Innokin, Kanger and Aspire complained to pp that FT was selling counterfiets or weren't an authorized reseller so pp cut them off with those products. You can buy a gift cert and then use that or the bit coin thing. Usually on the right hand side under the specs there will be a note saying pp is not available for this product. Some things are still ok like I picked up authentic subtank and atlantis bases and auth subtank rba with pp, no problems. Authentic coils are usually always out. The rest is hit and miss.
I think bit coin may play an increasing role in ecig sales in the future. I was in a group buy and some of the alternate payment forms are tightening up also.
Chinese designers are getting more and more original. Top filling subtanks for example. FT is good because they offer a wide variety that's easy to compare and active, honest user feedback. Some of the discussion threads can be highly informative, some are kinda raw too since for the most part they aren't moderated. I don't know of any other site outside of ECF that's as helpful as some of the FT threads when it comes to tinkering, fixing and opinions on what works and what doesn't. There's databases on what chips are used, thread compatability, battery specs, all user contributed. Awesome vape porn thread.
Shipping depends on world politics. Recently 17 bombs were delivered in China. Needless to say anything like a tube mod was returned to the shipper. That's been ironed out and shipping has returned to normal. Keep an eye on the customer forums for signs of delays as that's where they will be announced, often by customers.
When all goes well, I can get items within 7 to 14 days after they are shipped. Ordering things in stock or available next day and they will be packaged and shipped within 24 to 48 hours. Expect a longer wait if ETA is 5 to 7 days because that's a date set by the manufacturer and FT doesn't have it yet. There's a variety of reasons that date can get pushed back including FT refusing the item for QC. My Kabuki was shipped in 3 days even though ETA was 7 days. Ya' never know. It's also possible for 1 item to hold up shipment and then just tell FT it's ok to split shipment or cancel that item. You'll get a gift cert for anything they owe you.
FT offers a 3 month warrenty on most items and RMA's are to a Florida warehouse. That's why I got started buying through them is because the warrenty was better than many US vendors. FT cs is very responsive with most questions answered within 24 hrs even if the site says 2 to 4 days. They are also very good about taking product requests and pre sale questions.
None of the other chinese sites have the active customer base that FT does and I find I miss the reviews. I also tend to expect clones to have lesser quality machining, need tinkering or missing parts, etc. so responsive cs is just as important as everything else and that seems to be missing elsewhere. Recently I made a test order with 3Fvape largely because they are active on another unmentionable forum and on FB to customer issues. I got notice of shipment within 24 hrs, authentic coils was accepted using pp which wouldn't work with FT. So far, signs are good.
I can't find the same stuff at US vendors but then I buy non essentials like drip tips, colored tanks, bell caps, orings and mech mods can't be beat. Some FT user is always game for tearing a mod apart to see what makes it tick. lol. But that's what I luv about them. No other vendor allows such raw feedback.
If FT says "authentic" then it is, if they say "styled" then that's what it is. Was it worth saving $1? Well, considering shipping costs it's more like $5 and having an extra warrenty period, it could be, that is if it can be found stateside and often parts can't be found. Try finding nautilus bases. I only know of 2 US vendors and Aspire which takes 3 weeks. FT is a great place to view the widest variety of vape gear with the most reviews, pics and vids from actual users.
Just pay attention to what is happening in the rest of the world when it comes to shipping. FT doesn't have a crystal ball into the future. They are usually the first to notify customers of shipping problems.
