OBS ripping off customers with o-rings

[englishmick]

What would you pay for convenience?

Someone on ECF went to the trouble of figuring out the sizes for Kayfun rings and posted links for McM. Likewise for screws. I stocked up on them. But they came in packs of either 25 or 50. I didn't mind because I mostly use KFL's and I have quite a few of them.

On the other hand I have some Lemo tanks and nobody ever found an exact match for the tank seal rings. They are flat washer style rings. I've gone through threads here where people tried multiple different sizes from different sources. Some were found that aren't exactly right but sort of work. You can send them a ring and they will make them for you, but you have to buy large quantities, 200 I think, and pay quite a lot. If someone was still selling Lemo rings I would pay a premium for them, but I left it too late.

It isn't easy to figure out the exact size of a soft rubber ring when fractions of a millimeter matter, especially for non-standard or complex profiles. For a lot of people it would make sense to pay a few extra bucks for a pack of rings rather than try to figure out the sizes, hope you got it right, and buy bags of 50 of 4 different sized rings.

 

[keelalagirl55]

Overpriced parts from the manufacturer is nothing new....and not just by OBS. Look at auto parts as a prime example. Just recently I had a window hinge break on the back of my car. From Ford, the part cost me $87 for just 1 hinge. My mechanic, after market, was able to get 2 hinges and install them for just over $100. That works for any part from Ford, Chevy, etc.....always cheaper not bought from them.

Now with that said.....would I pay $6 for that puny amount of orings....Probably not if I had other options. Just like I wouldn't pay for parts from Ford, Chevy, and the like.

I will say thank you to the OP for starting this thread, though. I now know not to order an OBS tank I do hope that you can find what you need at a more reasonable price

 

[tailland]

It just takes a little effort to find since there are so many types and sizes to sort through. It costed me 4-6 cents (I think) per o ring for mine with a similar profile.

And I'll keep on looking. It's not like there's another reasonable venue for that ^^

There's a possibility OBS are having those made to order and not using existing ones...

I considered that for about a second, but remembered that it's the exact same rings they put into the packages of those products they're selling right at this moment. So those rings are in all likelihood no "special orders". But I'm dead set on finding out. I hope they answer my PM today.

I did a quick search (without having the seal in hand I really can't be sure if what I found is it though) and you could try L gaskets (which is what I ordered for my tank, checked my order history) and T shoulder radial seals. Those match the profiles in the picture you listed.

That's a hint. Thanks.

...so i don't again understand why the comment other than arrogance.

This is why:

"The example you showed to get a really cheap shipping amount is 30-50 days (which will be working days) no tracking (doubt you would ever actually receive them)"

That wasn't just factually wrong, but that last part sounds derogatory as well. Not towards me, but the people on the chinese side of the transportation chain; as if them losing people's .... was the norm.

i seriously hope it didn't it would have human life on their like me and you!

Sometimes I know that people pretend not to understand a joke, and at other times, I don't. It was a joke.

That is a matter of perpective.

Yaaah, not really. For the price of 3 (or 2.5) of their o-ring sets, you get 1 whole atomiser - which in return already contains 2 sets of those same o-rings. I wanna see the person who then doesn't do a simple plus/minus calculation to find out what the value of the atomiser is

..I've gone through threads here where people tried multiple different sizes from different sources...It isn't easy to figure out the exact size of a soft rubber ring when fractions of a millimeter matter, especially for non-standard or complex profiles. For a lot of people it would make sense to pay a few extra bucks for a pack of rings rather than try to figure out the sizes...

You're right. But this shouldn't be a thing. A manufacturer supplying repair parts is not a luxury, or an unreasonable request, especially when the list of replacement parts is so short, and the parts are as cheap to make as the o-rings we need. And if some of the atty manufacturers can do it in a reasonable manner, the other ones can do it as well.

Infact, I'll look into this matter a bit more intensively when I find some time. I'd be surprised if there weren't some EU regulations, forcing manufacturers of electr(on)ic devices to supply repair parts for x years after a product has been released into the market.

 

[zoiDman]

That is a matter of perpective.

Yeah... Perspective can be a Funny Thing.

I remember Reading this thread once where someone was doing a Mini-Rant about the price of a piece of Replacement Glass for some RTA.

They Kept going On and On (and On) about what a Rip Off it was because it cost like 2 Bucks more than some other Glass they bought for another Tank.

What made it Funny was the OP had one of those Signatures that said they Hadn't Smoked 29,000 Cigarettes in last 4 years. And that they had saved something like $9,500 Dollars because of e-Cigarettes.

LOL

 

[englishmick]

Yaaah, not really. For the price of 3 of their o-ring sets, you get one of their whole atomisers - which in return already contains 2 sets of those same o-rings. I wanna see the person who then doesn't do a simple plus/minus calculation to find out what the value of the atomiser is

A while back someone was selling off old Lemo tanks for $5. They come with rings installed plus a set of spares. I picked up half a dozen just to have the rings. Back when rings were available I suspect I would have paid close to $5 for a couple of sets of rings. I would have paid $5 just for the rings.

People who sell stuff do it for the money not to help their fellow man. Nobody is obliged to make life easy for us.

