Arc-AAA Pre-order

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Peter,

Please prominently mention on your website as soon as you can take direct credit cards, and please mention it here also. I feel a bit like the 'little match girl' with her nose to the restaurant window!!
 
I am writing in response to TRC's posts concerning his dissatisfaction with his new ARC. It's the first time I have felt the need to respond to someone else's comments, but hey, you got to me.

Where to begin? As was mentioned, you complain about the price, yet seem happy to destroy your purchase rather than have it replaced.. sounds logical to me!? I am also interested to hear of your love affair with lithium batteries.

A man who finds ARC's to be too expensive buys the most expensive batteries available. And it seems you are particularly impressed by the weight saving to be had from using lithium (enough to mention it three times). An ARC AAA weighs a measly 0.75 ounces with a battery. Just how much weight is saved in a single AAA? I'm sure it's less then the weight of a single shirt botton.

Here's an idea for you, TRC. You can save more weight by cutting all the buttons off your clothes. Then you can load them into your single shot and shoot them into that pine tree. Once you are done you can post negative comments on ShirtButtonForum!

Seriously, I have never seen a manufacturer more prepared to stand by his product and to please his customers than Peter. TRC, you loose your right to complain publically if you won't take the obvious and easy step of returning your purchase for repair or refund. Perhaps you do not understand the meaning of things like LIFETIME WARRANTY, or 30 DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE.
 
TRC,

You own a Thompson Contender and and have the stones to call the AAA-P a piece of crap? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif
 
Well TRC when a product that have a long time warranty it mean it will make the price up like hell.
For the flash light is high price , but still reasonable.
i dont have Arc Flashlight to test, so i can't give a quality review.
But i got question about the 40000 mcd light output.
I dont think it is possible to reach this.
let talk about it :P
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hallis said:
TRC,

You own a Thompson Contender and and have the stones to call the AAA-P a piece of crap? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crackup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy to speak from complete ignorance. I've been shooting for almost 31 years. The Thompson Contender is the standard for all types of benchrest pistol shooting, as well as handgun hunting. It only(!) accepts barrels for about 30 different cartridges. Name another handgun that can shoot as well as a 14" barreled TC, including 1 minute barrel exchanges with 30 different calibers and cases. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Ya'll quite teasing by saying you've gotten your lightsss....Argh mine hasn't shipped yet! (but I did request USPS so he has to go to a postoffice) this being my first experience with a "new" arc. I'm getting....ummmm ancy, and impatient. SO STOP PLAYING WITH MY LIGHT-LESSNESS...lol


everyone have a wonderful weekend and please pray for those who lived through hell in London (if you don't believe in the lord then please say a kind work towards them)

Doug
 
Re: credit card processing

Still working on getting the credit cards processing setup. We've completed all the paperwork required but now they need to audit our website. To do this, the auditors have to see the checkout page with the credit card option displayed so they can make sure the cart is secured by SSL. Normally, this is done before the site goes live and the auditors are directed to a hidden site they can review. But since I jumped the gun and started taking paypal and shipping, etc they will be auditing a live site.

What this means: if you visit the site right now, you will see a credit card option displayed in the payment field. However, it is not activated yet. I have put 3 notes throughout the site saying not to use it, please use paypal, etc but some people will still try anyways. Their order will return an error and will not get loaded into the database. This will likely cause some hard feelings and confusion. I am sorry, this hopefully passes quickly.

I have been told the auditors will be reviewing the site sometime today or monday. During the weekend I will turn off the credit card option so as to further minimize confusion. Hopefully sometime next week we will pass the review and be able to accept credit cards.

We are using a new gateway (verisign) and payment bank this time around because they are more secure and charge less fees. I am also going for PCI compliance ("hacker safe"), etc. Reams of paperwork for those guys.

Peter
 
Order #1528 sent for 2 Premiums with quick-ship (no wait for packaging) option. Looking forward to receiving the new lights!

Cheers,

Dave
 
TRC, your followup post above and apparent lack of email from you got me thinking that you might be waiting for me to respond to your original post here on the cpf and in an itemized, issue by issue way. I prefer to dialogue with a person one on one (chat, email, phone, in person). The forum is more of a broadcast medium designed to service large groups of people. Oh well.

I have your post open in a seperate window so I may refer to it as I respond to each item...

Oh, I should preface this by saying, just because a feature is that way doesn't mean you should have to live with it. That is why I say the light isn't for all people in all usage. In that case, please take advantage of our return policy.

1) The LED is off center. Not a lot; about the same as my old style $15 CMG Infinity....which cost about 1/3 the $$$, of course. You can see a space on one side of the LED, and rolling the light causes it to project little circles of light.

