Let's Talk Hardware
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Haven't gotten all caught up here, but wanted to get this in before getting called off to duty.
Great review General. Now we'll have to start saving again. Maybe by next Christmas....
Great review General. Now we'll have to start saving again. Maybe by next Christmas....
Oooooooooh, SHINY!
ETA:
Uh oh. I just noticed Qorax was the first to comment on that video. With this and the upcoming K4, my wallet is looking for a hiding place.
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Lots of speculating starting up on the price of the new KF4 due to be released any time. It's gonna have an optional sub-ohm package (more airflow and different insulators, etc). As much as I am looking forward to the new KF4, I will be sitting on the sidelines if they're planning on raping us on the price. I'll let others stick their necks out and tell me if it is that much better than anything else at half the price or less. I already ponied up for an expensive mod and there is a limit on gear expenditures.
I swear these mod makers are using price as a selling point. The more they charge, the more interest they stir.
Idiotic notion, but true.. Ooooh look, expensive shiny. Must be AWESOME! Must have 5 RIGHT NOW!! 
Idiotic notion, but true.. Ooooh look, expensive shiny. Must be AWESOME! Must have 5 RIGHT NOW!!
I looked over that P3 very closely before pulling the trigger. I wanted to know what extra I was getting that justified the additional $50 I was paying relative to my P2. Actually, it was $30 cuz of the beauty ring I didn't need with the P3. I deemed it was worth it and it is turning out I was right. I will be doing the same with the KF4. I'm figuring they are going to really goose up the price. If they do, they had better offer me something that makes my vape experience noticeably better. Otherwise, count me out. I wont ride that price wave simply because it's high. I want substance!
I don't know if I'm going to get one regardless of what it offers at that price point, to be honest!
4 KFL's, 1 ErlPrinz and 1 Orchid V4, in addition to the numerous drippers I have are more than enough for me.
It would have to be at the price the KFL's were, before I seriously think about getting one.
It is going to be interesting to see how accepted the KF4 will be. Are there really significant improvements or is it a bunch of hooey? I just shelled out $250 for the P3 so I'm not in the mood to dish out big bucks for a status atty if that is in fact what it is. And there were plenty of anecdotal accounts of the P3 before it was made available to the masses. We are getting no such thing with the KF4. To say I will be looking at it with a lot of speculation is an understatement.
Here is a quote from a guy that belongs to a FB group I am in, that has an interesting point of view on the industry:
"I've related this sentiment in several comments on other people's posts, in hangouts, in person, et cetera. If this post offends anyone, please don't expect me to be apologetic. In the interest of being politic, I shall name no names, however. It has been my observation that there have been several "high end" mods released lately that have fallen well short of expectations. Entire releases of mods, which have been paid for in advance, have been found to be low quality and poor design, displaying no indication of any attempt at quality control.
I believe that both modders and vapers are to blame here in some ways...
The typical business model of many of these modders is this:
1) Come up with an idea for a mod
2) Talk to your buddies at a vape shop about it, who will tell you its a good idea
3) Come up with a drawing, 3D rendering, mockup, et cetera
4) Hype the hell out of the mod, make it super exclusive, start an interest list.
5) After waiting an appropriate amount of time, set the release. Put up a list that is difficult to get on to. Allow other people to stroke you for a spot on the list.
6) Invoice everyone for the mod before you even really know how you are going to produce it.
7) Throw everything together once you realize that you dont know what you are doing.
8) Ship out crap to people that paid in advance.
9) Dont really fix the problems, because you really cant afford to.
10) Create a second release that fixes all of the problems of the first one. Return to step 2 and repeat.
This is a problem. When a company in the real world puts out a crap product, they go out of business. That is a normal life cycle. Those fit to survive, will survive. Cold hearted of me? If you think so, I thank you.
What can a modder do to make this better?
1) Dont release a product that has not completed at least two testing cycles (typically referred to as Alpha and Beta testing).
2) Your Beta test units should be produced using the production techniques for your finished product.
3) Get feedback from your alpha and beta testers.
