well i understand that aspect. I would 100% rather buy authentic mods than clones. but for atomizers, they are literally just pieces of metal cut and shapen a certain way, it just doesnt make sense to me sometimes why some authentics are in the 100$+ range while clones can go as low as the 10$ range. the price markup just seems way to high. Say, if it were reasonably priced i would no doubt buy the authentic to support the original maker of the product. In fact I have done that with the mutation X's, ive bought the clone and cigreen-x knockoff, and loved them so much i decided to buy the 30-40$ authentic. And to be fair, i could tell no difference in performance between the original and knockoffs. machining was fine, finish was fine, and none of them have let me down yet. as for some of those 120$+ rebuildables that cost as much as mods =\ , id like to see them be less greedy with that huge price tag tacked on.
I'll try to explain it.
If YOU decided, "hey, I've got a great idea for an atomizer. I'm going to design it and bring it to market." You would have to invest thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars into prototypes. Or maybe you have a $500,000 machine shop - but in that case you still have the payments in that machinery. Once you have the design.....you can't take it to the Chinese because you know they will steal the design and produce your product in vast quantities without paying you a dime. So, you look for a reputable manufacturer in the US to make it. That means a company that has to pay their workers too dollar, provide insurance and meet all the goofy regulations the government imposes. So, the most you can afford to have made are 5000 attys. That means they will each be about 7x more expensive than a Chinese company that can afford to make 200,000 units and did not put out ANY expense for R&D and doesn't have to pay their workers didly squat or comply with ANY regulations besides being good members of the communist party.
I realize it's very hard for many people to understand how expensive things REALLY are to produce; because we've become enamored with "cheap" goods produced by virtual slave labor in 3rd world countries. I'm sure that there IS a pretty good markup on authentic attys but good God, there needs to be!! If there wasn't, hardly anyone could or would get involved in developing them. And while China certainly deserves credit for their contributions, imagine what we would have if every one of those devices that have been cloned hadn't been invented. What would these companies' product list look like if they ONLY sold devices that they (or other Chinese companies) developed?
Here's something to consider: have you EVER seen a "clone" of a Chinese invention?? How about a clone of a Aspire Atlantis or a eLeaf Lemo? Isn't it funny that they can clone a U.S. made atty like a Plume Veil and sell it for under $20 (before the authentic hits the retail shelves) but you never see a cloned Lemo? Hrmmmmm. I wonder if that has something to do with them abiding by and respecting the patents of their own countrymen? Somehow I don't think the Chinese government would tolerate the unfair business practices amongst their own companies that they openly encourage outside their own borders. Really, it's incredibly despicable.
Look, I get ya. I don't enjoy shelling out $120 for an dripper. But I've been self employed for most of my adult life and I'm well aware of the costs of operating a business in this country. When you say attys are, "just pieces of metal cut and shapen a certain way" you're SO wrong. What you're not seeing is all the money that it takes to arrive at that little miracle. I tried to explain it just a little up above. If YOU took your time and money and risk and ingenuity and developed an atty and brought it to market, how would you appreciate people buying it from a pirate that stole your design? It's like taking food out of the mouths of their kids. It is to me, anyway. If I don't want to pay their price, I'll buy something cheaper. But the ONE THING I WONT DO is buy a pirated version of their device. That's flat theft and I won't participate.
That's not to mention the working conditions in Chinese (and other 3rd world countries) factories or all the nefarious activities of their government. Do a little reading about China - conditions and the government - and see if you're comfortable contributing to their illegal, unethical and immoral activities. I'm not. I'll buy stuff they develop, but not the stuff they steal. I guess I have too much pride for my own people and respect for their inventions. Call me crazy.
Honestly, I'm not sure how this whole "clone" thing is getting past customs. It's counterfeiting, plain and simple. I think one day C&BP is going to snap to all this and they're going to shut down clone sales just like they aggressively pursue counterfeit goods of all sorts at ports all over the country.
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I know, I know..... I can hear you already but in my defense (if there is any lol) it was a hell of a deal during the holiday sales, $21.48 shipped from Central Vapors, for that price how bad can it be?
Beside's I can't have too many battery's for my clearo's & tank's, and I spent more then that on my Spinner II's. One thing I'll be doing right off the bat is taking it apart and see if I can convert it to take a regular 18650, if I can do that then it will be a big win.
For the price you got it, its a steal. I don't care for devices being this inaccurate, but for the price point, its fine 
