Caravela clone

[Kent Brooks]

All I am stating is that the retail price of a Caravela is very reasonable esp.taking the work and materials into consideration, hence not comparable to a clone.

Pay more, expect more... and I agree... 99% of the time the clones aren't comparable with the original.

I see a diminishing return, in terms of value, when you look at the uber expensive mods. Yes, buttery threading is nice - but 500% markup compared to a clone, nice? Eh, depends on who you ask. The value of money is relative. People who have it wouldn't blink an eye at dropping $200+ on a mod. The people who don't have the dough can easily rationalize a totally irrational purchase based on the amount of dough they save by not smoking. All luxury consumer goods are subject to diminishing returns. We pay for the status associated with the symbol. Nothing to be ashamed of... can't take the $$$ with you, might as well enjoy it.

*makes it rain*

~Clark

 

[Barto]

How does it compare to other budget mechanical mods in the <$80 category (Sigelei, Kamry, Natural)? Do you think the v2 still needs a lot of revision before picking one up? I'm not trying to compare it higher end mods, just want a budget mechanical mod that performs well and looks adequate.

I'd also like to know this.

 

[ukeman]

I don't think anyone has tried the v2 yet?
hmmm; i'd say the v1 is about as good as the Sig 8 or K100. its certainly not better; in fact with the extra functions of a tele, the Sig and K100 are more bang for the buck imo.

I'd also like to know this.

what is the matter with China? I mean if we have to sand off the chrome to get to the brass, why don't they just make the damn screw plain brass, or copper even?
i don't know much about modding or anything, but geeez, they should take a clue from the modders and get one that's optimal out of the box!

 

[techmatlock]

what is the matter with China? I mean if we have to sand off the chrome to get to the brass, why don't they just make the damn screw plain brass, or copper even?
i don't know much about modding or anything, but geeez, they should take a clue from the modders and get one that's optimal out of the box!

I believe it is because not enough feedback on the products gives them the assumption that the product is fine the way it is. I actually just emailed Sigelei about this very topic, so I hope they take my suggestions/feedback into consideration.


Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[albcig]

china looks at the provari as the best VV device and most of the china mods have the same top cap resembling a provari. we want flat tops with no drip well. no one is going to put a skirted clearomizer on a mech mod for god's sake. we want simple and elegant mech mods to use with RBA's. why don't they understand this?

 

[Fury83]

china looks at the provari as the best VV device and most of the china mods have the same top cap resembling a provari. we want flat tops with no drip well. no one is going to put a skirted clearomizer on a mech mod for god's sake. we want simple and elegant mech mods to use with RBA's. why don't they understand this?

Because people are buying them anyway.

 

[ukeman]

Because people are buying them anyway.

I find it hard to believe that these guys aren't keeping tabs on US forums... its too easy to get intel...

 

[Fury83]

I find it hard to believe that these guys aren't keeping tabs on US forums... its too easy to get intel...

It's easier to not care since people are buying these already at a rate that exceeds what they can produce.

Even if they know, why change designs when people are still readily buying these.

 

[ukeman]

gosh you're probably right; it didn't occur to me that us impulsive types, newbs to vets, are gobbling everything up... but still China? I mean teeming hordes of workers?

It's easier to not care since people are buying these already at a rate that exceeds what they can produce.

Even if they know, why change designs when people are still readily buying these.

 

[Vcoupe]

China is not using their heads. If they did a simple tube mod out of quality material only copying a great switch design and offering brass/ SS options with flat cap and a catchy engraving ....under $120.00 they would change the game as we know it. The smaller companies have higher overhead and a greater profit margin. China would make a killing.

 

[StaircaseWit]

gosh you're probably right; it didn't occur to me that us impulsive types, newbs to vets, are gobbling everything up... but still China? I mean teeming hordes of workers?

They use what they know: brass is very easily machineable and easy on their machinery, but tarnishes quickly, thus they plate it.

They'll figure it out. We're in the nascent stages of all this. They haven't yet learned (or choose to ignore because they sell anyway, as Fury pointed out) that voltage loss / total mod resistance is important to many (but not all) users. But if they continue to sell they likely get in a 'clone of a clone' scenario where they basically copy what is selling for other manufacturers -- thus all the pinkie-button mods that suddenly appeared.