Yes, the LED is off center. I can just about guarantee that. This has been discussed here on the CPF for years. You see, the die is not even perfectly centered with the lead frame and epoxy package. This is an LED manufacturer issue. Now if the beam is wide and diffuse, the effect is more hidden. Nichias are better centered than most, but they also use a more optomized phosphor which means you see more of the rings of the blue LED underneath. Have you seen the beam of a narrow beam blue LED? It will seem strangly remeniscient. Some manufacturers glop on a bunch of phosphor. This smoothes the beam but reduces the total output. Phosphor can cut the output of the blue LED by 30% or more. So its a balance like everything else.

Now you said that the off center beam makes a circle when you turn the light. This means you probably are not talking about the rings in the beam but instead the arc that the center hotspot makes as it traces an off center circle on the wall. Every LED we get does that. No surprise there. What we do is pull out the worse offenders. Each and every Arc-AAA is roll tested at 6 inches. If the center spot deviates by more than 1 inch, it is pulled. I bet you dollars to donuts your light passes this test.

With the new Arc-AAA, we are using a new 2-step centering jig designed by Merri's dad. This process involves centering the package of the LED with the housing noticably better than what we used before. I can see this in the roll tests. We are having less variation. Of course, Nichia has probably also improved the centering of their dice with the new CS LED. There is still variation but it is measurably less on average.

The fact that you can find a cheaper light with a similiar beam pattern just tells me they are also using a 5mm LED, probably one of the nichia models in fact. The extra quality of the Arc is apparent in many areas, but it is not a panacea for everything.

2) The head has a gritty feel as I turn it. Not what I expected from a $40 flashlight, especially from Arc.

This is tough one. During assembly and then in inspection, each light is turned on an off repeatidly. I just don't know if what you are feeling is normal or the light was damaged in shipping, or a chunk of dirt got in the threads, etc. It is hard to speculate. You might clean the threads and then relube them. This might noticably improve their feel. Or, we might replace the head/body for you and that does the trick. That is why I prescribe the service process of emailing me, sending the light back, us checking it again, etc.

I kid you not, we test these lights like a paranoid obssesive. In fact, I have been criticised by our accountant, investors, people visting the factory for mercilessly applying those obssesive standards. I have been asked to reduce my standards repeatidly. People will tell you I am quite stubborn. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif It never fails though, we check a light and finally send it out and bam! The customer finds something wrong with it. Our first thought is, what did you do to it!? I only conclude there are a million possible interactions a person can have with a piece of hardware. Sometimes we missed something but the majority of cases (I know everyone thinks their's is different when it happens to them, but the numbers don't lie) are not a failure of our manufacturing or QC process. The number one problem is battery leakage. I see that as a design problem actually. A perfect light would be impervious to any type of thick gunk forming on the contacts. Still work to do in that area. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In the mean time, the important thing to me is keeping our promises. Did we say the light will be different to all the other lights on the market and be impervious to the effects of thick acidic gunk? No. But when it happens, we fix the light anyways. Usually the customer is grateful, sometime they think we owe it to them. No worries.

3) With the lithium L-92 from Energizer, it practically takes a pair of vise grips to turn it on. Every other Arc-AAA I've ever owned, or handled, could be relatively easily turned on with one hand. I have small hands, with excellent dexterity in my right hand, and the strength of a considerably larger hand. The is no way I will EVER be able to turn this on with one hand.

Ok, that is just not right. I assume it is much easier to turn with the duracell provided? In that case, it does sound like a screw up on our part. Lithiums are larger in diameter. We found out the other day that some of the battery compartments are out of tolerance (we are talking less than 1 out of a 100) at the base of the tube. I visited our factory in Phoenix yesterday where we machine the parts and I talked to the owner about the problem and instituted more frequent tests (we were testing 1 out of 50) of that dimension. To catch any that get through (check and balances always), Merri also added a test on the final assembly. Any units that did get out, those customers are being sent a new battery pack. However, we don't know if you got one unless you tell us. So far, only one person has emailed me about this and he should have the pack at his doorstep today thanks to fedex.

Please don't shoot the light out of a gun. Let us take care of it. I suggest either a refund or maybe a new battery pack will bring satisfaction.

Peter
 
Re: our phone number

Did I already post about this? Anyways, we are ordering a new phone line to be installed next week. We are currently sharing a line with our parent company but that is not working as well as I had hoped. I can't get calls as easily and the customer is probably confused sometimes by the way the call is routed. So we are installing a dedicated line for Merri and I to answer personally. That being said, there are limits to how many calls we can handle ourselves. I used to have days where I spent half the day on the phone. There's a balance in there somewhere. I plan on ordering a 1-888# number eventually as well. Also got to setup the live chat.

Yes, we are currently interviewing more people to help out. This takes time and there are some things that are not as easily turned over to other people. Eventually this all gets delegated and I am not longer personally involved in so many aspects of the company. I would still post here, answer some emails, go to the shows and GTs and hopefully spend a lot more time in the lab. Maybe some vacation.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Peter
 
Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

As promised, I took my 14" barreled, 44 magnum Thompson Contender, and one special cartridge: a low quality Arc-AAA Premium loaded with 15 gr. of Blue Dot in a Remington case, using a CCI standard large pistol primer. The Arc-AAA Premium was wrapped with duct tape, to allow for the smaller diameter than the .429 inch diameter of my 44 magnum barrel.

