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Posted: 3/23/2003 5:44:20 AM EDT
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I bought an 8NX Commander from LPS. After a few uses it would not illuminate when the head was rotated (only way to get constsnt on). Tailcap still worked, but I had to push it hard. Called LPS. "no problem, that's a piece of felt missing in the tail cap. I'll verify and get right back to you." Nothing. I call back. "I'll check with shipping and see why that's not out to you." nothing. I call back, he checks on it "oh, that part is back ordered. Call surfire." I call Surefire. "Yeah, that part is back ordered. Let me see if I have one in a bin in the back." Short wait, then "Hey, the 8NX doesn't use that part. Must be the batteries. We had a bad run with the polymer rings. We'll send out a new set." They do so, yada yada, still doesn't work. I call back. Still doesn't work. " o. k., mail it in, we'll trouble shoot it." I ordered A light made by arguably the top name in the field from a repuatble company run by a mod here. I ordered before Christmas. It is now after St. Patrick's day, and I'm still in the dark. |
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It's more difficult to make NiCad battery sticks (SureFire B90) to SureFire's specification than battery manufacturers thought. B90 battery sticks were found to be faulty - not holding charge or maintaining their output. SureFire has fixed the problem, but are still a few months off getting enough B90's out to replace those which are duds. I have four dud B90's myself. Stingers are cheap and work from what I read. I suggest you get one while SureFire make good your 8NX. When working B90's are available, I will be buying three 8NX-YL because it's a very good flashlight. Al |
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I actually have an E2 that I'm using in the mean time. I like it a lot. I don't like buying the batteries for it, and GP is not what I bought it for, but I'm getting by. I contacted the vendor because I find that I usually get better service from a vendor than a company. If I buy something that doesn't work at walmart, I can take it back and they give me one that works and then they deal with the manufacturer. Besides, he could have just said "call surefire" the first time if that was the correct answer. Size 15s, I thought you were Surefire? |
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No, I am not SureFire. I have toured SureFire for a few day in February and I am friends with PK, SureFire's VP of New Product Development. I admit that as far as I'm aware, I'm the closest thing SureFire has to online tech support for internet forums. George Syrengelas and the team at SureFire's Tech Support are the real deal. SureFire FanBoy, out. Al |
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The Classic 9N uses the B92 NiCad Battery Stick which is shrink-wrapped in white. The 8NX/8AX & 9AN use the B90 NiCad Battery Stick which is shrink-wrapped in blue. I have a 9AN, 9N and 8NX. It is just as well since I have just enough working B90's to go around, not that I usually use the 9AN & 8NX at the same time. Only certain lot codes of B90's have had lots of duds. I talk to people who use the 8AX/8NX as their dutylight and most people do not seem to be aware that there's a problem with some B90's. What I fear is that a dud B90 is written off by the user along with the flashlight as a bad buy without first contacting SureFire. Certainly SureFire have suffered because of this and I have seen during my tour of SureFire about a month ago now that they are working very hard to fix it. People ask why SureFire is sticking with NiCad rather than NiMH chemistry like some other flashlight brands have moved to. In R&D, NiMH has been found lacking in robustness and abuse-resistance compared to modern NiCads although it does give longer runtimes and less shelf-discharge. LithiumIon (LiIon) batteries need special care when charging. I know of one "flashlight" which has a good track record. For your everyday SureFires, safe, reliable, easy LiIon is still a way off. My 10X's NiCad holds charge for weeks and weeks and offers great output/runtime. The B20 battery body is about as high-tech as NiCads get I believe. |
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Quoted: The SF dealer your bought it from should be able to call their internal sales rep and help you get things straightened out. C4 Although pleasant, the dealer was more of an impediment than a help. He mis diagnosed the problem, attributing the failure to a part being "missing" that is not even supposed to be there in the first place! Then he extends the down time waiting on a backordered part I don't need, failing to inform me of why I am waiting, then refers me to the company rather than dealing with his "internal sales rep". Like I said, 3 months, shipping costs on my nickle, and as far as "straightening it out" we are currently at the pretzle stage. Luckily the days are getting longer and the nights are getting shorter, and surefire has lowered the price on the lithium batteries my E2 takes ... |
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I also own a 6R and I think its a great bedside rechargeable light. Got it for my wife who never remembers to change the batteries in anything. Also have a 2 6P's and a G2 and I've always had great support from surefire when I had questions about their product line. Give them another chance I'm sure they will correct the problem. |
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Quoted: I also own a 6R and I think its a great bedside rechargeable light. Got it for my wife who never remembers to change the batteries in anything. Also have a 2 6P's and a G2 and I've always had great support from surefire when I had questions about their product line. Give them another chance I'm sure they will correct the problem. They have another chance. They have my 8Nx and the batteries. We'll see what happens. And I am a fan of their products. I have fallen back on the E2, it just eats batteries the way I use a light. I have an old 6P in the truck in a paddle holster that holds a the light next to a G22 mag. I'm just a little twisted about this particular episode. |
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Glockshooter, I am sorry to hear that your dealer didn't help out any. When my customers come back to me with issues on the products I sold them, I contact the company and resolve the problem. It is far easier for me to call Aimpoint, EOTech, SF or BlackHawk and speak directly to an internal rep and resolve any issues quickly. Size15s, I got my info on the rechargeables being made overseas directly from my SF internal Rep. I had ordered some 8NX's about 3 weeks ago and I was told that they don't have any idea when they will receive them in... C4 |
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UPDATE Came home today to a package on the porch. It contained my original box, which I sent, one flashlight (unsure if it the same but fixed or a replacement) and two batteries (I sent 4, the two that came with it and two they sent to try and fix the problem before requesting I send the light in. Again, unsure if these 2 are from that 4 or are a new set). A quick check showed that the tailcap button still worked, the constant on head rotation worked now, and both batteries functioned for the momentary check. At this time I am happy again, and am feeling pretty good about surefire. I'll post again after some run time. |
| I've had good luck dealing with Surefire directly. One time I received a 6P that didn't work and over the phone they came to the conclusion that it was the bulb/reflector. They sent me one immediately with the promise that I send back the unworkable one. Very nice service! |
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