There used to be quite a bit of information coming out of Shenzhen from ecig vendors, showing factory floors and the way they work. Read alibaba sometime and notice that they'll quote 5000 pieces a week (or numbers similar) for a mod/atty/device. They basically build whatever people will order. They'll get there with quality mods, and they'll learn that there's a subset of users who place great value on mods that deliver maximum voltage to the coil.

 

[Mitey F]

China is not using their heads. If they did a simple tube mod out of quality material only copying a great switch design and offering brass/ SS options with flat cap and a catchy engraving ....under $120.00 they would change the game as we know it. The smaller companies have higher overhead and a greater profit margin. China would make a killing.

Sooner or later, exactly this will happen. And guess what? The status symbol $400 mods will still be around, and they'll still be $400. People who want to pay for a name will pay for a name. It's like buying a Harley instead of a Suzuki, because it says "Harley", even if it's less comfortable, less reliable, more expensive to maintain, slower, handles worse, and costs 2 or 3 times as much. Some people pay for the name on the side of whatever they're buying.

 

[Fury83]

gosh you're probably right; it didn't occur to me that us impulsive types, newbs to vets, are gobbling everything up... but still China? I mean teeming hordes of workers?

I detect a hint of...nvm. But in reality, they are doing it the easiest way they can pop them out and we are buying them at an impressive clip. If people held out and didn't buy half-assed devices that they make decent afterwards, they would look deeper at the market. Not going to happen when people are pre-ordering this stuff.

As for the game changer, it's made in America, they call it the "Legacy", it now has a flat top available. People would probably be all over it if they released it now. Since it's been out for quite a while and always in stock, no Legacy fever.

Mostly though, the mid-range is missing. Lots of $25-45 and if you want to step up $150+

 

[sp33dy25]

China is not using their heads. If they did a simple tube mod out of quality material only copying a great switch design and offering brass/ SS options with flat cap and a catchy engraving ....under $120.00 they would change the game as we know it. The smaller companies have higher overhead and a greater profit margin. China would make a killing.

its not china's fault. they are nothing but a factory filling orders.
the person thats placing these orders dont know what went into a Original Mod and walked in a factory and said .. make me something like this.
not knowing the grade of raw material that went into the original one, they start playing the guessing game.
brass plated ? solid brass ? and of course any option they have they go with the cheaper one or else they will not have any profit margin.

 

[albcig]

i know of a story about the chinese being able to entirely disassemble and reassemble a captured submarine in a matter of days during the war ( probably cold war i am not sure ). they wanted to copy it but they had to return it. all of the parts needed to make the computers you are reading this in, are made in china. they can make super high end devices as well as cheap ones. eventually they will flood the marked with everything, and i as a consumer im very happy about it.

 

[ukeman]

I don't know how the game is played, and politics aside - not that anyone has brought that up, thankfully, I know that years ago, an entrepenure would go to China, with his plans, blueprints etc, and hook up a ton of gear...

 

[st0nedpenguin]

i know of a story about the chinese being able to entirely disassemble and reassemble a captured submarine in a matter of days during the war ( probably cold war i am not sure ). they wanted to copy it but they had to return it. all of the parts needed to make the computers you are reading this in, are made in china. they can make super high end devices as well as cheap ones. eventually they will flood the marked with everything, and i as a consumer im very happy about it.

You may find that not a lot of people are happy about the gradual destruction of American industry.

 

[albcig]

You may find that not a lot of people are happy about the gradual destruction of American industry.

well.....

 

[greekbasil]

its more the fault of capitalism no??? profits over people unfortunately

You may find that not a lot of people are happy about the gradual destruction of American industry.

 

[madicen]

You may find that not a lot of people are happy about the gradual destruction of American industry.

*bracing for impact*

Take away the incentive for America industry to go abroad. Same ole story.

I hate to say it, but I work damn hard for my money..have a few mortgages to worry about, tenants to keep happy, a 9-5 to deal with. I would love to just be able to say "sure, I'll pay 3x as much for that metal tube to help out the American economy"...but at the end of the day did that help the flood of lost jobs and disappearing industry? Not in the least. I like to think I can make a difference with my voting choices..but, eh that's another discussion..

Im one of those people who are a not happy with "gradual destruction of American industry", as you put it. Frankly Im one of the people that gets pretty damn ...... off about it. At the same time though, I aint made of money. I buy both clones, and domestic made...but I buy a hell of a lot more clones these days as the quality is fantastic for the money...especially for a modded like myself.

My Caravella clone shipped today. Hooray for another $50 metal tube I did not really need, but somehow convinced myself I did need