hey im pandering whether i should buy the clone sentinel or the genuine sentinel. Whats the difference?
Philippines made mods? is it worth it?
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Don't waste your time on clones if you have the money for the real thing. Clones are poorly made in china often have cheap metals as their contacts and will noticeable drop your voltage under load if you plan on running anything sub ohm. I have a Sentinel and its absolutely amazing. Every thread on it is buttery smooth, the locking ring on it works amazingly well and the silver plated contacts mean that barely any voltage is lost under load compared to the terrible clone contacts. Pretty much you can either get something that looks cool and that will perform like a cheap mod from china or you could get something that looks cool and runs amazingly well.
Look around and read the reviews on the clone. If you are going to get the sentinel clone, get the full brass body. Many have reported that the aluminum clones have terrible 510 threads and that they strip easy. You will get varying opinions, mostly biased, so do some research on it. Watch youtube vids on both the clone and the real versions. Can you justify spending an additional $150 to get a 0.18 voltage drop as opposed to 0.21? How about customer service? Or that feeling that you're helping out a small business instead of a Chinese website?
I couldn't care less for any of those, so I went with a clone. $18 shipped to my house. Broken o-ring, firing pin, center pin, threads? Home improvement store is the answer. For $18, don't complain if you have to do a few more things (somethings nothing) to get it perfect.
M16 clone: $16.22 Sentinel M16 Mod Telescoping E-Cigarette Battery Compartment - gold at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Sentinel V3 clone: $18.11 V3 MOD Telescoping Electronic Cigarette Battery Compartment - gold at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Private V2 real: Private Mod V2
Sentinel V3 real: Sentinel V3
I couldn't care less for any of those, so I went with a clone. $18 shipped to my house. Broken o-ring, firing pin, center pin, threads? Home improvement store is the answer. For $18, don't complain if you have to do a few more things (somethings nothing) to get it perfect.
M16 clone: $16.22 Sentinel M16 Mod Telescoping E-Cigarette Battery Compartment - gold at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Sentinel V3 clone: $18.11 V3 MOD Telescoping Electronic Cigarette Battery Compartment - gold at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Private V2 real: Private Mod V2
Sentinel V3 real: Sentinel V3
I'd avoid making sweeping generalizations like that, some of the better made clones perform as well as or better than the originals.
I have now been through 3 high end mods. The atom v2 brass, the captian barbell, and the deus prism mod. None of these preform as good as my all brass m16 clone from fast tech.
I sold the atom v2. I returned the captain barbell. I am about to return or sell the deus prism mod.
I will continue on with my quest to find a high end mod that meets my very high expectations.
I am not trying to say that high end mods arent worth the money. But if anyone thinks that high end mods are magical and are gonna blow a clone out of the water on performance they are wrong. I think high end mods are for people with money that want to pay for a brand. I would like a high end mod to brag about too, but if there not gonna perform as good as a clone, I just cant see myself spending that money for something thats gonna sit on the shelf because my other ones perform better.
The 150 dollar Atom v2 was machined to perfection and the threads had no wobble at all, but the switch loosened up very easy causing a hot switch and voltage drop.
The 170 dollar captain barbell was dirty as hell when I got it, looked like someone buried it in the dirt and then dug it back up. The switch also got loose easily by using the locking ring.
The 215 dollar deus prism mod came nice and clean. Machining was excellent. switch didn't loosen. But is has about a .5 -.7 voltage drop. I can easily notice a performance difference with my m16 clone and the prism swapping them back and forth.
LMAO! If I wanted to feel better about my purchase I would say something similar i'm sure.
To the OP:
Do your research. Google "sentinel clone fix" and see if the related topics are things that would turn you off to the clone.
Generally speaking, an original mod will come out of the box working as it was intended. Also generally speaking, clones require more "mods" to get them up to par. While this is not always true, there seem to be a lot of "xxxxx clone issue" threads and not nearly as many "xxxxx original fix" threads. Says a little something IMHO.
As for the folks trying to turn this into a "clones vs. originals" thread- it works both ways. It's nobody's business what you choose to pay for a device. For every "don't buy china junk" comment there are an equal number of "only paying for status" comments. Enough already.
Do your research. Google "sentinel clone fix" and see if the related topics are things that would turn you off to the clone.
Generally speaking, an original mod will come out of the box working as it was intended. Also generally speaking, clones require more "mods" to get them up to par. While this is not always true, there seem to be a lot of "xxxxx clone issue" threads and not nearly as many "xxxxx original fix" threads. Says a little something IMHO.
As for the folks trying to turn this into a "clones vs. originals" thread- it works both ways. It's nobody's business what you choose to pay for a device. For every "don't buy china junk" comment there are an equal number of "only paying for status" comments. Enough already.
Says VERY little to explain why the original is ten times the cost of the clone.
You can't hide that size price gap behind smoother threads and production costs.
The topic of the thread is, in fact, a "clone vs original" type question.
Don't try to derail the thread. Lol.
The discussion is specifically ON topic.
To the OP:
Clones are usually not quite as nicely finished as the originals, but nothing to justify the price gap.
Try to visit a B&M and see some clones first hand.
You might be surprised. If you get to check out a quality clone like a King or Nemesis you will b impressed
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I got a hold of an xxix copper mod. My search for a high end mod has come to a close. Its made in the USA. I love it. If something goes wrong ill just get a hold of bay city vapor and they'll fix it right up. If something goes wrong with my Omega loki labs has amazing customer service and they will get me fixed up. They are a USA company too. Im not saying that only USA companies have good customer service but sometimes with the Philippines mods you have a language barrier and also would cost the company a lot of money to ship you replacement parts. In "my" experience I haven't had luck with mods from the Philippines. I like the straight 1 piece tube mods anyways.
