done, but I don't care, the light pays for itself.

I don't have to worry about batteries dying in the light, it's easier to use, brighter, and the lamp more durable. And Skunkabilly has one. What's not to like?

 

[444]

Tommy Tactical has one ?

I mean, Skunkabilly ?

I can feel comforable with my decision now.

 

[Prodigalshooter]

Heck, look at Oakley, they have been making a killing for years! I love their product, but I realize they re-couped their R&D years ago. But they have managed to achieve the same thing that Surefire has come to more recently, which is that indefinable "cachet" that overcomes price. AND...
A real quality product with a great warranty will command top prices always. None of us should talk anyway, we all are pretty "spendy" in the weapons/tactical market!
I mean, look at my CC balance! Oh, no, nevermind, I'd only be embarrassed

 

[Soap]

Then make a flashlight as good as the Surefires but for less than $30. This is America, when you believe a product can be done better and more efficiently, do it.

 

[BerettaNut92]

.

 

[Psssniper]

... . . . ... . . . ... . . . ... . . . ...

 

[444]

He is so tactical that his entire post and the plans for the new top secret base are hidden in what appears to the naked eye to be a period.

 

[TarpleyG]

If you look really, really hard, you'll see there's an entire paragraph contained within that "period."

GT

 

[Soap]

Microdots rock!

 

[Hutch]

I'll bang the drum (again) for the Brinkmann LX available at WalMart for 20 bux. Comes with the batts, and has a beam equal to the SureFire 2-cell models costing 2X-4X.

I just wish the rest of the market place would catch up with holsters, holders, etc. appropriate to the LX size.

 

[G&R Tactical]

As a SF owner for years and now a SF dealer, I would say that some of their gear is a bit high priced. What you are paying for is continued R&D, fully filled Xenon gas bulbs (which is the most expensize of the inert gases), hard anodized finish (which is only done at a couple places in the country, excellent customer service and they stand behind their products. I generally sell SF gear 20%-25% off retail so the prices aren't quite so bad if you buy from me! Let's not forget that SF has the CHEAPEST 123A batteries on the planet and are probably some of the best quality. They have also been pushing the LED to new heights and will soon come out with LED's that will blow your mind!


Grant

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

I just purchased an Arc "LSH-P"...

It seems to be about as bright as my 3 "D" cell Mag~~and it fits in the watch pocket of my jeans! I can keep it with me ALL the time. Naturally, it was more expensive that a 3 "D" cell Mag, but you *usually* don't carry a big MagLight around. Plus, the Arc has an LED instead of a bulb. (Good for 100,000 hours.)

<shrug> Buy what you like.

KR

 

[shadow 1]

When it comes to the tools that might get you out of trouble one day or even save your life, I prefer to pay for the quality of the item rather than skimp and save a few bucks, my mom always used to say "you buy it cheap, you buy it twice" and when it comes to my flashlights I buy SF, they're a good group of folks who stand behind their product.
Granted there is place in my world for the Maglites, mounted in each of our closets at home for emergencies, Streamlight, have a couple in the glovebox of our cars. But for the personal everyday carry it's gotta be a SF. My wife keeps an E2E with a TID in her hand when she goes to her car afterwork and another L1 in her desk drawer at work for when she has lighter work and a G2 by the nightstand safe with a G36 to keep it company.
I personally carry the A2 everyday, an M6 in my backpack and an M3 on my tac gear.

 

[mtnbkr]

Hutch,

I have two of the Brinkman LX's. They are great lights, especially for the price.

Chris

 

[Oracle]

I just bought a Surefire G2 for $33.00. I consider that an excellent deal, considering that it throws as much light or more as one of the 4-D cell Maglites, but it fits inside my pocket. Plus, it only costs about $10.00 more than a 4-D cell Maglite. It also has features that I prefer over the Maglites, such as a permanently focused beam, and a temporary on button on the tailcap. All things considered, I think that the Surefire G2, at least, is an excellent deal.

 

[VaughnT]

Well, the Brinkman light I saw looked mighty cheesy compared to a Streamlight or SureFire. On the duty belt, cheesy is bad. Also had to consider that no company is making carriers for the Brinkman. Quality looked good, though.

Streamlight has a rubber coating that will shred after awhile. It's a decent light, but really needs a hard exterior. Didn't SL come out with a new line of SureFire-esque models?

My SF 6P has clean lines and throws a lot of light. I might upgrade the bulb, but am more concerned with getting a TID to mount on it.

I can't see the need for a $200 flashlight in my life, but if other folks have different circumstances, SureFire is a quality company making a quality product. Go for it.

 

[G&R Tactical]

The SL Scorpion is a good flashlight, but can compare in price or quality to the G2. Dollar for dollar, the G2 is hard to beat...

 

[Mike990]

Comments like that always amaze me. Dont like it, dont buy it. End of story I would think. But I will say from my experience no maglite approaches the size to power output of a surefire. You go outside at night and light something up with it and it is awesome. Even and focused with no hot or dark spots and very very bright. The brighter the surefire the more expensive. But after a point the added brightness is hardly needed or visible. The 2 or 3 battery models are all you need. Most have two bulbs available. For more output or longer runtime. YOur choice
The batteries last for 10 years(shelf life), so when you need it its there. Great lights IMHO.

 

[Northwest Cajun]

I know, It's to pay for those "free" catalogs. They look nicer than some picture books you can buy in a book store.
My 2 Cents
Cajun

 

[c_yeager]

My streamlight doesnt have any rubber on it that i can see. Of course its a few years old (and still going strong).

 

[DrDremel]

I agree with the Oakley comparison. They are not special; it is more of a fashion statement. It is a status marketing concept. They are not more expensive to make, they don’t have lenses any better than others, they just price it to make it seem better. It is more a testament to marketing ability than product.

I believe that the $40 version, (Plastic) is to try to get people like me to buy one. Considering that it is the same as a $5 flashlight except for the bulb, it is priced more competitively. This suggests that they are not hitting the market as widely as they would like. I think there are a large number of people that think they are over priced.

I think a big part of their price is because they are selling to government agencies. When a hammer can be sold to them for $100, a $100 flashlight does not seem too bad. Then you get the “If the government has it, it must be the best†people. They will buy whatever the police buy, even if it does not really make sense. Like the guys with Remington 700 police models at the range shooting at 50 yards. Not doing too good but they bought it because it is the best. The government is notorious for overpaying. Does not mean I want to get ripped off too.

I think the Sig 210 to a CZ75 comparison is a little different. Tight tolerances and more machining cost money. For a flashlight this is a non issue. Then again, for a carry handgun, the cheaper does the job just fine, why buy the more expensive one?

As far as the poster that says he only buys the best equipment that is available. Do you drive a Hummer, or Viper? Do you live in an impenetrable house? Do you only practice with premium ammo? Do you only wear custom fitted clothing? Some things are not worth spending to get the most expensive. Also most expensive does not always mean best.

Somebody mentioned that they are hard anodized and that only a few places in the country can do it. That is not true. Hard anodizing is not a rare thing and there are at least hundreds of places that do hard anodizing. Most aluminum parts are anodized. It is not an especially expensive or time consuming process. The only thing I can see that would be more expensive than other flashlights is the bulb. The batteries are the real key to the performance. They are not expensive enough to make the flashlight 10 times the price of a large Maglight.

Don’t get me wrong here. I am not bashing, I simply don’t see the reason to want to pay the extra money. Show me what I am missing here.