One of my buddies had a UWLD can, so I've seen them in a cave. They are undoubtedly good lights, but I'd question whether they are worth the 10x price premium, or nearly 500x premium over my handheld units.
.... I do think the domestic and name brand options are way overpriced.
Small US companies, or even big ones that make their gear in the US, are going to charge more, and they often earn praise and loyalty from their customers. Don't forget that part of what you're paying for is the design and production of a light that's designed for divers, BY divers. These people, especially small companies exclusively targeting the diving market, are determined to make the best product for the application and work hard in that endeavor. You're paying for an ongoing effort to make the best product, and the product you receive is the current iteration from the hands of well-paid, enthusiastic workers. As opposed to the mass manufacturing industries overseas that modify a product slightly and rephrase the name to "change" the application - which may be a good product in the end, but it seems short sighted to forget that the whole story is not just the end product.
Hello everyone. Anybody has any experience with those cheap chinese can lights? Price seems too good to be true. Should stick to something like dgx.
Retailers like DGX and DRIS sometimes receive support on these forums as if they were one of the companies like I allude to above, but in fact they are just a brand name that can afford to replace a bad light because of the markup on what they're selling you. While I prefer to buy from the companies that are essentially divers making gear for divers, when I do look for a cheap alternative, I try to find the best deal, knowing that there's going to be a middle man somewhere looking for a cut.
The question is, what do you
think you're paying for? Quality of product is only one part of the price tag, and you have to choose what other "features" you are OK paying for.
-brand name
-service/support
-employee conditions
-quality of product
-tradition of innovation
-reliability/accountability
DGX and DRIS both are well-liked online retailers, so we tend to trust them, but
you're really paying for the brand name, and I think they count on you assuming the rest comes with it, even though the product is not from them at all. I've only recently learned how easy it is to find their branded lights for less...I even found the
DRIS 1K and
1K shorty, and the
DGX 600 on amazon! What's shocked me, is the markup that DRIS puts on their lights, for the same light. Sure, they offer good service, but you could buy 2 or 3 of these lights from someone else for the same price, or you could buy one DRIS light and count on them to replace it if it breaks.
As for me,
I prefer to support Made in the USA/EU products by experts who give a damn and who are well-treated for their efforts. When I DO look for a cheap alternative, I try not to be fooled by the middle man who stamps their brand on a cheap product and then tries to sell it as an equal alternative. If I'm buying a cheap knock-off, I want to pay cheap knock-off prices.
