How do you feel about Clones?

[DaveSignal]

I only buy authentic. If you don't want to buy a clone, there are plenty of inexpensive authentic mods available.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/apv-discussion/604037-list-mods-100-less-not-clone.html

There about 4 mods that I like the look of and may purchase at some point... they are all in the $100 range though. The rest are kind of ugly. I don't know why the clone manufacturers can't just use something similar to the already great authentic designs and just put a slightly different logo engraving on it... like the FUhattan... what a great mod. Similar to the manhattan, except the fuhattan never existed before.

Edit:
Specifically, I think the colonial mod is really cool and I like the idea of the button design. I'm not sure about an aluminum mod though.
The SMPL and SMK Flagship both look really cool. The SMK looks just like a 22mm version of the manhattan. I wonder if it has the same strong magnetic switch?
And the Super-T Precise Simplicity looks pretty sleek... I might have to search for a few youtube reviews to see how well the switch and contacts work.

 

[Coldrake]

an product that was invented by a Chinese Doctor back in 2003 because his brother died of cancer smoking 3 packs a day.(Do the web search and get informed)

It was his father.

Actually the first electronic cigarette was patented in 1963.

 

[Necrotic]

Reason's I buy clones:

1) Cheap and disposable... if it breaks or something happens to it... it was cheap and can buy another
2) Read #1

 

[Andybitz]

I have clones that hit harder and function better then my authentics - that being said , important things to look for is good threading . I kind of believe getting a good piece comes down to luck lol - good luck

 

[ReigntheGamer]

it means you can't get one.
what happens five years down the road when all these rare limited run mods
in the sales forums are mostly clones?
i couldn't tell a clone from an authentic as i own neither.
i suspect 80 % of the general vaping public couldn't tell
the difference.the 80 % figure is being generous
some people say that can't afford them.some say its their money their choice.
some say they never represent their clones as anything but a clone.
the truth is 90 % or more of the people that buy clones do so for the same
reason they might buy fake watches. to show off.
they don't say look at my cloned bob's honkin duck call.they say look at
my bobs honkin duck call.
the general vaping community wouldn't know as most people don't buy
what they can't afford and wouldn't know the difference.

regards
mike

Walking around with a $300.00+ battery tube could be construed as that too. Just saying.

 

[unstoppablegr]

Well i bought a clone last week and i can say i am very satisfied. I Tried an authentic one from a friend yesterday and i can see mine operates as good as his!

 

[chopdoc]

Let see, $10 for the clone and $50 for an original. Side by side you cant tell the difference......hmmmm, tough decision lol

 

[skoony]

I'm probably going to get blasted on this one. Authentics? Clones?..You people crack me up. People are falsely waving the American flag on Authentic trying to make a higher dollar on an product that was invented by a Chinese Doctor back in 2003 because his brother died of cancer smoking 3 packs a day.(Do the web search and get informed) The whole e-cig biz has moved fast and furious over the last couple of years the more people get a hold of it. It's now an international love affair. Come on...We are all in this together trying to kill the analog for our health but still maintain a desire based on freedom of choice. The right to any human being. Good products and bad can be made by anyone anywhere.

his father died.supporting
freedom of choice is not the issue.
freedom to buy from people that rip off intellectual property
is a whole other thing.
we are not all in this together.
grow up and start making grown up decisions.

mike

 

[DaveSignal]

Let see, $10 for the clone and $50 for an original. Side by side you cant tell the difference......hmmmm, tough decision lol

In most cases, its more like $30 for the clone or $200 for the original.
Some clones (especially copper) can cost more, such as the high quality copper panzer that I recently purchased for $65. I don't think MCV made an original of the version that I purchased, so I guess it is a bit authentic. But the MCV copper blackhawk sells for $240, if you can find it in stock somewhere, which is a difficult task in itself.

 

[cad99]

I will buy a clone if it is a 150 dollar difference in between and the clone is as good as the original.if the name is copied from the original it has a date with the wire wheel first thing.if anyone asks I will tell them straight out.i started vaping to save money as well.i see knock off and copies of everything in my day to day work.i do understand the maker of the original has r&d into the product and a clone only has to make copies as fast and to the lowest bidder.hence price difference if it wasn't for clones I would have never bought a real kayfun or tugboat.later down the line I am not much of a gambler.


Living the dream one nightmare at a time.

