Is advocating Hong Kong direct purchases really a good idea?

[Bookworm]

The Chinese are going to own us, might as well send them our money directly now. Direct buying is a big help to their overall takeover plans. Keep up the good work.

The manufacturers are getting the same money no matter what. Buying Chinese goods from American resellers doesn't take any money away from the Chinese. If you are really worried about it, starting buying American made goods. The only one I've ever heard of is ProVari. The problem is America no longer makes things.

Edited to add: I would gladly pay more for American made clearos and batteries. I already do that with juice, because I think the quality and taste is better.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

I've seen a lot of posting of links to a website that cuts out local distributors.

From what I gather, we can all sit at home on our computers, buy our goods directly from China, and send our money directly to China.

Let me post a link and influence thousands of people in this direction, if were lucky the idea will catch on in every industry. It may contribute to a further decline in our economy, but hey, at least I posted a link in someones thread that can save them five whole dollars!!!

Actually buying the Vamo Kit from FT saves about $50.00= 1/2 price.

 

[Ref Minor]

That means you don't shop at Walmart or any other retail stores either?

I wouldn't if there was a reliable website that I could use that sold things at half the price of Walmart. However Walmart buy massive quantities and don't have a 300% profit margin so I doubt that will happen.

 

[InTheShade]

I think it's a ridiculous premise to expect people not to post links to a site where they can get most of their vaping supplies at about 40-70% less. Us ex-smokers were used to getting the shaft from American companies when we bought our cigarettes - and where did that get us?

I just wish China post had a company here so I could complete the loop and not have to use USPS.

Now, saying all that, I've spent upwards of $500 in vaping supplies - all with US companies, but I can't keep paying $50 for a mod I can get for $26 from Fasttech. An EVOD for 8.99 from my local B&M costs 3.86 on fastech... I could go on...

I want to support my local B&M but their prices mean I am unable to afford to, so now I buy from US supplies on line. But now their prices mean I am considering switching to fasttech for my vaping hardware - and that's not any member of these forums fault.

 

[stealthmayhem]

So far, I have bought all of my hardware from Fasttech, and not just for economical reasons. I have no B&M vendors in my area, so all my purchases have to be done online. I do not have a problem with buying a kit from HK for 20 bucks, and waiting 10 days to receive it. I DO have a problem with paying 50 dollars for the exact same kit from a "local" distributor and waiting 7 days to get it. I am not going to pay an extra 30 dollars to get it 3 days sooner. For all I know, they purchased the same kit from HK, added their markup, and sold it to me. If I had a vendor right down the street, I might pay a little extra for the convenience, but not 2.5 times what I would pay from HK. I am not anti-patriotic, just smart. If there was a Chinese vendor and an American vendor, same product, same price(even a little bit more), I have no doubt from whom I would buy.

 

[tj99959]

The manufacturers are getting the same money no matter what. Buying Chinese goods from American resellers doesn't take any money away from the Chinese. If you are really worried about it, starting buying American made goods. The only one I've ever heard of is ProVari. The problem is America no longer makes things.

Edited to add: I would gladly pay more for American made clearos and batteries. I already do that with juice, because I think the quality and taste is better.

Actually the best of the best are made right here in the US
Check out
reosmods.com
supertmanufacturing.com
provape.com
evolvapor.com
puresmoker.com/category_s/93.htm

And there are others.

 

[Lessifer]

Actually the best of the best are made right here in the US
Check out
reosmods.com
supertmanufacturing.com
provape.com
evolvapor.com
puresomoke.com

And there are others.

I would love to have one of those mods, unfortunately they are about 2-5x the cost of a vamo and that's what I could afford right now. I wish there was a US made apv that was affordable. I just recently saw a US made genesis style rba with similar setup to the aga-t, a cooler design, and priced just slightly higher than the aga-t; I definitely plan on buying one of those.

 

[pecanst]

Things escalated pretty quickly here. Im not upset, I'm not being rude, I'm not laying on a guilt trip. I never said you shouldn't order from FT. Just wanted to raise the question. Thought it might be thought provoking. Please do not take that the wrong way.

