clone vs original- noticeable difference?

[TheJakeBailey]

There is a pretty cool place to go to here in Austin to get your hands on some "genuine" stuff. Try Vapor Logic on Congress just north of Ben White. They have some nice stuff in there, they carry the Taifun as well as a few nice RDAs. The real deal Patriot rda is indistinguishable from my clone Patriot. I kept "almost" buying the Dookz, I was looking at the Kato Hammer as well. The Dooks has the same voltage drop as my M16 clone (really good) and the Kato Hammer has the same voltage drop as my hammer clone (terrible)
I think All About Vapor has stepped up their game as well, they now carry a few high end mechanicals and are about to get the Hana V3 in.

Never been to Vapor Logic. I was looking at the all About vapor website this weekend and saw that they had a few mechs listed. This is probably going to sound stupid, but I just don't like All About Vapor. I don't know how they would manage it better since they are so busy, but i just hate the take a number system. The place is always packed, nobody looks happy, nobody talks, and it just has this air of desperation. Like "please give me my stuff so I can get out of here." They have a clove tobacco liquid that tastes EXACTLY like a Djarum clove cigarette, and I've never found another clove tobacco that I could even tolerate, much less like. So I find myself there once in awhile. I usually place my order online and then just pick it up. lol

Edited to add...This is the All About Vapor in round rock i was talking about, not on Airport.

 

[Jonathan Tittle]

This thread has been really helpful. So now I've decided I want to try magnets in my nemmy. Best choice?

I have an hcigar nemesis, and Caravela. Both are my first two and only mech's I have up until now. They are both sweet stuff tho =]

You can grab the Nemsis magnets here, towards the bottom of the page. Search the page for "Nemesis Mechanical Mod Switch Magnet Upgrade" - $7.99. Same ones I'm using right now and they function 100% - no issues and no wobble. They hold up with the kick ring and a Smok Kick (I don't have an Evolv Kick / Kick 2 to try but expect it to work just as well).

http://fatdaddyvapes.com/shop.html

 

[NerdVap0r]

More for your buck here for magnets
10050098W Strong NdFeB Magnet Ring - Silver (10 PCS) - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

If 2 magnets might not suit you? Add a 3rd magnet and have 7 leftovers

 

[Richard75]

Has it been your experience that HCigar makes the best clones? For the devices I've looked at or purchased it depends on the device. When I was looking for an Aqua/Origin clone the TOBECO seemed to be the best whereas their Kayfun clone is junky, IMO.

Rainbow Heaven is a Chinese company I would trust as far as quality of their clones go. I think they were the first to really go the 1:1 route, with their Terminator vs. Imeo's Odysseus. The Terminator is really the only clone I've ever owned, and the quality was outstanding.

I'm actually thinking of picking up one of their AIOS clones, just to have spare parts for my two authentic ones. Also, one of my authentic ones has rather poorly aligned airholes (which I think is unacceptable on a 250 dollar RBA, but oh well), so perhaps swapping a piece or two will fix that.

 

[minimalsaint]

My recommendation is the Reo.
If you don't like it, put it up in the classifieds for a little less than what you paid (as long as you take care of it) and get your money back, quickly in most cases. Same with a Billet Box or just about any other original.
-or-
Try to recoup your $$ for a clone on the classifieds and get your thread deleted.

As for quality, there is something to be said for the amount of "clone xxxx fix" threads as opposed to "original xxxx fix" threads. It really depends on what you are willing to do to get a well-functioning device. While I realize that some clones come out of the box functioning perfectly, it is hit-and-miss at best.

 

[Bad Ninja]

My recommendation is the Reo.
If you don't like it, put it up in the classifieds for a little less than what you paid (as long as you take care of it) and get your money back, quickly in most cases. Same with a Billet Box or just about any other original.
-or-
Try to recoup your $$ for a clone on the classifieds and get your thread deleted.

