Five Pawns
- Thread starter Forkeh
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
I have no doubt marketing plays a big part in 5P's pricing, but you can't compare two Chinese eLiquid vendors to American based vendors. I've never seen their clean rooms, maybe they are fantastic, but at the same time I know the whole Diacytel scare originated from Chinese eLiquids, as did the study the FDA points to about toxins being in some eLiquids. I'm not sure if DeKang or Hangsens were the offenders, but they are the likely suspects.
Not sure what the diacetyl issue has to do with 5p pricing, but the issue was not a Chinese or American problem. Diacetyl is deemed safe by the fda for consumption, I believe, and is problematic when inhaled. As you know, the flavorings used in the e liquid industry where developed as food and drink additives, and have not been tested as inhalants. Regardless, Hangsen and DeKang have stated, that their juices are diacetyl free. The smaller unregulated U.S. firms (some, not all) have been less forthcoming in this regard. I believe flavour art, is the most problematic flavoring company, and they are not Chinese.
Anyhow, we are going off on a tangent. I am not championing the two aforementioned Chinese companies, nor do I use their products. I merely pointed them out as examples of companies, with a far more sophisticated and expensive production facility, that price their juices at a fraction of the cost 5p charges. Different business models, you might say, they produce far more liquid. That's my point exactly.
To me, 5P juice is overpriced. You might think it's worth it. Different opinions. My point is that their clean room and extraction process is not the reason for their exorbitant pricing.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk
Last edited:
TheProphet said:
Marble said:
I agree with the bolded text above. I can't afford to use Castle Long as an ADV, either. But it has become my favorite of flavors that I've tried in over two years vaping, and I've also tried a LOT of flavors. Everyone's flavor palates are different, but this is a great evening vape. The only thing to compare is my previous favorite from Virgin Vapors - Organic Kona Velvet Milkshake.
Last edited:
Fair enough, I did find this: DEKANG
It does look like an exceptionally clean facility. But again, you can't compare a Chinese based company to an American one in terms of pricing they can swing. They have advantages in exchange rates, slave labor forces, and lack of business taxes, OSHA, and Government oversight of their ingredients they purchase that helps them keep their prices their down. Not unlike the clone debate, or the whole "Made in America" debate.
Remember, Five Pawns directly does not pocket $27.50 every time we buy a bottle (unless you buy direct), in most cases the $27.50 gets split 50/50 with the dealer. They get paid $13.75 by the dealer for the product, the dealer pockets the other $13.75 in profit. Five Pawns is at fault for MAP pricing though, while they want to keep an even playing field for their dealers, it really sucks for customers because it's not a race to the bottom for the best deal and who's willing to take the least profit to sell the most.
I agree, with regards to Chinese business practices. Maybe a better comparison would have been with companies like Johnson Creek and Ahlusion ( i name them, because i have seen pictures of their facilities at some point, i believe).
I think we are not as far apart as it seems in our opinion. I think their juices are good, but not worth the price. You think, they are excellent and a luxury you can indulge in, occasionally.
I actually tried all their juices, at my local vape shop a while back, and asked for grandmaster and castle long to purchase. My assumpion was that they are priced around the $ 20 to $ 22 that the rest of the so called boutique brands that sell their ware through b & m's charge. I even find that overpriced, but i liked them enough to break my self imposed 50 cents a ml cap. I balked, however, when i was quoted a price of $ 59 and change ( they charge sales tax in NYC). I felt insulted.
I do purchase The Gentlemans Reserve from the Steam Company, which is very similar to Castle Long ( it's actually oak barrel steeped, like CL Reserve), regularly, at half the price of Castle Long.
Last edited:
Yeah, I'd too. But the last batch I bought from them is awful. I've purchased 4 times from The Steam Co. All were wonderful till this last brew with a born on date of 5/1. I'm not alone with that, several in The Steam Co. Thread are reporting their orders of TGR with bottled dates of 5/1 were not the same, flavors are different and not nearly as good, with reduced vapor production.