Personally, I'm an out of work product designer. First the manufacturing jobs moved to China, then the design work did too. I just recently started noticing the retail jobs are moving East as well. Which to me is a scary thought. Yeah, the debate over losing jobs is old, but I think its taken on a new dimension that's worth some discussion. I thought it relevant because it relates to something a lot of people are actively posting on everyday. Is that wrong?

I realize now, everyone posting here probably gets their stuff from FT. I definately concede that its a great resource for people on a budget that are trying to move away from cigarettes. That's a great thing.

I'll also concede the point that its probably not going to make a difference what links you post, so maybe our impact here is overblown. I don't know.





I'm posing the question is it in our best interest

 

[bunnomatic]

Actually the best of the best are made right here in the US
Check out
reosmods.com
supertmanufacturing.com
provape.com
evolvapor.com
puresmoker.com/category_s/93.htm

And there are others.

a provari. a Darwin. a reo. Sorry, out of my price range.

 

[tj99959]

I would love to have one of those mods, unfortunately they are about 2-5x the cost of a vamo and that's what I could afford right now. I wish there was a US made apv that was affordable. I just recently saw a US made genesis style rba with similar setup to the aga-t, a cooler design, and priced just slightly higher than the aga-t; I definitely plan on buying one of those.

If one of those lasts 6 times longer than a Vamo, which was cheaper?

 

[kiwivap]

I have posted the Fasttech link on many occasions. Buying US made products for a couple extra dollars would be ideal for me. Buying Chinese made products through a US middle man at twice the price is foolish in my opinion. You want me to support the local economy/vendors, when those same vendors are not supporting their own local businesses?

Are the links really the issue?

I don't see how they can be. If links are the issue then no-one would be posting links to anything. Here's why. Vaper 1 posts a link to a US vendor. This could be construed as unfair to vapers in other countries - getting them to buy non-local products. Vaper 2 posts a link to a Greek vendor. This is construed as unfair to vapers in other countries because if they buy from the Greek vendor they aren't buying local. Vaper 3 posts a link to a Philippines Vendor. Construed as unfair as vapers not in the Philippines will be led to buy non-locally. Vaper 4 posts a link to an Australian vendor. Construed as unfair because...
I'm sure its clear. So no, I don't think links are the issue.
I've seen links on the forum to vendors in the US, Canada, the UK, Greece, Russia, Portugal, Australia, China, and others.

Even saying what is "local" is problematic in an international setting with online shopping. If its saying everyone should only buy from vendors in their own countries there will be major issues for some people who cannot buy nic juice within their own country (like me). Others can't even buy pvs in their own countries. Or people have some vendors "locally" but the selection is small and the vendors don't carry stock that meets their vaping needs.

The co-ops would cease to exist because people would be ordering from other countries in co-ops.

Really I think its about freedom of choice. The links are just links. Its up to the people what they click on and who they order from. So I see this debate as being about questioning if there should be limits on who is ordered from, and by whom.

 

[Lessifer]

Things escalated pretty quickly here. Im not upset, I'm not being rude, I'm not laying on a guilt trip. I never said you shouldn't order from FT. Just wanted to raise the question. Thought it might be thought provoking. Please do not take that the wrong way.

Personally, I'm an out of work product designer. First the manufacturing jobs moved to China, then the design work did too. I just recently started noticing the retail jobs are moving East as well. Which to me is a scary thought. Yeah, the debate over losing jobs is old, but I think its taken on a new dimension that's worth some discussion. I thought it relevant because it relates to something a lot of people are actively posting on everyday. Is that wrong?

I realize now, everyone posting here probably gets their stuff from FT. I definately concede that its a great resource for people on a budget that are trying to move away from cigarettes. That's a great thing.

I'll also concede the point that its probably not going to make a difference what links you post, so maybe our impact here is overblown. I don't know.