As for quality, there is something to be said for the amount of "clone xxxx fix" threads as opposed to "original xxxx fix" threads. It really depends on what you are willing to do to get a well-functioning device. While I realize that some clones come out of the box functioning perfectly, it is hit-and-miss at best.

Just not true.
Most issues with clones the the same issues with originals.
There are lots more clones than originals, because original modders never have stock available for purchase.

My 26$ brass king clone is flawless.
With the stock silver plated contacts it has better functionality and less Voltage drop than most originals out there.

There is, sometimes, a marginal difference in quality, but nothing worthy of the $200+ price tag of the original king.
Combined with surefire's reputation for poor customer service, I see nothing attractive about buying anything more than the clone.

Most originals are made in small hobby shop type facilities.
This isn't always a good thing. Especially for the consumer.

Waiting lists? Pre orders? Raffles for a chance to be on a list?
Always sold out? Limited production?

Really?

Bad business model.
Unacceptable way to do business.
Until moddeaqrn how to do good business I'll refrain from paying such a premium price.

 

[minimalsaint]

Just not true.
Most issues with clones the the same issues with originals.
There are lots more clones than originals, because original modders never have stock available for purchase.

My 26$ brass king clone is flawless.
With the stock silver plated contacts it has better functionality and less Voltage drop than most originals out there.

There is, sometimes, a marginal difference in quality, but nothing worthy of the $200+ price tag of the original king.
Combined with surefire's reputation for poor customer service, I see nothing attractive about buying anything more than the clone.

Most originals are made in small hobby shop type facilities.
This isn't always a good thing. Especially for the consumer.

Waiting lists? Pre orders? Raffles for a chance to be on a list?
Always sold out? Limited production?

Really?

Bad business model.
Unacceptable way to do business.
Until moddeaqrn how to do good business I'll refrain from paying such a premium price.

OK. Different strokes!

 

[KalThaxx]

With copies / clones the quality is the biggest issue. A local B&M has a few clones from different distributors (tobbecco, hcigar, ehpro) we took most of his stock and opened them to do thread checks. I was amazed how different they were from each other, and I don't mean between distributors, some had wonky tubes, or a top cap, or a crunchy switch. Literally every one was different some good and some bad. So if you go that route you get what you get.

Now if you get and original, from a reputable maker, if anything is wrong they usually make it right.

All in all they will both give you a quality vape, especially since China started using silver, and copper firing pins.

 

[Bosco]

It seems like China has stepped up their game lately. I have been buying clones for a while now and they used to be really hit or miss and almost always visibly cheaply made. I recently bought a Trident clone, I think HCigar, and holy cow . .this thing is fantastic! I don't have a real Trident but I have a couple of decent things (kayfun lite+, microstick) and the HCigar is in the same quality class as those . . very different from my IGO's and Phoenix clones.

So I'd still say it depends a lot on what clone you buy - but there are some really good ones out there these days. The HCigar nemi seems to be one of those really good clones . .I'm waiting on one in the mail as I type this.

 

[Bad Ninja]

OK. Different strokes!

Lol ya
If you want to support a horrible business model, long waits, and customer service levels that are beyond unacceptable in any other industry, by all means do so.
It's your hard earned cash, not mine.
But don't complain when industry standards do not improve, and Chinese manufacturing starts stepping their game up.

They show you every day that mech mods can be made, distributed, and sold retail for a 1/10th of what some modders ask.

If you don't have enough money to properly set up a business, then you probably shouldn't.
Wait, don't be greedy, and do it properly.
Otherwise expect problems as well as competition.
Business 101.

I laugh when I see modders complaining about their product being cloned, when at the same time they have no inventory in stock and a 3 week wait for more to be made.

It's comical.

