It's interesting that some people honestly think "high end" mod prices are justifiable.

[JulesXsmokr]

Am I going to have a mod on my .... for this.. if so please delete!
All China wants is our money, they are a state run program..

I need to stop there.. Take the rest as you wish..

 

[WattWick]

Disclaimer: Unpopular opinion and brutal honesty ahead. Possibly sprinkled with a dash of ignorance and doubt.

I think people overestimate the intricacy of tubular mod design. It's' not so much about mechanical design, R&D and innovation as it is about visual design and incorporating tried and trusted (and basic!) mechanical principles. That is, a button. Only if done in a very strange way does visual design require a whole lot of physical prototyping. Read: You don't have to build an entire end-user-quality mod with engravings and all every time you want to check if your latest attempt at a button works as planned. Nor should you use a CNC machine for sketching out visuals.

Some times it feels like the higher price is to kickstart someones dream of turning a hobby into a career just as much as for higher quality and truly clever and thoughtful designs.

I try not to p on anyones parade by mentioning specific models. I'm thinking generally of your average $180+ standard-button mod... not those with unique design features and/or show a passion for the craft. You don't have to re-invent the wheel to impress me, but you better make a darn good one to make me pay a premium for it.

Sounds like I hate the higher priced mods. Truly, I don't. I even own some. Some may be worth it, but definitely not all. Some may have taken a lot of thinking and prototyping, but definitely not all. Some may may be great, but some manufacturers could well have put on their thinking caps a couple more times before going "OK good enough". Life goes on anyway

 

[EvilZoe]

Am I going to have a MOD on my .... for this.. if so please delete!
All China wants is our money, they are a state run program..

I need to stop there.. Take the rest as you wish..

Hey, plenty of people wanting our money. China is by no means the only one...LOL

 

[TheSystemHasFailed]

Does anybody even remember when all we really wanted was to quit smoking?

/closethread.

 

[belsenj]

You know whats really funny about this? I could care less what anyone thinks of what I buy. It's just me - but I sure am excited about putting my Russian CLONE on top of my Svoe Mesto Semovar when I get it. I am going to have the most fantastic vape I've ever had, I am sure.

Vape on and Vape Happy!!!

 

[xan13x]

Disclaimer: Unpopular opinion and brutal honesty ahead. Possibly sprinkled with a dash of ignorance and doubt.

I think people overestimate the intricacy of tubular mod design. It's' not so much about mechanical design, R&D and innovation as it is about visual design and incorporating tried and trusted (and basic!) mechanical principles. That is, a button. Only if done in a very strange way does visual design require a whole lot of physical prototyping. Read: You don't have to build an entire end-user-quality mod with engravings and all every time you want to check if your latest attempt at a button works as planned. Nor should you use a CNC machine for sketching out visuals.

Some times it feels like the higher price is to kickstart someones dream of turning a hobby into a career just as much as for higher quality and truly clever and thoughtful designs.

I try not to p on anyones parade by mentioning specific models. I'm thinking generally of your average $180+ standard-button mod... not those with unique design features and/or show a passion for the craft. You don't have to re-invent the wheel to impress me, but you better make a darn good one to make me pay a premium for it.

Sounds like I hate the higher priced mods. Truly, I don't. I even own some. Some may be worth it, but definitely not all. Some may have taken a lot of thinking and prototyping, but definitely not all. Some may may be great, but some manufacturers could well have put on their thinking caps a couple more times before going "OK good enough". Life goes on anyway

If you are speaking specifically on mechanical mods, you may have a bit of a point. Though, as a point of reference, I've never heard someone review a fasttech mech and rate it even in their top 10. Now vv/vw mods are a whole different story. There is a reason there are a fairly limited number of chips being used, and new ones coming out is a big deal. If it was "visual design" that made a mod because they are all "a button" why in the bloody hell would anyone buy a Provari? It is one of the ugliest popular mods and costs 7 times as much as a Vamo..... I mean, they're both just buttons right?

Most of my commentary in this thread has been aimed more at high end attys, which, of course they all use some sort of juice sucking material to get to a coil, are vastly different in terms of design, effectiveness, and quality.

 

[sawlight]

You guys are talking about all of this prototyping work, which is understandable with atomizers, but the mods themselves are not very intricate... They are a tube with various cuts/engravings on the outside and a 510 connector. Not much to that. The button assembly probably requires more R&D than the mod itself. People buying these "high end" battery tubes are supporting these ridiculous mark-ups.

Again, atomizers are one thing and are often very advanced and require a lot of work to make it function properly, but the same is not true for mods. Turn stock to size, bore, drill, engrave/cut designs, insert battery pin and 510 connector...

So how many "tubes" have you built? I figure if it's so easy you've cranked out at least a dozen or so?

 

[minimalsaint]

You know whats really funny about this? I could care less what anyone thinks of what I buy. It's just me - but I sure am excited about putting my Russian CLONE on top of my Svoe Mesto Semovar when I get it. I am going to have the most fantastic vape I've ever had, I am sure.

Vape on and Vape Happy!!!

.........

 

[WattWick]

@xan13x Yes yes strictly mechanical! Should have clarified that. Lots more variables in an electronic mod.

And fully agreed on atties. Those has to be built and tested to know exactly how they will perform. Unless you're a simulation genius with a specialization in various wicking materials and coil builds.

 

[Debra_oh]

If I was smart I would probably stay out of the discussion, but, obviously, that is not going to happen.

