Kanger clones: need opinions/facts/photos (legit and fake)

[WhateverDave]

Hello ECF,


My name is Dave and I have been part of the vaping community for around 5 years now. I've been lurking here for some time but this is my first post (well my actual first post was deleted and I don't know how to say what I do in a more vague manner.. [no offense intended, I was just trying to fully introduce myself]).


Anyway, I have found this to be a great community and I have learned a lot from many of you.


My only real question at this time is if anyone has pictures of Kanger clones (especially multiple fakes) that they could post for me. The ones I have been finding lately do not look like the current production models I have seen on known legitimate sites.


I am trying to determine if the ones I am finding are just old stock or actual fakes. The Aerotanks (all versions) I have been getting do not come with the metal tank guard and the back of the packaging says "chocking hazzard." I understand that it's a Chinese company and packaging can sometimes contain spelling errors, however, given the huge popularity of these tanks and the size of the manufacturer, I find this spelling error to be quite a large oversight.


Also, the packaging on all these models uses the old verification code system. The codes say there are valid (when entered on Kanger's website verification form), but I wonder if this is just old legitimate packaging with an inferior clone inside or if it is just actually old stock? I have seen clones of many vaporizers (Pax, Atmos Jewel, etc.) that had the legitimate packaging (I think most people know that a very large portion of product packaging is made in China and many of these manufacturers have no problem selling excess packaging or intentionally doing overruns for sale to other companies), however, when the vaporizer units themsleves are examined, it is easy to tell that they are knockoffs. Since these are more complex devices, the clones are easy to spot but I find it harder to do so with these Kanger tanks since I'm not sure if I've ever had a legitimate one.


Any insight on this will be greatly appreciated. I have looked at some YouTube videos and similar threads but I was not able to make an exact determination off of those resources (I apologize if I overlooked an existing thread). I know the new Kanger models have the "disappears when wet" logo but I have not seen this in person yet.


Sorry for for the long post, I just need to know what I'm dealing with.

 

[WhateverDave]

I understand my OP may be too long for many (or maybe you feel I've answered my own questions) so I will just sum it up.

I'm a new member but longtime lurker (generally, I only speak when I have something to contribute). Hello, everyone.

I'm trying to find images\descriptions of real, old stock, and cloned Kanger tanks. I feel that I am being duped (or, at best, being sent old stock) by my current supplier but I have to prove it for action (switching suppliers) to be taken seriously since someone over my head makes that call.

Anyone with experience dealing with Kanger clones feel free to chime in.

 

[Susan~S]

The only Kanger clones I have ever seen is coils.

 

[WhateverDave]

Thank you, Susan.

I will posts pics of what I am dealing with as soon as my newbie status goes away.

You bring up something else I am worried about. I see a wide variation in coil life (with the same experienced vapers having just as many issues as the newer ones) on a batch to batch basis. I think my supplier is just sending whatever they can get the best deal on..

 

[FallenRawToast]

stop ordering from the cheapest supplier and order direct from Kanger?

 

[WhateverDave]

Toast, I agree completely, however,I have to prove that they're fake in order to get the person who orders them to change their mind. It's an uphill battle so far.

 

[Davey59]

Also, from what I have read some are what you might call stolen, not fake. Extra runs etc. that Kanger is unaware of.

I have a couple of the AeroTanks the one I have that the numbers did not check out on the Kangertech site the logo is not quite as long and the threading on the 510 male pin does not go as far up the pin/shank as the theoretically legit ones. That is the only difference I noticed. Might just be from a different plant.

That said, the old stock issue would be hard to nail down and add the slight design modifications or the possibility that a given manufacturers run may not have "cut it" and been rejected and sold off as a second tier product. No one is exactly forth coming with information. I was told about second tier and back door sales from a vape shop owner.

The theory that many trademarked Chinese companies (not all actually make anything) put out there own fakes to profit from the lower price point sales market and benefit from the free advertising. Anytime there is a controversy about products, even American companies getting cloned there is free advertising for a market and a product that really is not advertised anywhere except an obscure vape magazine or internet sight.

I would not put ANYTHING past the Chinese, period.

I have a suspect Mega that other than the number not checking out would be impossible to tell any difference whatsoever. The ONLY way I can tell is on the first one I bought which IS legit I scored the body using my shop vice to get it apart when I was a noob.

Sorry for the long read, no pictures here.

 

[WhateverDave]

Thank you, Davey59. That all sounds completely possible based on my experience with shady suppliers... Thank you for your input.

Beyond that, Davey59, is there a thread where I could check out info on that mod you did to your Mega?

Just requested the new quad-coil Aerotank Turbos by Kanger so we will see how those turn out.