Lava Lite called me today!!! They plan on bringing back production to the USA :D

[MattMJB0188]

Caught me totally off guard but I spoke to a very nice guy, Asher.  He was calling in response to one my e-mails I had sent them a few moths ago about how much I dislike their current product line.  We spoke for about 20 minutes before he had to go.  I thoroughly voiced my opinions on why I haven't bought a lava product since 2005.  First thing I said was, you guys sold so many lamps in the 90s for a reason.  He agreed and said they have plans to re-launch the Midnight, Silver Streak, Elek-trick, and Safari Series in 2013.  He said he has been trying very hard to get production back to the USA since last year.  He said things are looking good and hopefully they will begin production here in the first half of 2013.

I told him that myself and MANY OTHERS would gladly pay the $50 price for a premium product again. I also mentioned that they need to bring back more color combinations and give their customers more choices.  He said he they are working on that again.  They have plans to bring back MOST of the 90s product line  I told him that its a shame I can't go into a store and buy a lava lamp that flows properly.  He said the current (2012) China lamps can ALMOST match the USA ones.  I said by no means will I ever buy one of those again and I buy from eBay.  He begged me not to buy from eBay, and I said then you know what you guys need to do.

Finally, he asked me to send him pictures of what I'd like to see.  I sent him pictures of all the 90s boxes I have (Midnight, Elek-trik, Lava Classics, Silver Streak, Midnight Centurues)  

He offered to make me a 90s Enchantress with yellow liquid and red lava to prove they can still replicate the 90s formula.  I said sure, but we'll see.  

He also said that he was fired back in 2002 when production began overseas and was just recently hired back.  Said he worked in the Chicago factory in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.  

I'm taking all of this with a huge grain of salt but it means progress.  Perhaps all of us unhappy lava collectors finally got through to them throughout the years.  I sure hope so.  I'll update this thread if I hear back from him.

PLEASE EVERYONE - E-MAIL THEM AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!!!  Perhaps next year we'll have a quality product again.  

[Keith]

I like pinholes, but I also like no pinholes.  It depends on where the lamp will be placed, so it's nice to have options.

Erin said:

That looks nice. Needs pinholes. When is this stuff being released?

[MattMJB0188]

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but that lamp looks like a typical China lamp.  Same old boring circular blobs.  I don't know why they can't bring back the Midnight Aristocrat???  Gonna take a lot more to get me to buy from them again.  Really  hoping productions returns here next year with great improvements.  

[MattMJB0188]

Lava Lite, 

This is how you need to restore flow.  This lamp has a date of April 1994 and is currently on eBay.

[Erin]

^^^ I want that lamp. :D

[MattMJB0188]

I want one just like that but in red/yellow.  But this is when they were the BEST.  Lava lite needs to look at that picture for an example.  

Erin said:

^^^ I want that lamp. :D

[Autumn]

The neon lamps will have neon wax with normal colored liquid. Most of the stuff should be carried in target first and then picked up later by spencers and walmart. Remember how target did the back to school thing? Yeah its like that this year too.

[Charles]

Erin said:

I wonder why they didn't use the correct formula when production when to China. That's what baffles me. They HAVE the magic formula, but didn't use it. I'm confused.

I did a search on the archives here about two years ago and found an interview with the then owners of Lava Lite. He claimed that they HAD to change the formula after 9-11 because of some of the chemical combinations that were in it.

If true, then how can they bring that formula back? If all we get out of USA manufacturing is clearer golf ball flow lava lamps I will not be buying them. I have a filter that solves the whole fog problem.

It's not WHERE the lamps are made, it's HOW they are made !  If they actually use the formula from the 90s EXACTLY the same it's like a dream come true. Actually, it sounds too good to be true.

[Dr. WHAT?!]

lol wow Charles that's some old info you found there again, I totally remember that lol. And if I recall correctly that letter was from Tim Haggerty? the grandson of the great haggertys who inherited the company and is the one who basically ran LL into the ground. He was the one who came up with these excuses since he was a complete moron and had no clue how to run a company. But I think LL has had 2? owners since then, the last being Dale, who is the only one whose had enough balls to face the music from collectors and is willing to change to back what they used to be. To me that shows love for what he does and that's what LL needs right now.

[WeeboTech]

Where is this post?

[Charles]

Talk is cheap, especially from the people who have been selling these lamps for the last decade. Yes, the names have changed, we have had new promises made (usually from marketing guys), but the result has been the same over and over again. I remember in 2010 they were supposedly sending people to the factory in China to do quality control but I also think they were claiming the lava formula never changed. I bought a few lamps in 2011 hoping to find that helped and nope - same old problems.

The fact that this new batch of promises are coming from someone higher up than a marketing droid is mildly encouraging - if they commit to bringing back the original USA formula EXACTLY as it was. I don't care if they make them in China, or Mexico, or wherever - its the formula that's the key problem.

[Charles]

I did a search today to find that original Haggerty interview and it didn't come up. I remember the dates on it were either 2004 or 2003. The thing that stuck out for me was the statement that they HAD to change the formula by law.

Something else I would not expect is more Grandes - aren't they supposed to be banned from making those 100 watt lightbulbs this year?

[Erin]

Here's the thread I think you're talking about: http://oozinggoo.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?b-gb/m-1195315797/

It's from 2007. 

The formula is the #1 thing that needs to be fixed. I don't care where they make them (great, if it's in the US), or what the new ideas are (bases, colors), but if the formula is crap, then I won't touch a new Lava Lite, ever.

Charles said:

I did a search on the archives here about two years ago and found an interview with the then owners of Lava Lite. He claimed that they HAD to change the formula after 9-11 because of some of the chemical combinations that were in it.

If true, then how can they bring that formula back? If all we get out of USA manufacturing is clearer golf ball flow lava lamps I will not be buying them. I have a filter that solves the whole fog problem.

It's not WHERE the lamps are made, it's HOW they are made !  If they actually use the formula from the 90s EXACTLY the same it's like a dream come true. Actually, it sounds too good to be true.