I'm posing the question is it in our best interest

Speaking philosophically I don't think it will make much of a difference either way. The problem with outsourcing is not consumer driven, it's driven by corporate culture. The reason it costs so much to make things in America is that it costs so much to live in America. Health insurance costs are high, and even when you have insurance the copays are still high, gas is high, real estate is high, ADA compliance is costly, and a whole host of other reasons. I'd guess that every dollar you spend in America ends up going to at least ten different corporations and government agencies. I don't know what the answer is, but paying a markup on a foreign made good isn't it. IMHO

 

[ChrisOrange]

Personally I will order from USA or local vendors to support them and get my shipments faster. I will be placing my first order wed and after months and months of research there is only one product that I feel can be labelled "gouging." Check your USA / UK / EU vendor websites for battery chargers...then check that same charger on Amazon and you will be shocked. The markup on some of these sites is way too large.

IMO the rest of the products sold at a good price but the battery chargers are a bit shameful.

 

[Bookworm]

I have made one ten dollar order from fasttech, and I haven't even gotten my package yet to evaluate quality. So not all of us are fasttech fanboys. I just don't see how buying Chinese goods from american resellers makes much difference. If they are American made, that's awesome and I could see how that makes a huge difference.

The mods above are awesome, and I'm glad to see so many American made devices. I don't use mods (although I have thought about the Reo) but would be interested in American made clearos, attys, and batteries. If someone knows of some high quality ones, let me know.

 

[Lessifer]

If one of those lasts 6 times longer than a Vamo, which was cheaper?

When you live paycheck to paycheck, the cheaper one is cheaper.

 

[bunnomatic]

years ago all the cheap stuff was made in hong kong, then it moved to taiwain (sic?), then it went to japan, now its chinas turn. next up will be south korea or maybe north korea when that wacko is gone. only the names change. the complaints or lack of are the same.

 

[ChrisOrange]

I don't know what the answer is, but paying a markup on a foreign made good isn't it. IMHO

This depends though on what added benefits the USA vendors can bring. To me it seems like vaping is so new that we don't have a "Zappos" of vaping yet with that insane level of customer service...but I think that's coming.

Also living in America is cheaper than you make it out to be. We used to pay a larger percentage of our paychecks on food for example but govt subsidies on corn and other technology has greatly reduced that cost. In other countries they are royally screwed...we can get more calories from 5 US dollars than they could get out of 10.

 

[tj99959]

When you live paycheck to paycheck, the cheaper one is cheaper.

I'm over 70 and on fixed income, can't get much more paycheck to paycheck than that.
What I did:
My first kit was just an eGo-T, I used those two little batteries for almost 6 months before I even looked at a good PV. I just avoided buying any of the ones that were coming out of China (like the Lava Tube). I then bought a Silver Bullet. I still have it. After saving up for another 6 months, I bought a Provari. I still have it too. Then after another 6 months of saving I bought a Reo, and I still have it.
During that process I never once spent more than I had been spending on cigarettes, and I now have three quality PV's that will outlive me.
All from US companies, with great warranties, and customer service.

So I now have great vaping equipment, all payed for by not buying junk.

 

[Lessifer]

I'm over 70 and on fixed income, can't get much more paycheck to paycheck than that.
What I did:
My first kit was just an eGo-T, I used those two little batteries for almost 6 months before I even looked at a good PV. I just avoided buying any of the ones that were coming out of China (like the Lava Tube). I then bought a Silver Bullet. I still have it. After saving up for another 6 months, I bought a Provari. I still have it too. Then after another 6 months of saving I bought a Reo, and I still have it.
During that process I never once spent more than I had been spending on cigarettes, and I now have three quality PV's that will outlive me.
All from US companies, with great warranties, and customer service.

So I now have great vaping equipment, all payed for by not buying junk.

I commend your budgeting and saving abilities, for me, between the wife and kid any "extra" money I have seems to disappear pretty quickly so I always have to plan for whatever I can get in one go. I'd love a quality American made vv/vw mod with a three button system for $50. Maybe someday it will happen.

 

[tj99959]

I commend your budgeting and saving abilities, for me, between the wife and kid any "extra" money I have seems to disappear pretty quickly so I always have to plan for whatever I can get in one go. I'd love a quality American made vv/vw mod with a three button system for $50. Maybe someday it will happen.

That will never happen, but what will happen is the day will come that products from China cost as much (or more) than what is made here. Just look at Japan for instance. The day will come that the Chinese will no longer put up with the smog or the low wages. Then, they too, will be on the road to becoming a "consumer" nation just like us.