 

[joeybear]

I'm sure I'm one of the few who has both authentics and the clones of the authentics, just because I wanted to test them side by side. I usually only take the clones out of the house, but sometimes I get mixed up and take the authentics. For the most part, clones work and hit nearly exactly the same as the authentics. I have 14-16 authentics with their clone counterparts and can rarely if ever tell them apart. I even had one authentic I simply hated, sold it happily, and two weeks later the clone was released so I bought it hoping for something better. Guess what, the clone sucked in the exact same way the authentic sucked!! Two weeks ago I handed my wife $200 and said, "If the Panzer isn't cloned within 2 months, I want you to give this back to me so I can order one." Guess what was released this morning...the Panzer!! Saved myself $170

 

[graffiti]

If you don't have enough money to properly set up a business, then you probably shouldn't.
Wait, don't be greedy, and do it properly.
Otherwise expect problems as well as competition.
Business 101.

I laugh when I see modders complaining about their product being cloned, when at the same time they have no inventory in stock and a 3 week wait for more to be made.

It's comical.

This is the one thing I hate about vaping. Zen, Evolv and the mech modders are going to be their own downfall. If you can't provide product to people who want to purchase them (and then, in Zen's case, doxx them for reselling them at a huge profit) you can't get ...... when somebody else steps up to take the profit that you're leaving on the table.

I mean, how much manufacturing capacity is laying fallow in the US? Sure, it's expensive, but if the Chinese manufacturers are selling thousands of copies, why couldn't the modders do the same? Because they want it to be a false scarcity so that they can make 1000% profit on a copper or stainless tube with a ....ty switch on it.

 

[PurpleHeart]

I did notice a difference on the switch of an authentic Nemmy vs. the clone. The clone had a less smooth consistency, lightly scraping the walls, producing a "clanky" sound.

 

[Bad Ninja]

I did notice a difference on the switch of an authentic Nemmy vs. the clone. The clone had a less smooth consistency, lightly scraping the walls, producing a "clanky" sound.

5 min with a small piece of sandpaper eliminates that issue, or spend 170$ more for the real one.

The price gap is just too wide.
My Tobeco Nemmy is almost indistinguishable from the original in every way.

 

[ericbnc]

I have the brass Origin clone from FT - buttery threads and a soft magnetic switch which I prefer - no wobble or crunchiness with the switch (it is adjustable) either. The tube needs TLC though - I took some 2000 grit sandpaper and Simichrome polish to mine:

 

[emus]

This is the one thing I hate about vaping. Zen, Evolv and the mech modders are going to be their own downfall. If you can't provide product to people who want to purchase them (and then, in Zen's case, doxx them for reselling them at a huge profit) you can't get ...... when somebody else steps up to take the profit that you're leaving on the table.

I mean, how much manufacturing capacity is laying fallow in the US? Sure, it's expensive, but if the Chinese manufacturers are selling thousands of copies, why couldn't the modders do the same? Because they want it to be a false scarcity so that they can make 1000% profit on a copper or stainless tube with a ....ty switch on it.

If it was profitable to mass produce lower priced mods in the US don't you think many would do it. Not easy to float a manufacturing practice in the US of A these days. You'd be lucky to break even after 5 years of high priced mod sales.

 

[FearTX]

Never been to Vapor Logic. I was looking at the all About vapor website this weekend and saw that they had a few mechs listed. This is probably going to sound stupid, but I just don't like All About Vapor. I don't know how they would manage it better since they are so busy, but i just hate the take a number system. The place is always packed, nobody looks happy, nobody talks, and it just has this air of desperation. Like "please give me my stuff so I can get out of here." They have a clove tobacco liquid that tastes EXACTLY like a Djarum clove cigarette, and I've never found another clove tobacco that I could even tolerate, much less like. So I find myself there once in awhile. I usually place my order online and then just pick it up. lol

Edited to add...This is the All About Vapor in round rock i was talking about, not on Airport.

The one on Airport is just as busy. I have not seen some of the wait times reported, if I have to stand there with a take-a-ticket in hand for over 15 minutes I walk, they did not want the sales anyways. AAV is a great place with quality products and decent e-liquids but man.... dat wait.