Buying used Provari - What to look for????

[Garemlin]

Looking at picking up a used Provari. Want a tube mod for around the house for my bigger tanks that are a little awkward on my MVP's. First not knowing alot about the Provari's what version should I look for??? Also anything I should look for in buying a used one other the abuse??? Are the warranties transferable??? Figure I might as well get something decent that lasts instead of wasting money on all of these tubes that don't seem to last. But don't wanna end up burnt on a bigger purchase either.

 

[p.opus]

Warranties are not normally transferrable. If the seller has a receipt that he got from a B&M that he can send you, I guess you could claim you are the original owner, but you usually don't need to worry about that.

ProVape is pretty good about supporting their gear and if it is less than a year old, a quick explanation to them usually gets you a sympathetic ear. But even if you don't get a free repair, you still can get a paid for repair, and the most expensive repair is a board replacement at $65.00 so the repairs are more than reasonable.

I looked in the classie you are responding to and you will be very happy. Most issues with ProVari's show up within the first couple months of ownership and if it's lasted that long it's going to last a while.

Don't be surprised if some of the shine comes off your MVP's. You'll still love them, but they'll be second fiddle.

I've had several transactions here on the classies and they have gone off without a hitch. I think you'll be very satisfied.

Just be sure to have the seller provide you an invoice so that your purchase is covered by paypal. Don't be a buddy and "save him" from paying the transaction fee by just sending money to a friend. Your buyer protections are void at that point.

 

[Garemlin]

Yup I know to cover myself for sure. Been dealing online for over 17 years.

So is there anything I should look for in regards to red flags when buying a used one?

What are the major difference between the different versions?

And my MVP's seem to get used the majority of the time with ego toppers. I pretty much want a tube mod for my bigger 510 toppers like the nautilus and my upcoming adventure into KFL land.

Tap'd from my LG G2

 

[p.opus]

Yup I know to cover myself for sure. Been dealing online for over 17 years.

So is there anything I should look for in regards to red flags when buying a used one?

What are the major difference between the different versions?

And my MVP's seem to get used the majority of the time with ego toppers. I pretty much want a tube mod for my bigger 510 toppers like the Nautilus and my upcoming adventure into KFL land.

Tap'd from my LG G2

The differences are mostly cosmetic.

V1 and V2's look nearly identical. Both have the name "painted" on the side of the device and have the vertical grooves in the device on the handle. The difference between a v1 and v2 is that a V2 can handle 3.5 amps where as a v1 can only do 2.5 amps. You can always send a v1 into ProVape for an upgrade to v2 for $20.00. Very few V1's are for sale anymore, but the only way to tell is to ask.

The V2.5 has the "crop circles" on the handle instead of the vertical lines and and the name is "pressed" into the tube instead of painted.

All Mini's are atleast V2. The V2 mini has the name painted on the side, the V2.5 has the name engraved on the side.

The only "red flag" I would have raised is the V1 and V2, but since you can upgrade the V1 to V2 for a nominal fee, it's not a big deal.

There are no real "lemon" models of the provari, so you're good there. I usually prefer buying ones that are not "j-wrapped" since wrapped units may hide scratches in the finish. But even there, the wrapped ones that show heavy use, are going to be priced accordingly.

You have very little to worry about. These things really are built like tanks and any damage you get on them is usually cosmetic.

I put more faith in a beat up ProVari then I would put in a brand new Sigelei or Smoketech

 

[Garemlin]

Thanks P. So what world be a fair asking price for a used Provari??

Tap'd from my LG G2

 

[p.opus]

It's an "ok" price. Would be much better if he had batteries or an extension cap. That's why it's still not sold.

I just sold a Blue Standard with extension cap and a leather holster for $180. That's what I paid for it from the classies three weeks ago. Mine sold in less than 15 minutes. But satin blue is discontinued, a new "painted" ProVari is 179 without the extension cap, so I included the cap (20 bucks) and holster for free.

A V1 ..... 100 to 130.
A V2 ...... 130 to 150.
A V2.5.... 150 to 180.

