Are you done stocking up?

DebiK

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I'm starting to wonder if I'm underestimating the durability of a sub $50 mod. Outside of damaging it (stripped threads, juice flooding, etc), how many folks have had one fail in less than a year?

I used a zmax and SID for over a year straight with no issues. I still have both but don't use them. My wife went through 4 itastes but they all failed because the internal batts really suck. Most of us are done with internal batts so that type of failure doesn't count.

My isticks are over a year old and working totally fine. They will die eventually when the won't hold a charge anymore.

Now I have a bunch of cloupors, picos, and vtc's. Each one (properly cared for) could have a potential life expectancy of much more than 1 year. Could one last 5 years of regular use? Hard to say. I suppose it's possible. The threads and fire buttons are probably the weakest spot. I wonder how hard it would be to replace a fire button?
That's something that is driving me crazy. Although I do have 2 mechs, I prefer regulated, TC, box mods. Trying to decide how long they will last and how many I will need is my biggest question. Sure, you see people posting that one quit working. But that could be for several reasons. (missed QC problem, bad board, etc, etc.) I do test my new ones for a few days before putting them away. But, I could be just one day away from a failure in that specific device. I simply cannot afford to buy dozens of mods. Nor do I want to. I'm hoping for 2 years on each. That's the best I can do. :confused:
 

rosesense

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    That's something that is driving me crazy. Although I do have 2 mechs, I prefer regulated, TC, box mods. Trying to decide how long they will last and how many I will need is my biggest question. Sure, you see people posting that one quit working. But that could be for several reasons. (missed QC problem, bad board, etc, etc.) I do test my new ones for a few days before putting them away. But, I could be just one day away from a failure in that specific device. I simply cannot afford to buy dozens of mods. Nor do I want to. I'm hoping for 2 years on each. That's the best I can do. :confused:

    I hear you. I am not worried, I think mine will outlast me :lol: but worse case scenario, there will probably be China or the 'Gold Market', lol. I say gold instead of black because some folks will rake it in.
     

    Eskie

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    That's something that is driving me crazy. Although I do have 2 mechs, I prefer regulated, TC, box mods. Trying to decide how long they will last and how many I will need is my biggest question. Sure, you see people posting that one quit working. But that could be for several reasons. (missed QC problem, bad board, etc, etc.) I do test my new ones for a few days before putting them away. But, I could be just one day away from a failure in that specific device. I simply cannot afford to buy dozens of mods. Nor do I want to. I'm hoping for 2 years on each. That's the best I can do. :confused:

    Unless you have unlimited resources, trying to buy even a dozen mods will mean buying cheaper ones, which will likely have shorter lifecycles to begin with. And if you do have unlimited resources, there is no guarantee your high end regulated mods will hold out indefinitely.

    I went with a mix. A few high end, DNA 200 mods, and several more affordable regulated mods like the Pico and CF IV 18650 (everything with replaceable batteries). To that, a few mech mods with kicks for at least a little protection. At least with the mechs the only things that can fail are the 510 and the fire button.

    As you said, there is only so much you can do. I'm reasonably confident with my choices, and I guess time will tell. I still expect there to be other ways of getting hardware in the future unless the entire world bans vaping, but that's not going to happen. It will just become more expensive to obtain.
     

    Bob Chill

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    Unless you have unlimited resources, trying to buy even a dozen mods will mean buying cheaper ones, which will likely have shorter lifecycles to begin with. And if you do have unlimited resources, there is no guarantee your high end regulated mods will hold out indefinitely.

    I went with a mix. A few high end, DNA 200 mods, and several more affordable regulated mods like the Pico and CF IV 18650 (everything with replaceable batteries). To that, a few mech mods with kicks for at least a little protection. At least with the mechs the only things that can fail are the 510 and the fire button.

    As you said, there is only so much you can do. I'm reasonably confident with my choices, and I guess time will tell. I still expect there to be other ways of getting hardware in the future unless the entire world bans vaping, but that's not going to happen. It will just become more expensive to obtain.

    Another good thing about #s is they help offset carelessness and theft. No reg mod is surviving a drop in salt water (learned that one last summer. lol) and sometimes people lose stuff. I lost a mod when it fell out of my backpack while hiking. Hopefully someone found it and used it. lol
     

    Eskie

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    I only have 2 mods I take out and about with me. Mostly my Plato, and sometimes my Pico. I already have 2 Picos so that wouldn't be the end, and I can still buy another Plato for another two years. Remember, everything currently on the market as of 8/8 will continue to be sold for another 2 years, although you might have to use different sources than you're used to if your favorite vendors shut their doors. As it gets closer to that 2 year mark, I'll take a second look at my stocks and add as required based on the 2 year lifecycle experience.
     

    Alien Traveler

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    I'm starting to wonder if I'm underestimating the durability of a sub $50 mod. Outside of damaging it (stripped threads, juice flooding, etc), how many folks have had one fail in less than a year?

