Quick question on a 5mw Blue-Violet

I'm not one to buy some of the larger pointers or make my own, but I picked up a 5mw Blue-Violet about a month and a half ago. When I got it, it seemed defective to me. I've since RMA'd it and am on my third one.

The question I have here is, am I correct in saying this is defective?

This is the problem. The specs say the dot should be roughly 6mm at 10 meters.
I see it hit 6mm at 10 inches. When I shine it one something a few feet away, I see what looks like a pattern, best way I can explain it is if the beam wasn't focused or something and was crossing over itself or something. Really not sure how to explain it, but at 10 meters, the "dot" is 2 inches wide or more.
In my opinion it looks like the beam is doing this ><, though at a much smaller angle. Like it crosses over itself and gets larger rather quickly the farther away it goes.

I don't have anyone here to help me take a picture since a camera won't pick it up unless it's a good distance away.

Thanks for any advice or help you can give me.

Yeah it really shouldn't do that.

Where are you getting these lasers from?

Thinkgeek.com

I buy other things from them, it was on sale, I figured "why not, I like purple"
I talked to them today in some hope of getting them to check their stock, because this can't just be coincidence.

ispano said:

Thinkgeek.com

I buy other things from them, it was on sale, I figured "why not, I like purple"
I talked to them today in some hope of getting them to check their stock, because this can't just be coincidence.

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The purple lasers they sell are very high quality CNI lasers, assuming yours in the same as the one pictured. ThinkGeek :: Blue Violet Laser Pointer

That is really strange that your having issues with them. Right now the site says out of stock?

Yes that's the one.
Honestly when I got the second one I could have sworn they just sent the first back by mistake, but this third one ha a black casing over the dark blue the other two had. The first two also seemed to have the diode or whatnot off-center and it hit the side of the opening in the end, which is what I originally thought was causing the issue.

ispano said:

Yes that's the one.
Honestly when I got the second one I could have sworn they just sent the first back by mistake, but this third one ha a black casing over the dark blue the other two had. The first two also seemed to have the diode or whatnot off-center and it hit the side of the opening in the end, which is what I originally thought was causing the issue.

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Yeah that seems really odd. At least thinkgeek is trying to fix the problem for you.

Ugh got a "FIX MY COMPUTER!" call just as I put that in.
Forgot to add that this third one doesn't hit the side yet still has the problem, leading me to believe it's the diode or somesuch. But yeah I hope they figure something out. Glad it wasn't for a gift, 1.5 months already.

Turns out thinkgeek has had issues with them, hence why they're in stock but not available for sale. They have no timeframe for if they get them back in. Guess it's refund for me

ispano said:

Turns out thinkgeek has had issues with them, hence why they're in stock but not available for sale. They have no timeframe for if they get them back in. Guess it's refund for me

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Hey atleast now you can get a nicer laser?

As in? I've been able to afford much more than that, but I like purple.

ispano said:

As in? I've been able to afford much more than that, but I like purple.

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Like check out laserglow.com they have very nice purple lasers of various power?

Yeah, you shouldn't link places like that to me. I start getting ideas

EDIT: Know of any other good places? XD