Authentic/Clone Prices
- Thread starter Gilligan
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Crap is cheap. However, everything does boil down to crap, in the end. So some crap is just more costly than other crap.
All these threads should be archived in designated folders for easy access. Then we could point to references showing all the reasons and debates............that happen repeatedly every month or so.
Seconded.All these threads should be archived in designated folders for easy access. Then we could point to references showing all the reasons and debates............that happen repeatedly every month or so.
I have no issue with people selling clones, as long as they sell them as clones and not originals. I think people should buy originals if they want them and can afford them. I think people should buy clones if they prefer. I think that people that buy originals shouldn't feel morally superior to those that don't. I think people that buy clones shouldn't call others names for "wasting" money.
I've bought both. When I started out, I bought more clones because I was still trying to find my niche, and I didn't want to spend a lot of "original" money on things that I would end up not liking. Now I am pretty much in a groove, and I am buying mostly authentics.
Clone or authentic, as long as it makes you happy and keeps you off the smokes. It's not a competition or a popularity contest.
All these threads should be archived in designated folders for easy access. Then we could point to references showing all the reasons and debates............that happen repeatedly every month or so.
I know, right?
With all the new vapers getting I to the scene, expect a lot more in the near future.
You know how ECF rolls, they will just make another sub forum or three
As for the topic at hand:
I have a $30 IGO w 6 quad coil RDA.
It's not a clone. It's not $100.
It absolutely destroys every quad coil RDA I've ever seen or used.
It doesn't cost a fortune to build a solid original high quality atomizer.
There are no "R&D" costs. None of this is new or proprietary design beyond aesthetics.
economy of scale. if i only build one single mod, i still have to cover design time, equipment, labor, testing, etc. not to mention materials costs will be larger for smaller quantities (think mom and pop shop vs costco). much easier to spread the costs out if i build a million pieces and automate.
that being said, it definitely got a little ridiculous with the "authentic" tube mech mods. poldiac i understand (as you can see by my pic), but how someone can charge (or pay) $200+ for a metal tube with a simple bottom switch is beyond me.
that being said, it definitely got a little ridiculous with the "authentic" tube mech mods. poldiac i understand (as you can see by my pic), but how someone can charge (or pay) $200+ for a metal tube with a simple bottom switch is beyond me.
As long as there are people willing to spend their money on over priced stuff, over priced stuff will always be around.
Some mods are higher quality and I can see paying extra for that, but $100 extra?!?
Hell look at some of those unregulated box mods, store bought case, store bought battery tray, store bought button, store bought 510 connection...maybe $25 worth of stuff(and that is a high estimate)...and they put it all together and solder a few wires and sell it for $125+
Some mods are higher quality and I can see paying extra for that, but $100 extra?!?
Hell look at some of those unregulated box mods, store bought case, store bought battery tray, store bought button, store bought 510 connection...maybe $25 worth of stuff(and that is a high estimate)...and they put it all together and solder a few wires and sell it for $125+
My opinion: I'd happily buy a clone over an authentic for four reasons. 1) Most clones work just as well, sometimes, better than the authentic. 2) I know it's a clone and it might end up being a pile of crap. 3) It's cheap so I won't feel bad loosing out on $20-30 (or less) if it turns out to be a pile of crap. 4) I'd be mad as hell if I dropped $120+ on an "authentic" that either turned out to be a relabeled clone or a pile of crap.
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If it weren't for the clones on Fasttech I would never have been able to enjoy the great vaping I do - in style! (you can take that as a pun if you are familiar with Fasttech jargon ) I received a red copper Akuma mod yesterday - so beautifully made and such great conductivity - all for $20 delivered to my door. The original costs $220 plus shipping, and customs duties in my case. I think it's a no brainer.
) I received a red copper Akuma mod yesterday - so beautifully made and such great conductivity - all for $20 delivered to my door. The original costs $220 plus shipping, and customs duties in my case. I think it's a no brainer.
Buy what you like but instead of acting arrogant or ignorant though try to always remember. Without all those people who first made the "overpriced authentic" fasttech wouldnt have an ecig section.
In no way am I saying buy one, im just saying have at least some respect for the people who actually do bring devices to the market.
If there was no kayfun, there sure wouldnt be 50 clones, and pretty good chance none of these kayfun like tanks either.
So remember, in every case there is someone who wasted their time designing and testing and re making something just so it can end up on fasttech 3 months later for 20 bucks and 3/4 of the people who like it will also say " I would never buy an original" pretty much spitting in the designers face.