You're going to be limited by the fact that ProVape sells the silvers brand new for 159.00 and the painted ones for 179.00 with free shipping. So if you are paying close to retail for a "slightly used one" you usually have the seller throw in an extension cap or batteries to value add the deal.

He's asking 150 with shipping included and adding some juice so that's "ok". Realize you could get a brand new one from ProVape for $159.00 and free shipping. So you have to determine if free juice and 9 bucks is worth possibly not having a full warranty on the product.

 

[Garemlin]

It's an "ok" price. Would be much better if he had batteries or an extension cap. That's why it's still not sold.

I just sold a Blue Standard with extension cap and a leather holster for $180. That's what I paid for it from the classies three weeks ago. Mine sold in less than 15 minutes. But satin blue is discontinued, a new "painted" ProVari is 179 without the extension cap, so I included the cap (20 bucks) and holster for free.

A V1 ..... 100 to 130.
A V2 ...... 130 to 150.
A V2.5.... 150 to 180.

You're going to be limited by the fact that ProVape sells the silvers brand new for 159.00 and the painted ones for 179.00 with free shipping. So if you are paying close to retail for a "slightly used one" you usually have the seller throw in an extension cap or batteries to value add the deal.

He's asking 150 with shipping included and adding some juice so that's "ok". Realize you could get a brand new one from ProVape for $159.00 and free shipping. So you have to determine if free juice and 9 bucks is worth possibly not having a full warranty on the product.

Oh wow. I didn't realize you could get a brand new silver for $160 shipped. I hadn't looked in a while. Color is irrelevant to me as it will get wrapped from the get-go just to keep it looking new.

Are the batteries and chargers they sell ok or would I be better going to RTD for those??? Extended warranty worth the price???

 

[p.opus]

Oh wow. I didn't realize you could get a brand new silver for $160 shipped. I hadn't looked in a while. Color is irrelevant to me as it will get wrapped from the get-go just to keep it looking new.

Are the batteries and chargers they sell ok or would I be better going to RTD for those??? Extended warranty worth the price???

Batteries and chargers they sell are good. The AW IMR is usually recognized as the best high drain battery you can get. Of course I went to Amazon and got two eFest IMR 18650's for $15.00 shipped. Some people swear by AW, ProVape of course recommends it. I run both AW and E-Fest in mine and don't have issues, but the AW's may last a little longer between charges. The important thing is that you get IMR button top batteries. IMR is a high drain battery chemistry which is required for the PWM in the ProVari to operate correctly.

Button tops are required since ProVari's reverse polarity protection is "physical" in that the positive post of the board is indented so that flat top batteries simply will not work.

Extended warranty is nice to have but really is simply putting $25.00 more into ProVape's pocket.

Any issues that happen with the ProVari are usually evident within the first couple of weeks of use. There is very little that will "break" after a year.

Here is a price list of their standard repairs. As you can see there is only one thing here that costs more than $25.00 And only two things that would cost more than $25.00 when you take into account the $5.00 return shipping fee.

So if you purchase an extended warranty, the only way you come out ahead is if you have an issue with the control board. If I were buying a ProVari for a gift, I might buy the 2 year warranty to show the person "how much I care". But for my own use, I'm willing to bet against something happening to the control board.

Standard Service Repair Costs

Replace Window and screws- $10.00
Replace Circuit Board - $65.00
Upgrade to V2 - $20.00
Replace plastic pushbutton - $5.00
Repairs to the circuit board - $25.00
Cleaning - $20.00
Replace top cap - $15.00
Broken Cartomizer Service - $10.00
Return shipping within the USA - $5.00
Return shipping International ~$46.00

 

[Garemlin]

Thanks for all your help P. In regards to batteries. I'm thinking about going ahead and getting an extension cap to run an 18650 battery. Are any of the high mAh batteries like the Panasonic and Sony ok to use? And to your knowledge what is the highest mAh 18500 battery out there now that would work?

Tap'd from my LG G2

 

[p.opus]

I don't have any experience with any batteries other than the IMR 18650's which are rated at 2000 mah.

Someone who has more expertise in the battery department would have to answer that, but I've found very few ProVari owners recommend anything but IMR batteries.

