Any Word On China?

[Ouija]

Hi, not been in here really for over a year , But last time I was in LW Was in contact and was promising to sort out their dodgy flowing lamps and give us some new designs/ coils that would please us collectors. I am in the UK and I am afraid its just the same old stock here that you can buy. What was the outcome? Did they get back in contact? Videos of the new promised flow? Anything? Can't really find any info except for bashing threads. It was really a subject I was interested in. Thanks.

[Erin]

The short answer is no, it seems nothing has changed. The flow is still the same. Some lamps ARE clear, but some are hazy. The flow is slow, boring blobs. They did supposedly send a chemist over to China, but no one really knows if that's true or not. 

The new designs are the Designer series. You can see from reviews on here (and other sites like amazon.com) that people (at least us collectors) are not pleased. 

I have a video and review of the new Designer series here: http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/my-review-of-lava-lites-new

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPQyBXKaqVM 

And here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSlLvW0MGBk

Also, some more "new" China-made lava lamps here: http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/lava-lite-depresses-me-when-...

Some people don't mind the new lamps and have purchased and kept a few. Generally speaking, us collectors are not too fond of them. 

Sadly, Lava Lite has not been back in contact with Oozing Goo since that joined this site last year. But that's a story for another time. 

[Tim Gill]

Yea its the same old stuff really - yes some things are different such as lava world have developed electrical gadgets and some lava themed. -  UV lamps, plasma lamps etc and also new LED glitter lamps - these are ok.

As for the lava lamps they are bad - hazy, poor or no flow etc, they have been developing new and different bases with graphics and other designs (i.e. the 'designer series').

My advice would be avoid the globes at all costs, only buy if you are planning to dump the contains but the other electrical items are good.

I don't know what the future holds for Lava world but since they were brought out by there share holders, they have just focused at making the max amount of money and stuff everything else.

[Autumn]

Yup...it was a big disappointment. They were on the right track with everything but the formula. I honestly dont see them ever improving...and that makes me sad.

[kiramarie]

In General Goo I started a discussion called Voice Your Opinion..

I tried with no success to link it .. anyhow check it out. as it was justifiably blunt but far from a bash.. and many other members too voiced similar disappointment.

[kiramarie]

think I got it

http://oozinggoo.ning.com/xn/detail/1566398:Topic:304697

[Ouija]

That is such a shame, I would have loved to have heard about the processes and tests done in order to get the lamps going good. I bought a 8oz for a friend and he is happy with it, it does flow, but in the boring way. Such a shame that he is happy because he simply doesn't know any better, is it just us? Are we just too damn picky?

I am so sad :(

Such a shame their whole "We really care about our customers" speech was rubbish, kiramarie the replies in your thread were spot on, it is very obvious that we are a handful of people who seriously appreciate these lamps.

I have a horrible sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, lol. I am very proud to have Many Mathmos lamps, hopefully they will out live me.

[Erin]

I don't think we're too picky at all! I think their standards are too low.

[kiramarie]

I am resigned to this fact... there are loads and loads of forgotten gems out there,,, sitting in attics, basements and closets just waiting to be re discovered . Which in my opinion is probably better than most of the new lamps, even if lava did have clear fluid and great flow. So many of the newer lamp designs have a tween design and flimsy bases ( mini rocket) Older ones had style and grace, gorgeous flowing  pieces of art that have a unique beauty to them. I have oddly found success in a china made metallic lamp that comes in a few colors. They do have some sticking issues that time does seem to remove. And at least for me they are too small and bases ... well simply put no character and bland.  I am now currently mixing two of them to get a larger version that I have poured into some spare 32 ox LL bottles I have.   A project that is coming out fantastically . Other than that I will say unless there is a base I want out of the deal I will not buy current LL lamps.

I have a variety of lamps from here in the states, France, Germany and now the U.K.  as many  other members do also. So the knowledge that LL may never get right is not to depressing a fact for me anymore.. knowing that I will always be able to find a great new addition for my flow family out there . I also feel like this.. Quality over Quantity... Give my display 10 vintage stunners over 100 new boring cloudy blob ball making lamps any day.

Goodness a huge heartfelt NO to the are we are not too picky? .. we work hard for these little luxuries and we at one time believed in LL. Integrity on their end seemingly has been abandoned along with consideration for their biggest fans and supporters... us collectors.  

[MattMJB0188]

They will never change.  What they need to do is up their prices and bring production back to Chicago and make a quality product again.  No one is asking them to bring back the Century or Aristocrat or their best seller ever the Midnight lol.  They need to make the lava lamp cool again.  They were just extremely popular in the 90s.  So many shows featured 32oz lamps like Sabrina the Teenage Witch.  She had 3 three in her bedroom.  

The new designs on the new bases in my opinion seem too girly.  That's why I loved the Midnight and Silver Streak lamps because they could fit into any environment.  Anyway, I don't know why it is so difficult to re-create the formula from the 1994-1997 lamps and use it today.  So what if it costs more, just up your prices.  Obviously it worked for 37 years.  People had NO problem spending $45-$55 on lamps.  

They also need to STOP photoshopping and making their lamps look like crap on the packaging.  Why not take a real pic and post it on the box?  All the 90s lamps had real pictures on their boxes and on websites which made them look much more authentic.  

Just my 2 cents.

[Tim Gill]

Verry true - I think everyone agree with you on that.

They use lava graphics on there photos and packaging as they know there lamps are bad, thats how bad the situation is.

[Jack the Reefer]

I bought 3 new lava lites at Spencers when they had 25percent coupon. They were 50 or 52oz lamps 2 were clear liquid and the other had color.  One was and is cloudy, I still like cloudy it gives it a unique look, the other clear is pretty clear. The flow was boring, but with the change of temperature *I am not running the ceiling fan on hi* the lamp was more responsive, more small blobs. 

 

I had a Lava Lamp in the 70's that I spent many hours watching and that lamp would change with the temp. If you don't know what the old lamps were like you have no reference point. I had read the new lamps had issues but for 53 dollars I bought 3 large lamps. I can always dump the contents.

When I bought my first older lamp I could understand what everyone was saying, it was way better than the new ones. There are plenty of older lamps out there, and a lot of other quality merchandise that was made to last. Thats one reason I collect stereo equipment from the 70's, great quality, you can repair it, and its overengineered.  Once you hit the 80's quality started to go down, I guess the market shifted and the makers wanted more profit. Buyer be ware sometimes you have to pay for an education. 

The short answer is no, it seems nothing has changed. The flow is still the same. Some lamps ARE clear, but some are hazy. The flow is slow, boring blobs. They did supposedly send a chemist over to China, but no one really knows if that's true or not. 

The new designs are the Designer series. You can see from reviews on here (and other sites like amazon.com) that people (at least us collectors) are not pleased. 

I have a video and review of the new Designer series here: http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/my-review-of-lava-lites-new

Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPQyBXKaqVM 

And here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSlLvW0MGBk

Also, some more "new" China-made lava lamps here: http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/lava-lite-depresses-me-when-...

Some people don't mind the new lamps and have purchased and kept a few. Generally speaking, us collectors are not too fond of them. 

Sadly, Lava Lite has not been back in contact with Oozing Goo since that joined this site last year. But that's a story for another time. 

[Ouija]

You guys in the US have a great selection of vintage lamps, where as in the UK we have Mathmos that haven't changed all that much over the years, If the postage wasn't a killer I would love to own a Midnight, Century or especially a Wizard. So you are correct kiramarie, why bother about such low quality Lamps, when the US probably has more than enough vintage lamps to go around :)