 

[Susaz]

I wonder... How long have you had your atty to have gone through 2 sets of o rings already?
I've had my two engines (a full size and a Nano) for well over a year and I only had to change 1 because when reassembling I crushed one. I rarely go through all of them at once. And this is now, most of us use an atty for 6 months or less.
If you're buying to have as spares, don't fret, most likely something will replace it very soon.
I buy these boxes from FT to have just in case

$2.68 Silicone O-Ring Seals for Atomizer (50 Pieces) - 13/14/15/16/17mm*1.0mm / ships ten of each size at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

$5.78 Rubber O-Ring Seals for E-Cigarettes (300 Pieces) 300-pack - ships 30 of each type at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[untar]

Some flavorings react with some oring materials. Don't know if that's the reason but I've seen my fair share of bloated and ripped orings giving up service well before their time.

Another explanation would be he's German and scrubs his tank with a toothbrush twice a day, who knows

 

[tailland]

I wonder... How long have you had your atty to have gone through 2 sets of o rings already?

Took me 2 days to get through the spare parts of a brand new atty...
[Review Contest] Joyetech Espion series review contest
(only read the text in the SPOILER section)

 

[Zaryk]

Took me 2 days to get through the spare parts of a brand new atty...
[Review Contest] Joyetech Espion series review contest
(only read the text in the SPOILER section)

I didnt see anything about the OBS tank in the link. Just some procore tank issues, so I don't see how that is even relevant to the question. It would only make sense that they were asking how long it took you to go through your OBS spares, since that is the only brand they mentioned in their post.

 

[Tim Wiseman]

I didnt see anything about the OBS tank in the link. Just some procore tank issues, so I don't see how that is even relevant to the question. It would only make sense that they were asking how long it took you to go through your OBS spares, since that is the only brand they mentioned in their post.

Wasting your time, It's been a common theme going off on a tangent, if not in agreement. The OP was simply saying OBS are ripping off people because their o-rings are $5.99 with free E-packet delivery, could be slightly cheaper but i wouldn't exactly call it ripping people off certainly to the point i would start a thread about it.

 

[tailland]

Although you don't care...

in 9h, the amazing 30% discount on the o-ring sets runs out, and still:
>>> a total of 1 order(s) has been placed and 2 people have added this item to their wishlist - of the entire Ali userbase. And one of the wishlisters is me ^^

So... seems I wasn't the only person who didn't appreciate their offer

 

[Cynophobe]

Although you don't care...

in 9h, the amazing 30% discount on the o-ring sets runs out, and still:
>>> a total of 1 order(s) has been placed and 2 people have added this item to their wishlist - of the entire Ali userbase. And one of the wishlisters is me ^^

So... seems I wasn't the only person who didn't appreciate their offer

Now I want to buy an OBS tank just so I can get these o rings! Failing that, neuter my Dachshund.

 

[untar]

Now I want to buy an OBS tank just so I can get these o rings!

Smart move, they're probably gonna be bigger than bitcoin in a few months

 

[Baditude]

Browsing Ali for new vape stuff...

I'm wondering why you even bother shopping on Ali.

They are widely known to sell counterfeit items. That's price gouging from the get go. I know for a fact that all of the AW batteries sold on Ali are counterfeits, as Andrew Wan (Mr. AW himself) warned years ago. They don't even look like AW batteries, which have not been available for several months because of a factory flood, but Ali has the fakes available. Ali is a ripoff vendor. If you must shop cheap, use Fast Tech. At least FT is honest and says if the item is authentic or a clone.

^ Fake AW

^ authentic AW

 

[tailland]

I'm wondering why you even bother shopping on Ali... They are widely known to sell counterfeit items... Ali is a ripoff vendor. If you must shop cheap, use Fast Tech.

Splendid opportunity to spread some nollitsch.

1. AliBaba is a B2B platform for vendors, and Aliex is its B2C cousin. It organises and insures the trade. It doesn't store, sell, or ship anything of its own.

2. I shop on Ali because all the big names run their own stores on the Ali platform, along with a huge number of authorised vendors. Eleaf, Joyetech, OBS, Smok, Coil Master, XTAR, Liitokala, Heavengifts... it's like a huge industrial fair with their shops opened to the peasantry. And boy can you make bargain buys at those shops. I know I did.

 

[Baditude]

2. I shop on Ali because all the big names run their own stores on the Ali platform, along with a huge number of authorised vendors. Eleaf, Joyetech, OBS, Smok, Coil Master, XTAR, Liitokala, Heavengifts... it's like a huge industrial fair with their shops opened to the peasantry. And boy can you make bargain buys at those shops. I know I did.

And after all of those bargain buys you still start a thread complaining about $6 O-rings?

 

[tailland]

And after all of those bargain buys you still start a thread complaining about $6 O-rings?

It's not about $6. It's about not letting them set a precedent in ripping people off, which what this ridiculous overcharge is. If they get away with it this time, they'll do it again. And others may try to follow.

 

[Baditude]

It's not about $6. It's about not letting them set a precedent in ripping people off, which what this ridiculous overcharge is. If they get away with it this time, they'll do it again. And others may try to follow.

Not making excuses for this company, but we should probably consider the costs involved in sourcing obscure not-often-sold items and the costs involved in providing warehouse space for those items. Storage or display space costs vendors money that could be better used for more profitable items from a business perspective. I didn't realize this until I worked in a vape shop.

 

[TrollDragon]

This place gets better every day...

A lot of attys use L shaped seals instead of o-rings, damn them all to hell.

I don't think I have replaced more than half a dozen seals or o-rings in 4 years of vaping. I think that OBS should really be taken to task over the PoS Engine Nano.

 

[TrollDragon]

And $6 pfft...

To put new o-rings in my Genius2 would cost me $29.60 CAD... €9.90 for the rings and another €9.90 shipping.
Replacement set for GENIUS² atomizer