jayrob
0
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2007
- Messages
- 9,862
- Points
- 113
No longer selling complete lasers... (explanation below)
But I am selling DIY Build Kits & Heatsinks! (but you must turn the flashlight kit into a laser) See here: http://www.sonic.net/~jayrob/MXDL/
For a year or more, I have justified in my own mind that there is nothing wrong with a 'hobbyist' to basically 'trade' his work to other hobbyist's in order to have more of the same!
I have decided not to sell lasers anymore and feel that with the reputation I have built, I owe the forum an explanation. Perhaps if you see in a thread that someone is asking why, you can direct them here.
I will always love this great hobby and plan on still being an active member of LPF. I will be selling heatsinks and 'build kits'. I have several heatsink designs, and for build kits... my 'Pocket Mini Kit', and my 'DIY Green Kit'.
Reasoning: I started selling a build or two because I wanted money to help buy a $300+ blu-ray writer drive back before the PHR days. Then I needed another drive, because I messed up my first attempt!
Building and selling to other laser hobbyist's, became a way to fund my appetite for more and more lasers! I reasoned that 'I’m just a hobbyist, not a company'.
FDA: I once even called the FDA a few months back and you know what the guy told me?...
He asked if I was a company and I told him no, I'm a hobbyist. He then told me that they are concerned with laser companies, not hobbyists. So after that, I continued to justify in my own mind that it was ok to keep building and selling lasers.
Conclusions: Recently I read in a thread that even a 'hobbyist' is considered a 'manufacture'. Anyone making lasers for the purpose of sale. I did some more reading at the FDA site:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/radhealth/products/lpm.html
... I found this:
" What is the problem with more powerful Class IIIb lasers being promoted and sold as pointers?
Class IIIb hand-held lasers are too dangerous for use as pointers or amusement articles. Furthermore, promotion of Class IIIb or IEC Class 3B products for pointing or amusement violates FDA requirements and United States law. Manufacturers of such products may be required to repair, replace, or refund the purchase price of violative products distributed in the U.S. These products are also subject to detention and seizure by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection when imported."
So, I have decided that in good conscience, I will no longer be selling lasers. Although I will continue to build lasers for my own personal use and enjoyment. I personally, no longer justify selling them in my own mind.
[highlight]Important: I do not, in any way at all, wish for my personal decision to affect others. I have no problem with anyone selling lasers for what ever reason. And I will follow through with what ever deals that I have already promised... [/highlight]
Sincerely
Jay
But I am selling DIY Build Kits & Heatsinks! (but you must turn the flashlight kit into a laser) See here: http://www.sonic.net/~jayrob/MXDL/
For a year or more, I have justified in my own mind that there is nothing wrong with a 'hobbyist' to basically 'trade' his work to other hobbyist's in order to have more of the same!
I have decided not to sell lasers anymore and feel that with the reputation I have built, I owe the forum an explanation. Perhaps if you see in a thread that someone is asking why, you can direct them here.
I will always love this great hobby and plan on still being an active member of LPF. I will be selling heatsinks and 'build kits'. I have several heatsink designs, and for build kits... my 'Pocket Mini Kit', and my 'DIY Green Kit'.
Reasoning: I started selling a build or two because I wanted money to help buy a $300+ blu-ray writer drive back before the PHR days. Then I needed another drive, because I messed up my first attempt!
Building and selling to other laser hobbyist's, became a way to fund my appetite for more and more lasers! I reasoned that 'I’m just a hobbyist, not a company'.
FDA: I once even called the FDA a few months back and you know what the guy told me?...
He asked if I was a company and I told him no, I'm a hobbyist. He then told me that they are concerned with laser companies, not hobbyists. So after that, I continued to justify in my own mind that it was ok to keep building and selling lasers.
Conclusions: Recently I read in a thread that even a 'hobbyist' is considered a 'manufacture'. Anyone making lasers for the purpose of sale. I did some more reading at the FDA site:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/radhealth/products/lpm.html
... I found this:
" What is the problem with more powerful Class IIIb lasers being promoted and sold as pointers?
Class IIIb hand-held lasers are too dangerous for use as pointers or amusement articles. Furthermore, promotion of Class IIIb or IEC Class 3B products for pointing or amusement violates FDA requirements and United States law. Manufacturers of such products may be required to repair, replace, or refund the purchase price of violative products distributed in the U.S. These products are also subject to detention and seizure by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection when imported."
So, I have decided that in good conscience, I will no longer be selling lasers. Although I will continue to build lasers for my own personal use and enjoyment. I personally, no longer justify selling them in my own mind.
[highlight]Important: I do not, in any way at all, wish for my personal decision to affect others. I have no problem with anyone selling lasers for what ever reason. And I will follow through with what ever deals that I have already promised... [/highlight]
Sincerely
Jay
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