FINAL UPDATE: Package arrived just 4 days and a few hours after ordering. Outstanding, especially considering that two of the days were weekend days. Arrived to my home Monday morning at 10:30 am PST via DHL. I ordered 66-5 packs of Boge Standard Resistence Stainless Steel Cartomizers or 330 total units. Packaging was sturdy and no signs of damage. The contents were packed neatly. The waybill listed the "value" at $82.50 USD. So, I am guessing that though the purchase price was $227, the price paid by HC was $82, hence the ability to list that as the value and avoid the duty charge. Anything under $200, according to DHL is not charged any fees. So, in the future, I guess that I can order over twice the amount and still avoid any additional fees.
The cartos appear to be of good quality. I am noticing some differences in them that I have not seen in ones that I have purchased from US vendors. But, I have noticed differences in ones received from US vendors as well. They all have come in the same black and white boxes with the same labling printend on the box. Then there is the sticky lable that says 510D Stainless. However, I have had the designation "STD" on that label as well. Some I got from Vaperbeast had that on them as well as the indiviual clear plastic wrapping. I recently got some from Stormy's Vapor Cellar and they all had the letters "SE" on each of the individual plastic wrapper. What the heck is SE?
On this batch from HC, there is no ohm resistence designation. However, I have seen that before from ones recieved from US vendors. What I have never seen before is the fact that both condoms are short. There is not a long and and short one. And, the silicon pin on these are built into one side of one of the condoms. So, it has always made me curious as to why there are so many different types of packaging variences with Boge cartos. I imagine that Boge is streamlining packaging to save money, or there are several different manufacturing plants, or (worse case scenerio) there are alot of bootlegs.
I checked all the boxes and all are the same. The quantity ordered was the quantity received. I took one carto out and examined it to others I have received from US vendors. I compared it to 4 different batches. There are no noticable differences. I tested the ohm on the just one so far. 2.8. That is typical. I usually get 2.8 to 3.0. I puched it, filled it and stuck in a tank and vaped it. Workes perfectly.
So my inital conclusion is that I could not be happier with my first experience with HC. I will have to see over the next few months to see if there are any duds, how many and how each one performs (in lifespan) as compared to others I have used in the past. I know there were some recent reports of Boge cartos causing juice to turn dark quickly or not lasting but a day. I have never experience that with any. Depending on the juice I use, they last anywhere between 6ml and 30ml. Dark VG bakery flavors tend to last about 6ml or so. Clear fruit flavors that are 70/30 VG/PG tend to last the longest.
Again, I would like to send my appreciation to HC for great prices and great shipping and, what appears to be quality product. As it stands now, I would recommend them to anyone and I will order from them in the future. I will update as the weeks/months go by.
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