Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
TREXPO East 2009 over, on to Tulsa and NTOA
The TREXPO show was, again, a very well done show. The morning of the 1st day was packed in the 400 aisle section right up until lunch time. After classes started it became more of a vendor to vendor love fest but still all in all the 1st day was good.The 2nd day went as it has for the past years, slow start with a brisk pick up around 11:30 and a die off at 1:00. In all a very good show, one of the few that really reaches the federal level, with out all the hassles that go along with a show in DC.
The show management will go over and above for the vendors, and the meet and greet after the 1st day is still something I look forward too all year. I also like the facility, flat, no loading dock to contend with, easy in and out for those who tote their own displays.
I could do without the food prices and quality, but those are the things you live with on the road.
The area abounds in good hotels and food choices for dinner and is somewhat easy to get around in, as long as they are not working on the roads. We made more U turns then average due to the fact that the exit ramp we needed was blocked.
Grade on this show 9 out of 10 for location and facility
10/10 on administration of show
8/10 attendance and interest of our product.
Now its on to NTOA next weekend, Anyone going from NC and wants a ride, just yell at me
The show management will go over and above for the vendors, and the meet and greet after the 1st day is still something I look forward too all year. I also like the facility, flat, no loading dock to contend with, easy in and out for those who tote their own displays.
I could do without the food prices and quality, but those are the things you live with on the road.
The area abounds in good hotels and food choices for dinner and is somewhat easy to get around in, as long as they are not working on the roads. We made more U turns then average due to the fact that the exit ramp we needed was blocked.
Grade on this show 9 out of 10 for location and facility
10/10 on administration of show
8/10 attendance and interest of our product.
Now its on to NTOA next weekend, Anyone going from NC and wants a ride, just yell at me
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
It happened to me, a cautionary tale about Cree lights
So, a few weeks ago I bought some very High tech teeny tiny flashlights that had just come out. they are a tad bit larger than the AAA battery that powers them and they put out 62 LM for 48 mins, same light as the 1st surefire 6P models, you also can have 18lms for 4 hours or 1.5 for 48 hours. Looked well built, nice pocket clip and great light output. Took them to the trade show, even sold a few to some of the flashlight guys and others that had never seen them before.
Now, last night, it is a week later to when I got back, I am in the office at the house, "She who will be obeyed" (My significant other) is in the dining room on her lap top , about 70' away from me. I hear what sounds like a 22 magnum pop off, very loud sharp crack. I jump up and head down the hall to meet her coming towards me asking "what the hell did you do" Both of us were perplexed as to what made the noise, then proceeded to search the house for the culprit.
After 45 mins I look at the table in the dining room and saw that it looked like the surface had been covered with glitter, I picked up the flashlight and noticed that the lens was missing and the "glitter" I saw was glass particles.
The light was in the off position, and I was using an alkaline battery, as per the instructions.
could have been worse I guess, but still not a good thing. The flashlight uses a Cree xp-e Q5. I contacted the maker and they have never heard of this happening, I also called a friend who is one of the top flashlight designers in the US and he has never heard of it either. very strange happenings.
I am sending the damaged light back to the company, and another one I have to be tested by another company to see why this happened.
If you are running a flashlight with a Cree emitter, take care and watch out
I will update this when I have the reports back. I do not want to give the company name out until I hear back from them, hopefully this is a one time freak occurrence.
UPDATE 10/23/09
I received my light back last week. No note, no explanation or even a "kiss my butt" post it note in the envelope. I did contact the company by land line and was told that the battery I used ( I sent it with the light at their request) was a "cheap" battery and that I should only use "name" battery's. OK, I will admit that I threw in a CVS brand battery, that was made by Duracell I believe, but come on, the thing exploded, I mean it blew right the hell up.
Now I am fine with a company protecting itself from lawsuits, but to not even say "sorry it blew up guy, glad you didn't lose an eye" that is just sad, poor customer service in my thinking.
Maybe it's just me, but I would think if you sold something that had the potential to explode like a 22 short, you would give your consumers a little waring about it. I contact a company that is working with cutting edge flashlight designs and was told by their owner that they had heard of no other explosions like this happening to anyone else.
So, I should start a company testing stuff for consumers, because it seem like if it's going to have a catastrophic failure, I will be the one it happens to.
I am using the replacement light now, but I make sure when it is on the shelve, the cap is loosened all the way.
Only in my world would this happen.
Now, last night, it is a week later to when I got back, I am in the office at the house, "She who will be obeyed" (My significant other) is in the dining room on her lap top , about 70' away from me. I hear what sounds like a 22 magnum pop off, very loud sharp crack. I jump up and head down the hall to meet her coming towards me asking "what the hell did you do" Both of us were perplexed as to what made the noise, then proceeded to search the house for the culprit.
After 45 mins I look at the table in the dining room and saw that it looked like the surface had been covered with glitter, I picked up the flashlight and noticed that the lens was missing and the "glitter" I saw was glass particles.
The light was in the off position, and I was using an alkaline battery, as per the instructions.
could have been worse I guess, but still not a good thing. The flashlight uses a Cree xp-e Q5. I contacted the maker and they have never heard of this happening, I also called a friend who is one of the top flashlight designers in the US and he has never heard of it either. very strange happenings.
I am sending the damaged light back to the company, and another one I have to be tested by another company to see why this happened.
If you are running a flashlight with a Cree emitter, take care and watch out
I will update this when I have the reports back. I do not want to give the company name out until I hear back from them, hopefully this is a one time freak occurrence.
UPDATE 10/23/09
I received my light back last week. No note, no explanation or even a "kiss my butt" post it note in the envelope. I did contact the company by land line and was told that the battery I used ( I sent it with the light at their request) was a "cheap" battery and that I should only use "name" battery's. OK, I will admit that I threw in a CVS brand battery, that was made by Duracell I believe, but come on, the thing exploded, I mean it blew right the hell up.
Now I am fine with a company protecting itself from lawsuits, but to not even say "sorry it blew up guy, glad you didn't lose an eye" that is just sad, poor customer service in my thinking.
Maybe it's just me, but I would think if you sold something that had the potential to explode like a 22 short, you would give your consumers a little waring about it. I contact a company that is working with cutting edge flashlight designs and was told by their owner that they had heard of no other explosions like this happening to anyone else.
So, I should start a company testing stuff for consumers, because it seem like if it's going to have a catastrophic failure, I will be the one it happens to.
I am using the replacement light now, but I make sure when it is on the shelve, the cap is loosened all the way.
Only in my world would this happen.
__________________
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run, he hates that.
I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run, he hates that.
I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.
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