Fakes/clones pro's/con's

[Kanthal]

I have been happy with the clones I have up until I bought a cloned Maraxus mod. I have a cloned kFL+ and a cloned Aqua rba that work perfectly. After having those two cloned RBAs I figured that cloned mech mods would be machined pretty much identical to the originals as well. Boy was I wrong. After inspecting the bottom cap that holds the firing button and the top cap that holds the connection pin I soon realized how cheaply it was made. The original Maraxus and the better clones of it allow you to change out the firing button and the connection pin. Mine does not. Not to mention that the battery connectors are about half the diameter as the originals.

My lesson was learned. Do some research before buying cloned mech mods.

 

[Pamailman]

I own one clone. It's an Origen V1 RDA. I also own a real one. The only difference that I have noticed is the cap is thinner and doesn't hold as tight on the o rings. I personally have the means to own authentics and that is what I wish to do. But, there is also the cheap side of me so I am constantly scanning the classifieds for deals. This is where the clone/no clone part bugs me. When clones go for a 1:1 copy including the serials and logos I must pass. So far I have lucky, the Chi You came documented and as far as I know there is not a clone of the microstick yet. I just don't understand why the Chinese don't just copy something and then give it it's own name. Why call the clone a Kayfun mini when you could call it the Chin Su Wu. The vaping community would still realize it is a clone of the mini without harming folks like me that may be looking for a deal on an authentic.

 

[amolson]

I just don't understand why the Chinese don't just copy something and then give it it's own name.

Oh yes I wish this were true! Especially the thing with the serial numbers. For pity's sake, put your OWN name on the thing. Especially because they've gotten so good. I have no problems buying an EHPro or HCigar for what they are. But like house brands, I want to know that's what I'm getting.

Quit trying to fool the customers, especially the after market ones. Call it 'in the style of' if you wish, but at least put your own mark on the thing. Particularly since some of these manufacturers are putting their name on the box and doing nice packaging to go with the product.

But as I don't speak or write Mandarin, I doubt any of them would listen.

 

[Boiler]

The name is the most valuable part of a device and what the cloners are cashing in on - more so than the design itself.

 

[auxsend]

I think for the clearomizer type gear, authentic is going to be a better experience. By far.

For the enthusiast gear like mech mods, RDA's, etc, Good luck finding an authentic even if you want one. You'll be treated to a lot of sold out notifications.

So for that stuff, you'll find that clone is often your only option. And they are every bit as hit and miss as the authentic stuff anyways.

 

[tj99959]

There is just as much OEM junk out there as there is clone junk, and junk is junk.
The main complaint that I have with ego class knock offs is that there is no way to tell what quality of battery cell they have in them. One thing that you can count on tho' is that they did not go looking for the highest quality battery cell they could find. Instead they went looking for the cheapest one they could find. Same goes for the chargers that are included in those knock off kits, and that's a BAD combination!

The knock offs have made it so that I will no longer use any PV that I can not remove, inspect, and choose the chemistry of the battery I use. I will pinch pennies with the atomizers I use, and the mods that I use, but I will not with the batteries that I use in them.

However, at least the knock offs & clones made me do my homework, and learn about battery chemistry, C ratings, amp limits, and all that other stuff. So sorry Innokin ... no LIPO cells in my house! (even if it's not a clone)

 

[Asbestos4004]

These arguments are so silly. I'm pretty sure about 80-90% of all vapers never even heard of ECF. So, us taking a stand against the clones is pretty useless. And why should we, anyway? I'm willing to bet that there's many people who've successfully quit tobacco because of clones. Not everyone can afford the sky high prices of some of these "authentic" devices. Not everyone wants to wait a year for something. This purist attitude is ridiculous. Thanks to the fakes, someone on a limited budget can go buy a nice kayfun, slap it on a nice mech and enjoy a fantastic vape. Why should that experience be limited to the wealthy??
I have a bunch of clones....I also have a bunch of authentics. Sometimes the clone works better, sometimes they don't. Who cares? Buy what you like and can afford. Do plenty of research. There's as many reviews on the clones as there are for the originals. Research and buy what you like.
I've read a few interviews with the modders. Most of them don't care either.....some do. There's steps they can take. Zarras said he really appreciated the exposure he got from ft selling clones of his creations. He was honored and humbled. He said "only a few people heard of my stuff before....now thousands know me and they all want my stuff!"
Seriously folks?