That sounds good an all,....and no offense to the modders,....
So how many years have these US based companies been in biz?
You think they will even b in biz in say 4 years?
You put a LOT of faith in a company that hasn't existed very long, and has zero track record past a few Vapers online.
So you think heir business model will allow them to sustain and handle all your warranty/repair issues
Can we visit the factory and see production, like a normal company?
Seems like a huge leap of faith.
I like my faith at $26 rather than $260.
And as far as customer service goes, search "surefire customer service".
ou get better service from fast tech.
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Man, you really have a vendetta against high end mods.
Rapture is happy he found a high end mod he loves, and said nothing about it compared to a clone. Leave the man alone.
What a load of BS, Nemesis clone by HCigar - YouTube
You live in a dream world, some of the clones are really good and work just as good as the real ones like the nemesis, caravela, origin and the list goes on and on. I have originals and clones and can say clones can hang with the originals no problem. Russian 91% worked better than the original Kayfun lite.
Usually I get the clones first and see if I really like it and then get the original.
I was comparing high end USA mods vs. high end Filipino mods,... go back to fasttech. I bought a stainless nimbus clone from fasttech once and the cap was so easy to drill compared to my youde caps. I swear that thing was 25% lead.
R&D?
Research and develop what?
A horn switch or a threaded tube?
I'm not that naive, or inexperienced in manufacturing
I have a low tolerance for BS and baseless hype.
I don't fool easily.
I know what it costs to build a mechanical mod.
No need to hide profit in BS or unfounded hype.
Research and develop what?
A horn switch or a threaded tube?
I'm not that naive, or inexperienced in manufacturing
I have a low tolerance for BS and baseless hype.
I don't fool easily.
I know what it costs to build a mechanical mod.
No need to hide profit in BS or unfounded hype.
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Here's your Research...
Order Brass Tube Alloys 272 in Small Quantities at OnlineMetals.com
Stainless Steel Tubing - Pipe and Tubing - Grainger Industrial Supply
You'll have to Develop your own new and innovative, never seen before method of cutting and threading.
Answer to your post title and question.
Some Pinoy Mods are worth the asking price and some are not. You need to determine their worth to you. The M16 has a ton of clones, some are worth the 20$-30$ asked for them and some are not because they will require some modification on your end to function well. I have no clue what your time is worth to you, mine is right at 35$ an hour.
Another note on the M16, IMO there is nothing in the original mods design, fit, finish, or materials that warrants ~$200. The enticing bit of the M16 is the simplicity and voltage drop, it is a hard hitting mod with a really frustrating bottom switch. Takes some adjustment throughout the day as it tends to loosen up.
Supporting the mod makers sparks more innovation, supporting 100% to 300% or better markups normalizes profiteering. You pick where your morals lie and what you want to spend your money on. I would suggest you spend your money on the items that have what you want at the price point you are willing to pay.
You could probably get most of your money back later out of a well cared for genuine mod, even more sometimes depending on the number produced. You will be hard pressed to find someone willing to pay $20 for your $25 used clone regardless of it's condition.
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Here's a quote from Doc Dave on his Facebook page about the Reactor hybrid.
He said he was hoping for it to be under $500. For a hand made, Titanium hybrid in the USA.
An average Korean worker considers 1,000,000 Won in a month to be low if in a main city. That's about 1,000 USD a month. So we can assume an average skilled Korean worker makes at least a little over that. An average Philippine worker makes about 42,000 PHP a month, which is a little under 1,000 USD. Have you ever shipped to/from the Philippines? The prices are outrageous, and average 70 bucks for a small package. Shipping from Korea (when I bought a Mojo drip tip) is 30 bucks for a small package.
An average Chinese factory worker earns no more than 2000 CNY a month, which is being generous. That's about 330 USD. A month. Most Chinese companies offer free shipping on small packages. And the average cost for a merchandise package shipping through the Chinese postal service is 315 CNY (about 50 USD) for one kilogram.
It is completely feasible for a stainless steel mod from the Philippines to be in the $200 price range. It is completely feasible for a stainless steel Korean mod to be around $200 when bought from a retailer, just as it's completely feasible for a Chinese, mass produced mod to cost 30 bucks, considering you buy from the place of origin.
There, go study and learn.
He said he was hoping for it to be under $500. For a hand made, Titanium hybrid in the USA.
An average Korean worker considers 1,000,000 Won in a month to be low if in a main city. That's about 1,000 USD a month. So we can assume an average skilled Korean worker makes at least a little over that. An average Philippine worker makes about 42,000 PHP a month, which is a little under 1,000 USD. Have you ever shipped to/from the Philippines? The prices are outrageous, and average 70 bucks for a small package. Shipping from Korea (when I bought a Mojo drip tip) is 30 bucks for a small package.
An average Chinese factory worker earns no more than 2000 CNY a month, which is being generous. That's about 330 USD. A month. Most Chinese companies offer free shipping on small packages. And the average cost for a merchandise package shipping through the Chinese postal service is 315 CNY (about 50 USD) for one kilogram.
It is completely feasible for a stainless steel mod from the Philippines to be in the $200 price range. It is completely feasible for a stainless steel Korean mod to be around $200 when bought from a retailer, just as it's completely feasible for a Chinese, mass produced mod to cost 30 bucks, considering you buy from the place of origin.
There, go study and learn.
Start pumping out mods then for 260 bucks and quit your day job if its so easy. Bet you don't even know how a hammer works.
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