" love your mod thanks, gonna pay china for it instead though, sorry you cant pay your electric, whens the next one coming so I can check gearbest?"
I own both, but things I really like I usually swing some cash to the authentic manufacturer as a thank you and a sign of respect and to show I want more.
In no way am I saying buy one, im just saying have at least some respect for the people who actually do bring devices to the market.
If there was no kayfun, there sure wouldnt be 50 clones, and pretty good chance none of these kayfun like tanks either.
So remember, in every case there is someone who wasted their time designing and testing and re making something just so it can end up on fasttech 3 months later for 20 bucks and 3/4 of the people who like it will also say " I would never buy an original" pretty much spitting in the designers face.
" love your mod thanks, gonna pay china for it instead though, sorry you cant pay your electric, whens the next one coming so I can check gearbest?"
I own both, but things I really like I usually swing some cash to the authentic manufacturer as a thank you and a sign of respect and to show I want more.
Depends on how you look at it. Take a 200 piece run on a $50,000 machine bought solely for the purpose of making that run. Exclude all material and labor costs and you will have recouped the cost of the machine at 250 bucks per unit. Personally I call it bad business practices.
I am not much into history of vaping (relatively new vaper), but as I understand there were only two major developments in tanks - Kayfun and Taifun. Yes, I respect these people, but not their business practice. I believe everything is secondary (I can be wrong on this), and no real developments in mech mods with exception of REO (mechs are still flashlights). I am not sure who was the first with VV, may be Chinese? Not too much of intellectual effort besides already mentioned.
3 months? Maybe if they're sleeping at the wheel. Usually inside of 2 weeks from release, you can get a clone. We've even seen the clone beat the authentic to market. I don't care what anyone else uses but I agree that the arrogant and obnoxious on either side of the argument make for entertaining page turners on here.
And there we have one major sticking point.
Who buys $50,000 worth of equipment for for the sole purpose of making a run of only 200 units?
That's an imaginary scenario, and an incredibly bad business plan, that I don't believe exists outside of fantasy.
Guaranteed 100% to fail.
No one with $50,000 to invest would be that foolish.
It should be overly obvious why.
Most modders already have access to the machinery, or hire a shop to do the actual machining.
I couldn't agree more. I have a client purchasing a CNC machine this year. Hopefully he takes me up on my offer of discussing a business plan before he goes of and just buys it. The whole key is the unit runs. Quite frankly people are willing to spend that much on a device which in turns keeps the plan moving. There is no incentive to try and "cut costs". The chinese proved you can make a high unit run and still turn a profit. I would never pay 200 bucks for a tube and a switch. I can get a decent authentic device (I prefer regulated) for under 50 bucks, an authentic RTA for under 20, and authentic RDAs under 10.. They all work great.
My response was in regards to the question on how someone could get the price to equal the cost of a mech mod. I had to be imaginary quite frankly because there is no way a tube with a switch should cost 250 even with design/materials/labor.
kinda seems $250 mechs are overpriced, eh? The only ones I would ever say are worth the amount you spend are the handcrafted Otto Carvers because you are paying for his design. Even at some of the prices for the Carver's it is still a bit high.
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I think the Darwin (Ohio) was the first VV or actually VW.. The kick may have predated VV devices.
Why the difference? Because the Chinese can't create anything original. They just are able to make copies with very cheap labor. Yeah, ok, so they invented the Great Four - papermaking, the compass, gunpowder and printing. And they were the first civilization to utilize natural gas. And the noodles that make our italian food so delicious. And they lead the way with rice and soybean cultivation. And they invented the banknote, the chopsticks, the drive belt, fireworks, the helicopter rotor, the horse harness, nail polish, lacquer, kites, multiple entertaining board games, rocket bombs and the rocket launcher. But beyond that, they are just copiers! Filthy, stealing copiers! Wait, they gave us tea and toilet paper (Thank you China!), Tofu (No thank you China!), tung oils, and...um...well shyte this is embarrassing....they invented the electronic cigarette. But Americans made them great! Well, not just Americans. The English, Greeks and former Soviet block countries made them great! Not the Chinese (or Canada - Canada gave us nothing, as usual). Like pizza, we took their good idea and made it great! Long live America!
No offense but most of the "authentuic"tube mech are all clones of each other, not necessarily exact replicas but definite clones. Similar to toasters. Slap on a design no one else has and call it an authentic.
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