There is a lot to be said for consistency.
There is a lot to be said for consistency.
As much as I would love to try the Castle long reserve, $40 for 30ml is just wayyyyy too much.
Honestly I like the Mixology Edition of Castle Long better. I find the flavors are much brighter and distinguishable, and not crushed by oak. Plus it's cheaper. lol
I actually just got a bottle of 'Absolute Pin' from the local shop today, every puff makes my eyes go to the back of my head. Definitely an ADV but not every day due to the price, totally worth it tho imo.
Queenside was my ADV (I don't vape a lot, yet) until I discovered Nicoticket a few weeks ago. I still love Queenside and Gamit was a close second for me.
Aaaaaand I just bought a different flavor. Gambit. I'm going to go broke on this juice line I swear to god. It's just so good. You know what it is though, that's got me raving about this juice so much? It's how they make it taste like real stuff. That's incredible to me (btw, apparently the sweetness of Queenside fades once you open the bottle, it's tasting less like a cinnamon roll and more like and orange to me now).
Gambit IS banana nut bread. It doesn't taste kinda like banana nut bread. It tastes EXACTLY like banana nut bread, down to the flavoring of the inner husk around the nuts, that you can taste with home baked bread. (I know it's advertized as an apple pie flavor, but I'm getting banana nut bread....maybe that'll change in a few days).
It's too expensive lol, but it's nuts guys, the flavoring they've developed.
Gambit IS banana nut bread. It doesn't taste kinda like banana nut bread. It tastes EXACTLY like banana nut bread, down to the flavoring of the inner husk around the nuts, that you can taste with home baked bread. (I know it's advertized as an apple pie flavor, but I'm getting banana nut bread....maybe that'll change in a few days).
It's too expensive lol, but it's nuts guys, the flavoring they've developed.
Last edited:
I just ordered the 5 sampler pack from Five Pawn's website and I'm eagerly awaiting to try them. They seem to be ultra premium "boutique" juices with really interesting flavor descriptions with really cool bottle presentations. I'm going to keep my eye out for the Castle Long barrel aged edition because I love bourbon and that one seem to be a perfect vape companion.
I got the sampler really enjoyed them except for the Irish cream one it tasted like pine tree, but I am currently on my 3rd bottle of gambit this stuff is very yummy
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Intersting flavor profile you get from Gambit. I get a heavy cinammon apple flavor. Not the crusty vanilla type apple pie they state on their website.
I find the prices too extreme for what I got... Not that into them too many great juices out there!
Funny, I don't get that at all.
This is EXACTLY what I get (from their website):GAMBIT: The classic, mellow apple pie makes a sweet and savory impression with flaky crust and decadent caramel, lightened by a dollop of French vanilla ice cream and unsweetened whipped cream.
Gambit is one of my advs.
I vape others too, otherwise it would cost me $6+/day to vape! 
Yup.....I got the apple pie a couple days in. I think the initial banana nut bread was a pre-steeping flavor profile for me. The born on date was pretty recent. It's delicious but that was a poor choice for me. The cinnamon is killing me. I can't vape it. It hurts too much T_T. Unfortunate; I really loved it.
If I'd gone to the site and read the description instead of just tasting it in the shop, I wouldn't have gotten that one. I didn't taste the cinnamon at all at first.
In other news, I need to watch the Queenside too. It doesn't really taste cinnamony to me, but Gambit has me looking out. Just because it's kinda like a sweet roll (even though I don't get cinnamon in the flavor profile, It does otherwise remind me of a cinnamon roll with the sweetness). I might have to put that down too T_T the deliciousness is not worth the pain. We'll see.
Luckily Grandmaster is delicious LOL.
Last edited:
I so wanted to like their juice but I have tried five and dislike all . I think it is the base they use that doesn't agree with me.
- Status