 

[snork]

I have talked to five different people, either face to face or online, who are the originators of various vape gear which has been counterfeited. None of them are pleased, their feeling range from resignation to rage. All of them described a sales drop when their object was counterfeited.

People lose sight of the fact that many of these original objects are made by people like you or me, not faceless Chinese corporations pumping them out by the thousands. If it were you or your brother or sister who had a design, development or idea stolen, how would you feel? Does the Golden Rule not apply when it comes to vaping?

The one thing that heartened me is that whether their feelings were resignation or rage, none of them contemplated calling it quits. Some may fight and some may ignore, but all had plans to continue to innovate. Without them there would be nothing to clone and we should thank them by supporting them in any way we can.

 

[ej1024]

TOBECO is the only company that I trust when it comes to CLONE products,I don't own any clone cuz I'm using all 26650 the way. But if you have the money go for AUTHENTIC,BUT IF U DONT LIKE ME,just stick with tobeco products and use all the money u save for Ejuices


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ej1024]

I have talked to five different people, either face to face or online, who are the originators of various vape gear which has been counterfeited. None of them are pleased, their feeling range from resignation to rage. All of them described a sales drop when their object was counterfeited.

People lose sight of the fact that many of these original objects are made by people like you or me, not faceless Chinese corporations pumping them out by the thousands. If it were you or your brother or sister who had a design, development or idea stolen, how would you feel? Does the Golden Rule not apply when it comes to vaping?

The one thing that heartened me is that whether their feelings were resignation or rage, none of them contemplated calling it quits. Some may fight and some may ignore, but all had plans to continue to innovate. Without them there would be nothing to clone and we should thank them by supporting them in any way we can.

CARTEL MODS
I'm friends with them,they are aware that their product is being clone they know what's up,but the thing you don't know is that this USA manufacturers makes a lot of money STILL even being clone,the clone industry made VAPING popular,stores made a lot of money selling clones,there will always be a market for authentic people still buy authentic,but you can't have everybody buying the real gadget especially if it's just a tube laser engraved.
There are 3 kinds of VAPERS
Can afford
Can't afford
And the SMART ONE.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bunnykiller]

My two cents - never buy a clone for the following reasons:

1) Out of respect for the person who designed and made the original:
- this person worked hard to imagine, and then bring into existence his/her creation; he or she may not have enough money to legally chase after those copying the art, but in most cases, dies inside a little every time someone sells a copy of the art they dreamed into existence.
2) More often than not, the clone is cheaply made and will break quickly or will under-perform.
3) There is a chance the materials used to make the clone are not safe for vaping.
4) By refusing to buy clones, we send a message to those who are making a living off of other people's ideas to get off their bums and come up with an original idea themselves... stop sponging and stealing. This is good for the vaping community and in general, the right thing to do.

if it wasn't for clones/reproductions, I would still be smoking ciggies...........

 

[snork]

CARTEL MODS
I'm friends with them,they are aware that their product is being clone they know what's up,but the thing you don't know is that this USA manufacturers makes a lot of money STILL even being clone,the clone industry made VAPING popular,stores made a lot of money selling clones,there will always be a market for authentic people still buy authentic,but you can't have everybody buying the real gadget especially if it's just a tube laser engraved.
There are 3 kinds of VAPERS
Can afford
Can't afford
And the SMART ONE.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Since you know them, please ask them to come here and talk about it.

 

[Asbestos4004]

Tobeco? Seriously??? Ever heard of hcigar, ehpro, infinite.....? Theres better options than tobeco. Plus, 26650's are being cloned by the ton......oops, there goes another one. Lol. Or are you saying you only own authentic tobeco's? That'd be a funny thing to say.

