Ok guys, so here's the deal.
Shortly after posting my disgust yesterday, the DHL driver showed up at my door with my Texas Laser Systems Order. (go figure)
But.....it wasn't exactly what I ordered.
Different in appearance, battery configuration, (batteries I ordered missing too.)
By the way, does anyone know if you can substitute a CR123A (3.0 volt) for a 16340 (3.6 volt) ?
I'm dying to try this thing, but had to re-order 16340 batteries. (from another vendor)
Hopefully the laser sent is the 1watt, blue one I ordered.
Well crap! I too am having some issues with my order from TLS. I made my order on the night of November 5th, 2012 (Monday) and today is the 15th of November.. so its only been 10 days since I ordered it. But from what I heard, they do something called 'drop shipping', meaning they don't keep anything in stock. I think what they do is, is whenever they get an order.. they then call that order into their supplier (probably in China) and order what the customer ordered from them.. or something very similar to what the customer ordered. So, I'm thinking that's why it takes so long for the order to arrive at its final destination.
I talked to a guy that does reviews for TLS and have been in contact with this guy for about a week now. He said that he wouldn't mind contacting TLS for me and checking on my order.. which, IMO.. is freaking cool! Not many people would do that for a total stranger. But, I'm not going to give the guy my order number or any sensitive information from my purchase because for all I know, this guy could be trying to redirect my order to his address!! LOL.. I doubt he would do that, but.. ya never know these days.
Anyhow, yeah.. TLS is definitely a weird place to shop. They never answer the phones, the never return phone calls and they also don't respond to any emails.
But, the guy I've been talking with that does reviews for TLS.. he said that it took two weeks or so for his to get to him.. but, then again, he didn't have to pay for it, because he's got some deal set up with TLS to where he gets freebies for doing product reviews for them (tls).
Anyhow, back to my experience so far.. I ordered their 200mw Adjustable Focus FDA Certified Red Laser -(its my first laser)- and its been 10 days now since I placed the order. So, I recently spoke with the guy that does the reviews for TLS (as well as other electronic companies/resellers) and I asked him if he would still be up to contacting his contact at TLS if my laser hadn't arrived on my doorstep by November 20th or November 21st (because that will be 14/15 days since my order was placed) and he said sure, he wouldn't mind doing that. So, yeah.. he's a really cool cat as far as I can tell. But again, with the internet.. ya never can be 100% with things like this.
But yeah, TLS is definitely different on how they do things. I personally don't think they're a scam.. they're just a drop-shipping company basically.
I'll know for sure if they're legit or not though.. by around the 20th or 21st.. and I'll definitely come back and let everyone know how things are going on those two dates and possibly before if my laser arrives before then. Which, I'm really hoping it does because this is my first laser! Well, first high-powered laser, and I'm extremely anxious to get it.
Anyhow, yeah, I'll keep everyone informed on the status of my order and how things go.
Take care ppl.
-peace.