4) Consult people that know what they are doing. If you dont know anything about electronics, try talking to an electronics guy. If you dont know anything about metalworking, talk to a machinist. If you dont know what you are doing, find people who do and consult with them. This doesnt always cost money. Network to find people who will help. Ive had a few conversations with a few modders to date, and given well received sound advice. This community is full of people who will do the same.
5) When you put a list up, have some devices ready to go. Maybe its just two or three, or ten (better) But be ready to ship a couple off the bat. If your mod is great, your next list will fill up, and people will be a lot happier about pre-paying for a product they wont receive for a month or two.
6) When you have a device that slips through quality control, fix it. Heres a conceptIf its your fault, send a call tag so the customer can ship it back. I think its ridiculous that modders are making people ship stuff back for manufacturer defects. If it is a conus-conus transaction, six bucks handles the shipping. If it is outside of conus, things get more complicated. Thats the cost of doing business.
7) Have an actual warranty on your product. Finite, spelled out in black and white, what is covered under the warranty. You know, like when you go buy a toaster, or television, or even condoms
8) If you are selling a significant number of items to people that dont speak your language, find someone that is fluent in both languages to help communicate.
9) Have sufficient financial backing in order to accomplish items 1-8. Yes, I know, it sucks, but if you dont have enough money to support a product release, release only a product you can support. I know one modder in particular who does outstanding work, and makes one mod at a time. I have heard of absolutely NO problems with any of his mods. He is only producing what he can support.
What can the vape community do to make this better?
1) Realize that you are a CUSTOMER when you buy a mod, and that people that make mods arent doing you favors by letting you buy their stuff. Ive come across a few people in this industry that are big names and give outstanding personal service (Here is one place where I really wish I would allow myself to name names, but I wont). Vape Famous modders who respond to messages, under promise and over deliver, put out a great product, and THANK ME FOR MY BUSINESS. This is what every one of us should expect.
2) Band together and demand product samples be released to the community before committing to a list. Buying a product that has never been seen is highly risky. Theres a lot of hype that is based only on what people are saying who a) know nothing about the product and b) havent even seen the product.
3) When a manufacturer sends you a screwed up product, hold them accountable. Ensure that you are being serviced like a customer. Deal with the manufacturer in a polite and professional manner to whatever extent possible, and demand the same from them.
4) If you are buying something from someone who doesnt speak your language, maybe try finding someone who speaks their language to help communicate. This is an international community. Lets act like it.
5) Post accurate and unbiased reviews of products.
6) Realize that business is business. Treat business transactions as business transactions.
These are the items that I can think of at the moment. Im sure the community will have more.
Again, if you are a modder, or a vaper, and you find parts of this post offensive, perhaps you should attempt to understand why it is offensive. These are basic business concepts here "
Was able to pick up my Vapor Flask AND batteries this morning. My batteries fit with no problem. They are both inserted in the proper direction and the unit is charging. I see no cosmetic flaws to it. My buttons are all flush etc... I won't be venturing into the nickel builds and temp protection till late this weekend, after I meet with some people in perso. That know what they are doing and will educate me along the way. Taking this whole thing nice and slowly so I stay safe and hopefully not disappointed.
It's aesthetically pleasing and smaller than it looks in the pictures. It's the gunmetal color and it's prettier in person.
So far so good!
It's aesthetically pleasing and smaller than it looks in the pictures. It's the gunmetal color and it's prettier in person.
So far so good!
Bill, it's almost like vapers forgot every concept related to "Buyer Beware". All those things they've learned over their lives they readily toss out the window when it comes to vape gear. "If it sounds too good to be true....." It's like prostitution. Does anyone care about how much that costs or what the dangers of it are? Many don't. Their sensibilities are distracted by other things. Fanboism runs rampant in the vape gear world. That's just another word for losing one's mind.
I will take a wait and see mode on the K4 because I too have more attys then I have going at any one time. I can certainly see where in the future the hybrid P3 connection would be a huge hit. April glad you are liking the Vapor Flask so far and I'm sure you'll find building it a breeze.
Bronze, it is getting to be a little out of hand. At this year's Vape Summit, they held raffles to win the chance to BUY a mod. LOL
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