The Panasonic and Sony's that I have seen are flat top so they would not work. As far as the chemistry of those two devices, I'm not sure if they are high drain batteries.

 

[Garemlin]

I don't have any experience with any batteries other than the IMR 18650's which are rated at 2000 mah.

Someone who has more expertise in the battery department would have to answer that, but I've found very few ProVari owners recommend anything but IMR batteries.

The Panasonic and Sony's that I have seen are flat top so they would not work. As far as the chemistry of those two devices, I'm not sure if they are high drain batteries.

This is the specific one I was looking at.

Panasonic High Drain NCR18650PD Hybrid 2900mAh Protected Button Top


Think it would be ok????

 

[p.opus]

Since it is a hybrid it should be ok. It has the same continuous amp rating as the IMR's (10 Amps)

 

[Garemlin]

Thanks again for all of your help P. Now just gotta figure out if it is worth pulling the trigger.

 

[p.opus]

Thanks again for all of your help P. Now just gotta figure out if it is worth pulling the trigger.

In a word....Yes.

You've grown accustomed to the vape quality of the MVP. The ProVari is slightly better in that it is more consistent all the way throughout the discharge cycle.

The MVP is disposable. HOPEFULLY Innokin won't screw up a good thing....but it hasn't been the first time. Just owning one ProVari will give you the peace of mind that you will have that same Vape quality you get from an MVP for a long time to come.

A ProVari and Kayfun are just bliss (go ahead and get the pro-ring on ProVapes website for 8 bucks to give a better look with a kayfun on top.)



I still own 2 MVP's and when I travel overnight, they jump in the overnight bag. Bringing extra batteries and an external charger can be a bit of a pain. But my daily drivers now are my ProVari's. I love the way they look the way they feel.

I have a Satin Silver Standard with an extension cap for the 18490 and 18650's and a Satin Silver Mini with an extension cap for 18350 and 18490. They allow me to use any type of battery for any type of carry and simultaneously work as backups to each other.

Go ahead, pull the trigger. If you don't like it you can sell it in the classies for nearly what you paid for it. Heck, If you don't like it......I'll buy it off you. How's that's a risk free offer?

 

[Rangertrix]

One other reason to buy direct is that Provape is now putting a new version of the top cap on the version 2.5. It has 4 airflow grooves cut into the outside ring of the top cap for better airflow with more toppers.

 

[jkusmc]

I'm glad this was asked. I was wondering about red flags and warranties as well. As soon as that 20th post hits and I'm granted access to the classified I'll hopefully be picking one up.

Sent from my LG-D950 using Tapatalk

 

[Garemlin]

I'm glad this was asked. I was wondering about red flags and warranties as well. As soon as that 20th post hits and I'm granted access to the classified I'll hopefully be picking one up.

Sent from my LG-D950 using Tapatalk

I have weighed out the options and with the price of a used one it seems more logical to buy brand new. Unless there are some worthwhile extras thrown in. Or it is a deal too good to pass up I see used ones selling for only $10 - $20 less than new.

Tap'd from my LG G2

 

[p.opus]

I have weighed out the options and with the price of a used one it seems more logical to buy brand new. Unless there are some worthwhile extras thrown in. Or it is a deal too good to pass up I see used ones selling for only $10 - $20 less than new.

Tap'd from my LG G2

True. For me, usually it's the extension cap that provides the "value add" I look for. Since the extension cap is 15 to 20 bucks, then a $150 used painted ProVari with extension caps usually equates to a 50 buck difference between used and new . (10 bucks less than a New Satin Silver, 20 bucks for the paint job and another 20 bucks for the cap)

I sold a blue one for $180. This is retail price for a new painted one. But I included the extension cap ($20). I also included a leather holster (value unknown). It was also a "discontinued" color which added a bit of "rarity" to it.

This was enough to sell it quickly.

But $150.00 for a used satin silver that has no extension cap? Kind of dicey. Even though the customer paid more from it from a B&M, the point remains, it is only 9 bucks less than new, and without any other value add, it's not that great a price.