I am just not clear about what the OPs point is. The market in vaping gear is really not that different than in his own area of specialty.... AR 15s. Colt is the only "true" manufacturer and everyone else is making clones. In general, Colt charges a premium but they have reduced that premium to be more competitive. In the AR-15 clone market prices are all over the place. You have low cost models, models designed to be comparable to Colt in quality, and then boutique manufacturers who add features for premium prices. People interested in an AR-15 type unit will make choices about quality, features, manufacturer, and price.

This is not all that different from the vaping gear market. The biggest difference is that vaping is a much younger industry which leads to a greater spread between innovators and followers. I imagine this will narrow as the industry matures. Personally, I think it is great that there are people to support both ends of the market as that will lead to a stronger industry overall.

ok, back to my knitting.

 

[EvilZoe]

And everyone buys what they can afford.

 

[pamdis]

I find it interesting that people would pay a ton of money for many things. For example, purses. No new technology there! I spend about $20 for one and use it until it falls apart, usually several years, then buy another one. Others spend hundreds or thousands for one, and they get a new one every month or so. Same with shoes. I have two pair - white sneakers and black dress shoes. When they go, I replace them at minimal cost. Others have hundreds of shoes they have spent untold dollars on. I sincerely doubt that the expensive ones cost much more than my inexpensive ones to produce, but I also know that it probably costs a lot more to design, even if it's not any new technology - it's art at that point, and the sky's the limit when it comes to charging prices for that.

I would never buy a knock off, although many do. When I want a $20 purse, I buy a $20 purse, not a $20 copy of a $200 purse. I also don't think the people who buy the knock-offs are hurting the original designers, as these people would never have bought the original either. So what has the original designer lost? He only goes out of business if HIS customers, the ones who ARE willing to spend the money stop buying it.

Value is in the eye of the buyer. I'm not against spending a lot of money on something if I think it's worth it to me. For cryin' out loud, I own a $400 blender! I don't worry whether someone else thinks it worth it or not. And I don't go around and disparage others who spend $400 on a pair of shoes.

 

[danca90]

What mod does the OP vape? If I am missing out on a fantastic, cheap mech mod, I'd like to know.

 

[SissySpike]

I just forked out 190$ for a used Chi You Its being listed as pristine but its still used. I feel like I got a good price and In very happy with my purchase and looking forward to its arrival.

 

[WattWick]

@Debra

I get your point and have problems disagreeing. However I see a gap in the price ranges of vaping gear, and I can't help but think that quite a few of the "high end" mods truly belong in the currently-non-existent mid range.

 

[xan13x]

@xan13x Yes yes strictly mechanical! Should have clarified that. Lots more variables in an electronic mod.

And fully agreed on atties. Those has to be built and tested to know exactly how they will perform. Unless you're a simulation genius with a specialization in various wicking materials and coil builds.

I still think your point about mechs is oversimplified. There is a good bit of difference given conductivity of materials, voltage drop, types of buttons and pins, which can be advertised at the same but perform vastly differently. Admittedly, mechanicals are usually the most difficult thing to click buy on for 200 bucks. A top of the line vv mod, a crazy intricate atty, etc. sure, that cost can be seen much more readily.

I will concede that with high end mechs, a lot of the draw can be rarity and general beauty. It's like a nice pipe(tobacco kind) or crystal liquor glasses. Past a certain point, you aren't getting quality, your money is going toward rarity and looks.

 

[sawlight]

If I was smart I would probably stay out of the discussion, but, obviously, that is not going to happen.

I am just not clear about what the OPs point is. The market in vaping gear is really not that different than in his own area of specialty.... AR 15s. Colt is the only "true" manufacturer and everyone else is making clones. In general, Colt charges a premium but they have reduced that premium to be more competitive. In the AR-15 clone market prices are all over the place. You have low cost models, models designed to be comparable to Colt in quality, and then boutique manufacturers who add features for premium prices. People interested in an AR-15 type unit will make choices about quality, features, manufacturer, and price.

This is not all that different from the vaping gear market. The biggest difference is that vaping is a much younger industry which leads to a greater spread between innovators and followers. I imagine this will narrow as the industry matures. Personally, I think it is great that there are people to support both ends of the market as that will lead to a stronger industry overall.

ok, back to my knitting.

The OP's point, was done en-mass, with the prototyping done, the market research done and having something that works and is marketable, it CAN be done for much less on the CNC equipment available.
I'll leave it at that.

 

[Debra_oh]

@Debra

I get your point and have problems disagreeing. However I see a gap in the price ranges of vaping gear, and I can't help but think that quite a few of the "high end" mods truly belong in the currently-non-existent mid range.

I don't disagree but I also think prices will moderate as the market matures. As long as someone is willing to pay a price the manufacturer will keep selling it at that price. When sales start to drop price will also. I imagine we will see an expansion in the mid-range fairly soon.

 

[_sidekick_]

So how many "tubes" have you built? I figure if it's so easy you've cranked out at least a dozen or so?

Nice personal attack buddy. I've machined plenty of parts, many more intricate than a tube with a button, but unfortunately I don't have access to any machines currently.

Let me ask, where do you think the "magic" is in making a mechanical mod? I can assure you that the materials are not $200+ per mod... Again, it is literally a metal tube with contacts and a button.

Also, if there was a literal 1:1 clone of a "high end" mod, EXACT in every detail, one for $50 and one for $200, would you still buy the "real" one?

 

[Debra_oh]

The OP's point, was done en-mass, with the prototyping done, the market research done and having something that works and is marketable, it CAN be done for much less on the CNC equipment available.
I'll leave it at that.

True, yet even with the standardization you can spend $700- thousands. You can go machine built to mostly hand manufactured and pay accordingly. My main point is that the vaping industry is not that different than many others, just younger.