The Flavor of the Week

[Richard75]

I want to talk psychology. If you spend enough time looking at mods and rba's, around the forums and on Youtube, you start to realize there's a "flavor of the week". Whether it be the GG line, the kayfun, Chi-you, or Caravela, there are devices out there so sought after they become almost mythical.

My question is... why? I'm sure there are plenty of mods that perform just as well as the GGTS, or the Chi-you (and anyone who argues this, I'll say one thing: you're wrong), but yet people will pay astronomical amounts for a Carevela (and I'm not arguing that decision, I'm guilty of paying a lot for something I just "wanted"). And I'm not talking about clones vs name brands, I'm talking plain devices. What makes them a "flavor of the week"? So for everyone on the hunt for a Caravela or Chi-you or whatever, I ask: why do you want that specific device? Is it looks? Is it (described) performance? Exclusivity? Or do you just want something everyone else wants too?

I'll note this is not a thread about bashing high end mods, it's merely a curiosity about what makes a device the "flavor of the week".

 

[twistedchild316]

Having not yet bought a High-end mech or RBA I will say my main attraction to the devices I do own is the look/feel. Of course performance comes in to play a good bit before anything. But I don't care how something performs......if I don't like the look or feel of a device i'm not buying! And to be honest the only expsenive mods that have caught my eye so far are all the beautiful Hybrids One day! lol

 

[jasl90]

I don't know that there are "flavors of the week"... There are sought after mods to be sure, but they tend to remain sought after for long periods of time. It's not like the Caravella has become "old news" at this point. It's still very sought after.

Certain mods will generate a spike in discussion immediately following a batch release. That's the result of people wanting to show off and discuss their new toys and the flippers trying to turn a quick profit.

 

[Richard75]

I don't know that there are "flavors of the week"... There are sought after mods to be sure, but they tend to remain sought after for long periods of time. It's not like the Caravella has become "old news" at this point. It's still very sought after.

Certain mods will generate a spike in discussion immediately following a batch release. That's the result of people wanting to show off and discuss their new toys and the flippers trying to turn a quick profit.

Perhaps "flavor of the week" was the wrong phrase... too late (and too lazy) to change that. haha. I guess the hype is what fluctuates, which is interesting in in its own regard. For example, I would think Darwins are still sought after... but not many people seem to be talking about them at this moment.

But the question still remains: why are these mods sought after? What attracts people to them? It's all personal preference, yes. But the academic in me wonders why some mods are in demand, and others (with possibly the same price point and performance) are not. Surly the Caravela doesn't hold an aesthetic design that inherently appeals to almost everyone, so there has to be something else going on here.

 

[jasl90]

Overall design (do you like the form factor and does it have the features you're looking for?), over all build quality, and resistance would be the basics. I'd agree that exclusivity does play a major role for some.

Currently, my two favorites are the Super-T Precise Plus line and the GP PAPS LUX. I don't think either has "unicorn status", being that they are both attainable at or below retail if you'r willing to look and/or be patient. Both are different in their look and feel and have different feature sets. What they have in common... They both have have exceptional build quality, both feel good in the hand, both have fantastic switches (smooth, short throw with a light press), both have exceptionally low resistance and I like the looks of both of them.

There are a couple others that I'd like to put my mitts on but nothing that I'd kill or die for (or pay more than retail for).

 

[minimalsaint]

The inherent need to want what you can't have.