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Don't dismiss the value of NPT technology. Just because its a less expensive charger doesn't mean what it does is not valuable. Also make sure it IS an NPT charger - I've seen "Advanced Chargers" that look like the ones that I sell but are nothing more than peak chargers. I wouldn't pay more than $4 for a peak charger. In fact I have a box of about 10 of them in my basement that I wouldn't sell because I wouldn't want my name associated with them.
Also, a lot of these 'fuzzy logic' chargers (not all but many) do nothing more than delta-v cut off for the charge - something that is also a standard method of detecting when to shut off the main charge and go to trickle - a standard feature of even peak chargers. There is nothing 'fuzzy logic' in that, its calling a standard required feature something special and making money off it. I won't begin to rant on the ethics of that crap.
Thirdly, in my experience, most users don't spend the time to learn how to use an adjustable charger (one with the dial for amperage) and consistently charge their batteries on higher settings, destroying the chemistry of the battery and reducing its life significantly. If you're going to use one of those chargers (and I have one as well that I use for reconditioning purposes about once a year) you need to bloody well understand what you're doing.
You can have all the fancy flashing LEDS and displays in the world, but if you don't use the charger property and burn your batteries, a gizmo laden charger is a liability, just as a hot gun in the hands of an asshole is.
SIMPLICITY HAS VALUE.
I have all kinds of chargers in my house for airsoft (having collected many over the years) and I still use the NPT chargers the majority of the time so I don't have to babysit my battery or get the settings wrong and mess up the chemistry (and cook the battery). The computer chip in the charger picks the right charging conditions without me screwing with it. That has value to me.
As for price, well, thats my price on my website but you're free to shop around and if you get a better deal, by all means take it. I go to a lot of trouble to respond to people's questions, I sourced out the PROPER NPT charger and not a disguised peak charger (yes there are blue box peak chargers marked as NPT chargers!) and I have an unconditional one year warranty on all charger and battery products - ask anyone here who has had a problem and I've swapped out batteries and chargers at the drop of a hat. What you pay for from me when you pay the extra $10 or $15 bucks (add your customs and taxes in as well friends) is service, my expertise and the gaurantee of being taken care of in the event of a problem or malfunction. And since I've sent several chargers back to my supplier and gotten new ones months later, I know what their policy is on returns and it frankly sucks, especially at those profit margins, they have no interest in serving you the way I do. I use expedited shipping and ship same or next day - you don't wait weeks for my products to arrive at your doorstep. Plus my associate Bastards all over Ontario appear at games selling these same products at the same prices as what is on my website, making it even easier for you to get my product with no hassles. Finally, I am local and people know me, I'm not some nameless eBay site that might screw you. I have a track record for service and value. Personally I think thats worth the premium of what amounts to perhaps a 5 to 10% margin.
Sorry, these threads pop up every few months and I just get pissed off when I read them, especially when many of the self proclaimed 'experts' on this board tend to know fuck-all about what they're talking about or at worst are chairsofters talking out of the tops of their heads.
Have a Merry Christmas and stick a bag of Bastards under the tree for your favorite weekend warrior!
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