 

[Asbestos4004]

Snork....I agree with what you said and I liked how you said it. I actually do support the mod makers when I find something I like. There's no clones in my signature, for example. But not all mod makers are belly aching over clones....some are and I don't blame them. But most will continue to sell out of everything they produce in a matter of days....if not hours. The word gets to thousands more people via clones, fast tech, clone reviews..... Some of these guys have noticed a giant INCREASE in sales due to copy cats.

And no, I don't expect you to agree with this.

 

[ej1024]

Since you know them, please ask them to come here and talk about it.

Manufacturers don't engaged too much with this kind of conversations,
Stores sells clone and authentic they make more money selling clones,cartel mods will only sell thru www.cartelmods.com they stop supplying stores due to the fact stores will compare the clones to the authentic and convince them to buy the clones.
I sell stuff too,sold my authentic stillare on eBay for 150 bucks after 4 months of used.
Then I bought a tobeco stillare guess what it hits the same..
Do you think USA MANUFACTURERS are the only affected,u have to remember the PHILIPPINES was producing this mods and got hit tremendously,that's why they moved to wood box mods.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[snork]

Manufacturers don't engaged too much with this kind of conversations,
Stores sells clone and authentic they make more money selling clones,cartel mods will only sell thru cartel2 they stop supplying stores due to the fact stores will compare the clones to the authentic and convince them to buy the clones.
I sell stuff too,sold my authentic stillare on eBay for 150 bucks after 4 months of used.
Then I bought a tobeco stillare guess what it hits the same..
Do you think USA MANUFACTURERS are the only affected,u have to remember the PHILIPPINES was producing this mods and got hit tremendously,that's why they moved to wood box mods.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yes, I know, the creators themselves don't get involved much for a variety of reasons. I'd encourage people to contact them one on one though if one wants a true understanding of the impact (or lack thereof) of counterfeiting on individual creators. Otherwise we're educated in stupid threads like this where we spout about crap with which we have no first hand knowledge in order to justify our beliefs.

 

[ej1024]

Tobeco? Seriously??? Ever heard of hcigar, ehpro, infinite.....? Theres better options than tobeco. Plus, 26650's are being cloned by the ton......oops, there goes another one. Lol. Or are you saying you only own authentic tobeco's? That'd be a funny thing to say.

I'm aware of all the Chinese manufacturers,I personally like tobeco clones,i never said authentic clones,
There was never an authentic COPPER HADES,in my book that's not clone,there was never a 26650 tobh copper,black,ss again not a clone..seven 30 mod,big bang wood box dual 26650 not a clone DNA 30 From cloupor not a clone 26650 kay fun not a clone,
Authentic manufacturers are making money selling this overpriced tubes. but I'm not the kind of guy that will wait for 8 weeks to see an authentic product and spend way too much money on a product that will produce the same result,if u have the money then buy the real one,if u don't the money the vape shop close to you will be happy to sell you clone and will build for u if u don't know how to build..
Vaping is not all about authentic or clone,it's about quitting a bad habit...
And that's smoking cigarettes..
Can afford
Can't afford
Smart about it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Asbestos4004]

You mean like the guy who said tobeco... right? Lolololol! I actually DO have several friends in the mod making business...one of which makes e-pipes and happens to be a very good friend of Mike s (zen). That's just ONE of the resources I referenced. You're friends cry about it, mine don't. Maybe your buddies just aren't making very good stuff......still a waiting list with the folks I know . You don't need to try to make people feel bad for buying what they want.

 

[Asbestos4004]

No copper hades? No TOBH in 28mm? Dude, they're EVERYWHERE...

Oh wait, I think I see what you're saying. You're saying your stuff isn't clones. Ahhh...ok.

 

[Equilibrium]

My experience with "clones" is limited to mechanical mods and RBA's and I am completely happy with them. The only clone that I am not 100% pleased with is the Aqua RBA but it has nothing to do with the build quality. The tank performs beautifully but it's a juice hog and doesn't hold enough liquid. I'm sure the authentic Aqua is the same way.


Edited to add... I'm glad I spent $40 on the clone instead of $180 on the authentic Aqua to find out that I'm not really pleased with it.