 

[relapse]

In my opinion, authentic prices are just ridiculous, especially when we're talking about mech mods. Nobody has reinvented the wheel with these that I've seen, they are all just battery tubes and a contact switch if sorts, so I don't see this whole "theft of intellectual property" malarkey being relevant. From what I've seen on this subject, this whole clone/authentic argument seems like snobbery towards those that cannot afford the high prices and attempts to justify one's purchases.... How dare you cape on the same kind of gear as me without spending exorbitant amounts on a brand name.

And for the record, when someone asks me what my mod is, I happily inform them that it is a nemesis clone. I started vaping to save money and my health and am proud of what I have NOT spent on my gear.

 

[MacHildebrandt]

It also depends on the person and personal budget. After all it's pretty much a metal tube

 

[USMCotaku]

his father died.supporting
freedom of choice is not the issue.
freedom to buy from people that rip off intellectual property
is a whole other thing.
we are not all in this together.
grow up and start making grown up decisions.

mike

Every mod maker out there is "ripping off intellectual property" in one way or another. They aren't developing brand new ways of vaping. There are those out there who can't afford the exorbitant prices of "authentics", so for them, buying a clone is the grown up decision, I.e. not wasting a meager budget on expensive vape gear instead of paying bills. It tends to be the younger more immature type that will drop all of their money on some item they want (usually an item that carries bragging rights in the circles they move in), and not worry about their more important responsibilities like bills and how they are going to feed themselves for the month.

 

[meteoritedude]

I can't see laying out a lot of dough for a flashlight tube. The led torches out there have similar regulating circuits and use same batteries, offer usb charging, and cost less some of the mech mods that lack the sophisticated internals. A mod is a tool. Ugly is fine as long as it works, and not into the pseudo-status of owning 'rare' tubes.

 

[Riff]

Honest;y I'm buying clones. I've just stepped into vaping as a hobby not just a nic delivery system and can't really see spending over $100 for any one setup just yet. Heck, I'm having trouble spending more that $40 for any one piece of the vaping puzzle. I think the most I've spent on a single "component" was when I bought the Nautilus and Aerotank both authentic for around $25 each. No, I lied I think the MVP 2 was $35. I'm okay with maybe spending up to $120 for a full setup mod and top, but it has to be just exactly what I want. I just can't see spending more than that on any "entry hobby item." Maybe that will change, maybe not. Sorry to the guys that designed these great looking devices, but price does matter. The rest of my money has to be spent on living.

Maybe after I'm a little deeper into the hobby I'll know what I like and it will be worth the save my vape budget for 3 months to get authentic, but right now (at the just testing the waters stage) clones are just too affordable not to be the beta test with.

And as far as as it goes I bet I could build a mod from my local hardware and electronics stores for half the price of a clone. A lot of why clone sell is a nice appearance and ease of access. I compare it all to tools, a real cheap wrench can be had for <$10 bet it won't be perfect and might not take a good beating, a decent wench can be had for <$30 and will do the job for as long as you own it if you keep in maintained (no rust etc), a top dollar wench could cost >$100 and while mechanics will swear buy it and sales people will beg you to buy it I truly can't think of many people that actually own one. My biggest reference here is my friend the aircraft mechanic his tools are sweet, but I couldn't see spending the money he did on them. To each their own. YMMV. etc

 

[monkey39]

Well, I just...oh, forget it....

 

[dice57]

clones and authentic, thrive on each other, and actually promote each other. Clone are a great way to try something new, but rarely live up to the standard of an Authentic. Clones are a gamble, mainly becauce of qc, authentic is a sure thing, 99% of the time. One can't judge the quality of an Authentic from the clone, often the clone can't even come close, in vape, let alone quality control.

Clones track record for me is like 2 out 5 are acceptable, 1 out of 10 is as good, maybe. Just saying.!!

 

[Coldrake]

There are those out there who can't afford the exorbitant prices of "authentics"

I don't consider $40 exorbitant at all. I used to spend that much on cigarettes in 5 days.

It tends to be the younger more immature type that will drop all of their money on some item they want (usually an item that carries bragging rights in the circles they move in), and not worry about their more important responsibilities like bills and how they are going to feed themselves for the month.

Absolute nonsense.

 

[marc2507]

Until these companies stop ripping us ex smokers off, then its clones for me I'm afraid, if they dropped there prices they would sell much more and end up making more money in the long run

 

[ReigntheGamer]

I will admit the only thing I would break the bank for would be a Skeleton Key, and even then it would have to be near Christmas or my birthday and even then I am not sure I would go through with it. I still have issues dropping $100+ on a collector's edition video game and I have been gaming for 33+ years. Even if I bought a SK I doubt I would use it more than my Reo and they are quite reasonable compared to some of the mods on the market right now so what's the point. I am a beer drinker and my budget and spending reflects that.