Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business

Posted by: paulr

Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/22/04 11:58 PM

CPF thread about it. Basically Arc made excellent lights but made a number of business mistakes and has had to shut its doors. It will be missed.
Posted by: RayW

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 01:30 AM

Should have known that something was going on when my Arc LS clickie switch fizziled out this afternoon.

Arc Flashlight will be missed.
Posted by: GoatRider

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 01:51 AM

And I never got one. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: Brad

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 04:46 AM

Man, I wanted a couple more of their lights too.

Sad to hear.

Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 01:51 PM

Wow I JUST sent my AAA-PE in for warranty replacement. I guess I had good timing! Phew!
Posted by: 03lab

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 02:09 PM

So it has been returned to you? IIRC all lights and parts have been seized. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 02:15 PM

Noooooooooo it hasn't ... um I'm calling right now!
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 02:18 PM

SON OF A @#$%& the number is disconnected! This is not good! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: Polak187

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 03:57 PM

This is another example of somebody who had a dream, went after it, and got brought down by all the stuff that you have to worry about when you have you own bussiness. I guess he was still trying to be the same nice guy he always been and that usually doesn't work out in the world of sales. His customer service was super excellent, warranty and product always top notch.

I have his AAA, AA, LS and A4+... I wanted to buy white AAA since mine is in UV.

Well all the best to Peter and his lady. Hope everything works out. And here's to good run and excellent equipment that he made. Cheers,
Posted by: frenchy

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 07:09 PM

Refer to the CPF thread mentioned in the first post :
Peter said :
".... - Our phone numbers no longer work.
- Our shipping address no longer works.
- The business email account will stop working in less than a month...."

In the last posts of this CPF thread, some people are arguing over the fact that everything has been seized, even lights belonging rightfully to customers (repairs aso..) and no longer to the society...
Maybe some action could be organized ....


P.S. : I only have an AA, stashed in a kit ....
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 08:10 PM

I am bummed. I have an LSH-P, and wanted to get an AA and AAA.
Too late!
Best wishes to Peter and Merri, they will be missed. Best customer service going.
Posted by: paulr

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/23/04 11:26 PM

RayW, if your LS switched fizzled, chances are the contacts are just fouled and can be cleaned. Instructions should still be on Arc's web site and arrangements are being made to host them elsewhere permanently after Arc's site shuts down.

The switch is a normal Kroll clickie and you can also buy replacements at
http://www.anlighten.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=48_55&products_id=65
Posted by: RayW

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/24/04 12:16 AM

Thanks Paul, i'm sure that it just needs cleaning. Have a spare kroll switch so i was just lazy and installed the spare.
Posted by: paulr

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/25/04 10:31 PM

Brian, please send email to Peter (gransee@arcflashlight.com) about your AAA PE. All the lights in the shop including those belonging to customers were seized by the landlord who is apparently holding them hostage. Peter is trying to get a list of everyone who had a light in the shop, and will do what he can to square things up. There's more about this over on CPF.
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/26/04 08:00 PM

Thanks I'll do it right now.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/30/04 12:28 PM

man, thats unfortunate. Best of luck to the guy..
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 09/30/04 07:47 PM

I sent the email and yesterday I got a reply that they are returning my light to me via USPS. I supposedly left their "office" on Monday so I should get it today or tomorrow at the latest. We'll see. Thanks for the advice!
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/06/04 03:55 AM

WOO HOO --- Got my light back!!! Now I just gotta figure out how to fix it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: paulr

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/07/04 06:16 AM

Glad you got it back. What's wrong with it? If you're not a CPF member already, you might enroll there and post to the Arc flashlights forum about it. Arcs are also selling for insane prices over there and on ebay. Even if yours can't be fixed, you can probably get more for the carcass (someone will want the metal parts) than you paid for the original light.
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/07/04 02:00 PM

I have a post in CPF about it right now. I thought about selling it but even with its flaw it's the best light I have ever owned!!! Can't seem to part with it. If youre curious about the problem I am having with it then check out my thread on CPF .
Posted by: bountyhunter

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/07/04 05:40 PM

Brian:

Read your post on CPF and need more info as I know nothing about Arc lights in particular but have dealt with mechanical things of all types most of my life.

I have a Maglight Solitare on my keychain with a twist CCW to turn on and tighten CW to turn off the light. The switch is a pressure sensitive membrane surrounding the perimeter of the bulb and its mounting holes.

If the Arc works in a similar fashion, I would look at the possibility of dirt not allowing the membrane switch to close, or bad engineering on the cap that does not have a deep enough flange in the caps interior to push on the membrane switch. The worst case scenerio would be a cheap contact material used in the membrane switch which is oxidizing.

If you get an answer that works, let me know how close I was to being correct.

Good luck!

Bountyhunter
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/07/04 09:10 PM

Thanks for the info. That makes sense too. I need to take a closer look at it. If I figure it out I will let you know how. If I can't then I'll break it down and post some high res pics so you can see what makes it tick.
Posted by: RayW

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/08/04 12:37 AM

The Arc AAA doesn't have a switch in the typical sense. When the head is turned it screws further into the barrel and makes contact with the battery. As long as you have cleaned the contacts in the bottom of the tube, the head, and the threads odds are that the electronics are the culprit. Good luck with repairing your Arc, and yes it is one of the best lights i have used too.
Posted by: brian

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/08/04 02:01 PM

What makes the connection between the top and bottom contacts? The tube itself?
Posted by: GoatRider

Re: Sad News: Arc Flashlight going out of business - 10/08/04 03:39 PM

That's how it works with all metal-bodied flashlights I've ever seen. Maglight included.