Do smart Astros still have a problem?

[Anson Cheung]

Because I'm planning to buy one.  Do they still have bubbles in goo?

[Arne]

The thing is if people get a lamp that clouds over time it might be "good enough" but if people have a perfect lamp for ages (I have 70's bottles which are clear...I mean crystal clear!) they recommend it to friends or say "hey...why not get another one, this is jsut so great! I've actualy ran my first telstar which I got when I was 14 for 24 hours a day and that for 1,5 years...only break was when the bulb blew. Ok, the wax was totally transparent after this treatment but it was still fucking crystal clear...if thats not a statement for quality, I dont know what else is!

[Tim Gill]

I think we really should group together as enthusiasts and people who regularity buy lava lamps and know what consumers want and what real quality is and the history of the item. (This is something which may be being over looked) and try to get Mathmos to not just see us as a bunch of lava nerds who are pestering them but as a resource that could be used to grate advantage.

I don't know why they lost the formula (or this is just a rumour) to the glitterball and the princess etc. Eather only Craven Walker knew it and he took it to the grave (I don't think so) or they really did lose it by computer error, human error etc.

Yes substances do increase in cost especially as if they are a deritive from oil but that doesn't mean axing them. - You just have to put the price of the lamps up to reflect this. I can understand if a substance becomes illegal then that's another matter - a alternative just has to be found.

I think the big difference between Mathmos and Lava Lite is that as far as I can see Mathmos CEO / director does care more and isn't stupid enough to move the lava manufacturing to China.

If they are mixing the formula in a small vat by hand then that's probably where the problem lies - why they are doing that I don't know. - It may be down to new items such as the smart astro, tucroise / clear etc. This problem hasn't always been hear so it indercates that its a change in production that's causing the issue.

[Erin]

I don't know that Mathmos lost the formula, but I do wonder if Lava Lite did. Right around the year 2002, you'd see weird flow/haze issues with globes. Then, when production went to China, the wax and/or liquid changed. 

However, even if Mathmos is making smaller batches, they should be able to figure out percentages of ingredients. And they should be testing them when there's a formula change, even if that change is size of mixing vat.

Unfortunately, what I saw with Lava Lite was this: what's most important? Sales. What helps sales? Low cost. And most people who bought/buy newer (post 2002) lava lamps don't know what they used to be, and even some people do, and still buy the new ones anyway. Their sales are alive and well and they produce a less-than-spectacular product. So, even despite all our whining (and all their complaints on their Facebook page), Lava Lite still sells. There even seem to be a lot of people who actually LIKE their product (don't ask me how). So, in Lava Lite's eyes, hey they pissed off a few hardcore collectors, but we've still got this 80% here who will still buy our crap. AND, like you said Mathmos' CEO does care - Lava Lite's does not. 

I know Mathmos already sources most of their items to China. Will the lava lamp be next? I sure as shit hope not. We've already lost Lava Lite, I hope Mathmos doesn't follow suit. It's amazing how many people here are so passionate about these lamps; I just hope Mathmos doesn't lose sight of that. 

[Autumn]

I am not so sure about buying a smart astro now... I will be really mad if I blow $180 on a bad lamp.

Oh and I just checked. Looks like their website is live.

http://mathmos.us/groovy-lamps-c-128.html

Prices are up. "We offer free shipping on all orders over $99 within in the Continental USA."

So it looks like I will only be paying about $130. Yay.

[Alfred]

Nice! The site is in a weird state right now, though. The product list says "Comming Soon", but it let me go to checkout with a Smart Astro. The only problem is, there's no way to select the color right now. (Oddly, other lamps do have a color selection menu.)

I can't wait to get some factory US wired lamps, for less than it costs to ship from the UK!

Autumn said:

Oh and I just checked. Looks like their website is live.

http://mathmos.us/groovy-lamps-c-128.html

Prices are up. "We offer free shipping on all orders over $99 within in the Continental USA."

So it looks like I will only be paying about $130. Yay.

[Arne]

Well I'd say with a huge market like the us it's even more important to have a flawless product or complaints and shipping cost for cloudy, sticky, shitty products will kill them in the end...let's hope they have an open ear for us...will be for their own best! Ok fellow "lava nerds" it's 5.30 am here, gotta rest my weary head...talk tomorrow and I'll write a suggestion for a letter which we can work on/with...See ya

[Erin]

I don't think they should have released the site until it was 100% ready. Esp since their big draw (I would imagine) WILL be their lava lamps. Looks like they've still got some work to do on that site with images, etc. It's not quite ready yet... 

Oh well. I'll wait patiently. Again. 

[Gandhiman]

I´ve been bitching about my defective 3 months old Smart Astro for too long, and contacted Mathmos yesterday, they´re sending me a new base, unfortunately I have to wait until march... Autumn, I think mine was a second generation, since i bought it in november direct from Mathmos, but I´m not 100% sure.

[Autumn]

Well now that they finally got their USA site up I will wait for them to start selling here before I buy one. At least then if it dies I can get a replacement.

Gandhiman said:

I´ve been bitching about my defective 3 months old Smart Astro for too long, and contacted Mathmos yesterday, they´re sending me a new base, unfortunately I have to wait until march... Autumn, I think mine was a second generation, since i bought it in november direct from Mathmos, but I´m not 100% sure.

[Anson Cheung]

We learnt something here, guys: Never trust a electronic lava lamp

Autumn said:

Well now that they finally got their USA site up I will wait for them to start selling here before I buy one. At least then if it dies I can get a replacement.

Gandhiman said:

I´ve been bitching about my defective 3 months old Smart Astro for too long, and contacted Mathmos yesterday, they´re sending me a new base, unfortunately I have to wait until march... Autumn, I think mine was a second generation, since i bought it in november direct from Mathmos, but I´m not 100% sure.

[Arne]

If it doesnt have the limited number below it most certainly is a gen 2

Gandhiman said:

I´ve been bitching about my defective 3 months old Smart Astro for too long, and contacted Mathmos yesterday, they´re sending me a new base, unfortunately I have to wait until march... Autumn, I think mine was a second generation, since i bought it in november direct from Mathmos, but I´m not 100% sure.

[Tim Gill]

I know Mathmos already sources most of their items to China. Will the lava lamp be next? I sure as shit hope not. We've already lost Lava Lite, I hope Mathmos doesn't follow suit. It's amazing how many people here are so passionate about these lamps; I just hope Mathmos doesn't lose sight of that.

I understand why Mathmos out sources there items to China - its cheaper to produce then hear, and i have to say that they do keep a eye on there products from there and they are good quality. For me I don't mind if there electronic items are made in China.

I think mathmos will keep the lava production in the UK - they arnt that stupid to let to go to China where it could go out of control and also it could be subject to copying by people selling off the recipe to make a quick buck.

I think really we have to keep oure eye on this and if nessary start getting Mathmos attionchion if things start going bad.

also mathmos know that they make a quilty lava lamp and they intent to keep it that way and they know that the best way of doing that is to keep it hear in the UK - yes they can let other stuff be made in china but a item which costs a lot to make in relation to the profits needs to be kept under control - that's something mathmos know and lava lite completely failed at.