I headed to a buddy's place, 50 miles out of town. I set up my chronograph, about 15 feet from a dead pine tree, so I could measure the muzzle velocity of my custom cartridge load.

The muzzle velocity was really disappointing; the Arc-AAA Premium weighed almost exactly 315 gr. with a Duracell AAA, almost identical to many 'heavy bullet' custom loaded 44 magnum hunting ammunition cartridges. My load developed about half the expected velocity, reflecting the lack of a good barrel to 'slug' fit: only 650 fps. A quick calculation show at this speed the Arc-AAA Premium was carrying only about 296 ft. lbs. of kinetic energy, about 1/4 of what can be delivered from a 44 magnum in a 14" barreled Thompson Contender.

Unfortunately, due to the poor ballistic coefficient, and sloppy slug to muzzle fit of my custom made projectile, I didn't get a clean hit on the dead pine tree. I should have been much closer, obviously.

The Arc-AAA Premium hit the side of the pine tree, tearing a deep gouge in the bark, almost down to the (dead) wood, and headed for parts unknown.

My buddy, who was standing well off to one side, and ahead of me, reported that although I had turned the Arc-AAA Premium on immediately before firing, he did not observe any light coming from the Arc-AAA Premium. He saw the Arc-AAA Premium impact the side of the tree, scattering small bark chips, but could not determine the final direction of the Arc-AAA Premium.

We looked for the Arc-AAA Premium for quite a long time, by flashlight in the dark, but were fairly deep into a stand of pine trees, and we were unable to find the Arc-AAA Premium.

All I can say is "GOOD RIDDANCE". /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

A most satisfying exercise, all things told.

In conclusion, I think I can safely state that an Arc-AAA Premium cannot stand up to being fired from a firearm, as evidenced by the LED not being on when it exited the muzzle. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

Well usually the impact just crushes the battery... so if you retrieve the AAA one day, pop in a fresh battery and tell us the results!
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

i would like to see some picture after you tested it lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

TRC

I’m really not sure what your point is. Peter has a solid record from the past of taking care of customer issues. He has asked you in a public forum to give him a chance to make things right for you. You seem to out right ignore his attempts to help you. Even if your Arc was defective you could have had a replacement in days and have a light that will in all likelihood last you the rest of your life. Fortunately for Peter his track recorded will carry far more weight then your bizarre post. Honestly, I’m not sure what your true agenda is but it sure doesn’t come across as very sound.
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

Perhaps the rifling of the barrel twisted the light to off? I know it was wrapped in tape but tape can twist.

The Contender is a great multi-caliber pistol.

Speaking of multi-caliber pistols. ever hear of a multi-caliber revolver that shoots over 25 different calibers mixed together at the same time without changing anything? Accuracy is sub-par but very versatile.

...Phillips & Rodgers Medusa Model 47

Sorry to be off topic.

Jeff
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

TRC,

Hilarious! This is good old fashioned customer expression of unhappiness. Nothing wrong with it all.

Lebkuecher,

This is no different than those rare people who publicly burn/destroy their own cars because of some issue that the dealer or manufacuter hasn't remedied to their satisfaction. It's a form of protest and speech uncommon but blunt and to the point.
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

TRC, what's going on with you man? If there are things in your life that you are not happy with, please talk to someone. I am no expert but I am human being and can help at least somewhat.

What you did was not very constructive. This goes for everyone, beware of our lust for destruction. It is not healthy. It is in our beautiful design to create and to subdue with wisdom. You said you had a problem with the light and you came here and posted to that effect. I feel like you were asking for help. But you refused clear attempts at that help and persist on this destruction. I would say that you brought more baggage to the table that was at first evident. Are there are other things in your life you also don't like and you also don't want to resolve constructively? Would you attempt to also solve those problems with firearms? Problems with a flashlight are easy to solve compared to relationships, problems at work, etc. You know what they say, responsible with little things, responsible with big things.

People hear about a person self destructing nearby and they say, "I didn't know he had troubles, he seemed alright, I didn't want to be nosey", etc. Well, I am going to be pushy. What's going on man? Talk to us.

I don't know most of you very well. And for a simple purchase, that is sufficient. However, each one of you has a deep story. This is not the suicide help line, but I also am not going to just ignore stuff right under my nose. I don't think anyone should.

Peter
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

I think it is a pity, we as group, would acknowledge such a juvenile, wasteful post at all. Seems to be the nature of this board....always unneeded drama to detract from otherwise useful information. Carry on............
 
Re: Kaboom!, one Arc-AAA Premium

Lighten up folks,

Suicide? Relationship problems? Going postal? Lust for destruction? Solving problems with firearms? This is great - mental health diagnosis from afar. And the DSM diagnosis after the appropriate testing and exam are what?

Gimme a break.
 
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