    I used a zmax and SID for over a year straight with no issues. I still have both but don't use them. My wife went through 4 itastes but they all failed because the internal batts really suck. Most of us are done with internal batts so that type of failure doesn't count.

    My isticks are over a year old and working totally fine. They will die eventually when the won't hold a charge anymore.

    Now I have a bunch of cloupors, picos, and vtc's. Each one (properly cared for) could have a potential life expectancy of much more than 1 year. Could one last 5 years of regular use? Hard to say. I suppose it's possible. The threads and fire buttons are probably the weakest spot. I wonder how hard it would be to replace a fire button?
    I two years of vaping I did not had a single failed mod. For the first year I used exclusively Vamo (cheap mod), the same Vamo every day. It is still as a new one. Then I bought clone of iStick 30W and for a year it is my preferable mod, used about 60% of the time. Besides thinning black paint, no other singes of age, even battery is still strong. My other mods were not used as much and nothing went wrong with them.
    I do believe mods should work for rather long time if they are not heavily abused.
     

    GaryInTexas

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    I've had very good luck with my mods also only having a couple completely fail in over 3 years. My original Vamo V2 is still in occasional rotation. I keep several mods going for each day with different flavors on each. My plan has always been to attack in mass so I've tried to add another inexpensive but tested mod each month or two for the last 3 years. I've got a decent pile of Evic minis, Picos, Heatvape Invaders, Zmaxs along with misc other brands now along with freezer full of nic and feel pretty darn comfortable.
     

    bnrkwest

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    I am relying on my Provari's and Reo for long term. I figure 4 yrs on a Provari at least and just as long or longer on a Reo with replacement parts. My GLV's are the oldest and still work so know some things last well.
    Today I feel much more confident on my stash as a bunch more vape mail came in :)
     

    rosesense

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    I am relying on my Provari's and Reo for long term. I figure 4 yrs on a Provari at least and just as long or longer on a Reo with replacement parts. My GLV's are the oldest and still work so know some things last well.
    Today I feel much more confident on my stash as a bunch more vape mail came in :)
    I got vape mail, also. Along with the form to send to a vendor for sig requirements in WA state. Ugh, I hate gov regs.
     

    Down-Time

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    So I'm almost there, I think, and thinking of ordering some flavorings...but someone got the number of my cc and used it and now I have to wait while it's replaced! Grrr. I hate identity thieves.

    Sorry to hear this. It's SO frustrating! Happened to my husband 3 times in 4 months. Just as soon as the bank would replace it, it would get stolen again. No problem since they gave him a chip card. May be coincidence too. (Knocking on wood!)
     

    YoursTruli

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    It's kind of a crap shoot with regulated mods. I have internal battery ones that are still going strong 3-4 years later now and higher priced external battery ones that died within the year. My personal approach for regulated mods is to test out new buys for a while (before boxing them up for storage if that is what you are going to do) and rotate my stock regularly so nothing sits around too long unused. Although I have quite a few regulated mods I plan on using and enjoying them all.
     

    Fozzy71

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    Sorry to hear this. It's SO frustrating! Happened to my husband 3 times in 4 months. Just as soon as the bank would replace it, it would get stolen again. No problem since they gave him a chip card. May be coincidence too. (Knocking on wood!)

    chip cards ftw, though not sure they help with online purchases. For FTF purchases I refuse to swipe my card now if the store doesn't have the chip readers working. Obv this means I need to carry a few hundred in cash with me most of the time just in case, or at least make sure their chip readers are working before I grab what I am buying.
     

    b.m.

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    chip cards ftw, though not sure they help with online purchases. For FTF purchases I refuse to swipe my card now if the store doesn't have the chip readers working. Obv this means I need to carry a few hundred in cash with me most of the time just in case, or at least make sure their chip readers are working before I grab what I am buying.
    That's the problem i have here,a few places have the chip reader working,but most don't.Actually,i think Walmart is the only place i've been to around here that actually has it working.Even the post offices around here have it,but they have them taped over so you can't use them.
     

    Sugar_and_Spice

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    It is my understanding that the merchant is/will be responsible for any fraud since the whole chip thing became activated. I think the cc companies are wanting to pass responsibility on to them if they don't have working card readers. Something like this could cause massive headaches. Now, whether or not the cc companies will actually win this argument is yet to be seen, but I thought it might be worth a mention.
     

    Fozzy71

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    That's the problem i have here,a few places have the chip reader working,but most don't.Actually,i think Walmart is the only place i've been to around here that actually has it working.Even the post offices around here have it,but they have them taped over so you can't use them.

    I swiped my old card at a gas pump a few months back and got a notification on my phone for the transaction. 2 minutes later I got a transaction notification for a large purchase in a different state... That was likely a coincidence and it had been skimmed at an earlier date/time but I haven't swiped a card since.
     

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