Went on the site and started talking to the live support. Saved the full transcript if anyone can be arsed to pick through it all. Here's the key bits:
[Visitor] is your company directly affiliated with Wicked Lasers?
[Steven J.] we are the only other provider of WL models, we offer other brands as well, we're the sole distributor, we're an American company in NY, they're chinese, and we offer full time tech/sales support unlike others
[JaiNobeZ] so how did you get the older models? are they still being manufactured?
[JaiNobeZ] or is this just old stock?
[Steven J.] we have an arrangement with them, only we will be offering the classic models and they ship 2-4 business days to receive or so
[Steven J.] supplies are limited, first come first ship
[JaiNobeZ] ok, and after these ones are sold no more will be manufactured?
[Steven J.] nope, not under the current plans, they're rare indeed and won't be around after they sell out
[Steven J.] all perfect brand new condition in the box fresh of course
...
[JaiNobeZ] i've read a lot of bad press about your company
[Steven J.] well, we're for real, see any bad press on wickedL?
[JaiNobeZ] while most of it is quite old, there are lots of recorded cases of people not receiving their lasers
[Steven J.] thousands of times ours, honestly you can't please everyone
[Steven J.] we're always here for support, real support, phone live chat or email
[Steven J.] been in business for 5 years
[Steven J.] a few bad apples, really slander and conjecture, yes and that was from some times back as well from WickedL shipping issues
[Steven J.] people don't realize they can chargeback card purchases , and if we were a scam we couldn't legally stay in business the past 5 years
[Steven J.] but yea LPF, they don't like us or wickedl
[Steven J.] feel the market is cornered
[Steven J.] i suppose
[JaiNobeZ] so you feel you don't deserve the bad reputation?
[JaiNobeZ] and do you think Wicked deserve their bad reputation after the Arctic incidents?
[Steven J.] nope not anymore, we have thousands of happy customers with trackings and receivals to boot
[Steven J.] sure but bad reputations shouldn't last a life time
[Steven J.] especially when things are worked out now
[Steven J.] its the only source for WL models, and they are so popular takes a few weeks to receive
[Steven J.] classic models ship 2-4 days receive though.
...
[JaiNobeZ] you have a good selection, i like it...
[JaiNobeZ] what power meter do you use?
[Steven J.] try to offer the widest variety possible to meet any needs
[Steven J.] coherent
[Steven J.] all tested before shipping
[JaiNobeZ] ok
[JaiNobeZ] and when you ship an Arctic, do you use the stock goggles or do you provide a different pair?
[Steven J.] the stock goggles included standard really
[JaiNobeZ] do you test them before shipment?
[Steven J.] all are tested before shipping, less than .1% have an issues upon receival
*shrugs*
Somewhat reassured me. Hopefully this'll all turn out well and we'll have a new source of nice models of laser.
