Thoughts on clones?

[Tbaggerr]

As I get more and more into vaping I started looking at nice mods and rba's. The problem is, they are wicked expensive and I am a broke student. Today I was looking at getting a nemesis and trying to figure out how long it would take to save up $200 for one when I kept eyeballing the $40 clones that I could easily afford.

I am just wondering what you guys think about buying clones. I know that I would much rather get an authentic mod or whatnot, and not just because they are higher quality. I feel like the designers and manufacturers deserve to get their pay and I feel like innovation might start to decline if the second they make something new, someone steals it and puts it out at 1/4 the price.

That being said, I am a broke student and it is very appealing to get something at 1/4 the price. I'm just not sure where I stand this subject. It's morality vs monetary means and I don't know which will win.

 

[dam718]

I think what you'll find with many of the clones is that while they may look somewhat like the originals, the build quality and materials are complete trash. Some are better than others, of course, but for the most part you get what you pay for...

If I were in your shoes, I would take a look at some of the devices that SmokTech has been putting out. Like the Magneto, for example. It's built well, very affordable, and not really a complete rip off from someone else's hard work. It does copy some features of the Madz Modz N-Zonic, but they don't market it as a "clone" because it's not... I mean, some of these clones are going so far these days as to put the original manufacturers logo and a serial number on a fake... To the untrained eye, one might think it's the real deal... The Magneto is not like that at all...

When you're ready to get a boutique mod like a Nemesis, Poldiac, GG, et al... Get the real deal... You'll be glad you did!

 

[Tbaggerr]

That's what I am leaning towards. I just see what I really want and then see an almost identical version for the price of an ego kit and I have to say, it's tempting.

I would have less scruples about it if they just flat out took the idea and made a knock off without the logos and trying to fool people. If I were to ever buy one (which I'm not 100% sure I would be ethically okay with doing in the first place), I would never claim it as an authentic mod.

It's just a temptation me and many other vapers are given. I was wondering the consensus of the vaping community on how clones are looked at. I probably wont end up buying one for the fact that I don't like how they go about trying to pass things off are the real deal. But I will say, the quality of clones coming out is impressive and at the very least makes me entertain the idea of getting one every time I compare prices and my bank account.

 

[FranC]

A lot of peeps buy clones.Some are great and some not. I have one myself that works great. See if you can find any info before you buy.

 

[SissySpike]

I think what you'll find with many of the clones is that while they may look somewhat like the originals, the build quality and materials are complete trash. Some are better than others, of course, but for the most part you get what you pay for...

If I were in your shoes, I would take a look at some of the devices that SmokTech has been putting out. Like the Magneto, for example. It's built well, very affordable, and not really a complete rip off from someone else's hard work. It does copy some features of the Madz Modz N-Zonic, but they don't market it as a "clone" because it's not... I mean, some of these clones are going so far these days as to put the original manufacturers logo and a serial number on a fake... To the untrained eye, one might think it's the real deal... The Magneto is not like that at all...

When you're ready to get a boutique mod like a Nemesis, Poldiac, GG, et al... Get the real deal... You'll be glad you did!

Well put. There are some well made affordable mods out there with out having to buy a counterfeit.

 

[supertrunker]

For cheap atomisers and tanks, the clones are a decent deal in a lot of cases. They are cheap and you can happily mod them, not worried if you break them.

Devices, batteries and chargers - buy the real thing. You do not want to find out that your batteries are fakes!

You'll also get some great customer support and that can be invaluable viz Provari and Reo to name just two.

T

 

[FranC]

I agree much on the batteries. Get good ones!!

 

[440BB]

If there are copies of logos or engraving, it's a counterfeit and that's going too far to me. Otherwise, most any device is borrowing ideas from earlier ones, so I'm fine with them. Many of the "clones" perform very well, and won't break your heart or wallet should you drop or misplace them.

 

[Tbaggerr]

Oh I would never buy a knockoff battery. That's just asking for trouble/pain.

 

[Tbaggerr]

If there are copies of logos or engraving, it's a counterfeit and that's going too far to me. Otherwise, most any device is borrowing ideas from earlier ones, so I'm fine with them. Many of the "clones" perform very well, and won't break your heart or wallet should you drop or misplace them.

That's where I'm sitting. I don't condone the counterfeiting and think that it just hurts the community as a whole. But I'm still up in the air about clones that don't copy branding/trademarks.

 

[SissySpike]

That's where I'm sitting. I don't condone the counterfeiting and think that it just hurts the community as a whole. But I'm still up in the air about clones that don't copy branding/trademarks.

IMO clones lead to counterfeits. In most cases before the counterfeits hit the market clones were poorly designed products steeling someone elses reputation buy attaching X brands name to their mod. I really dont see why people support ether. I also dont see why China dose not do more like the Magneto. I guess they do it because people buy it.

 

[Thunderball]

As I get more and more into vaping I started looking at nice mods and rba's. The problem is, they are wicked expensive and I am a broke student. Today I was looking at getting a nemesis and trying to figure out how long it would take to save up $200 for one when I kept eyeballing the $40 clones that I could easily afford.

I am just wondering what you guys think about buying clones. I know that I would much rather get an authentic mod or whatnot, and not just because they are higher quality. I feel like the designers and manufacturers deserve to get their pay and I feel like innovation might start to decline if the second they make something new, someone steals it and puts it out at 1/4 the price.

That being said, I am a broke student and it is very appealing to get something at 1/4 the price. I'm just not sure where I stand this subject. It's morality vs monetary means and I don't know which will win.

That particular clone is spot on. Ive seen it, Ive vaped it. I find no difference in thqat and the original. ( we are talking the fasttech sold clone right ? Dirt cheap. Add trident clone for 16 bucks and you have one killer set up. Used it, vaped it, rebuilt it.

 

[Thunderball]

I just saw and held the cloned/counterfit Caravella with all the extension tubes.... Wow. 80 bucks for a copy of a 2500 mech. LOL, they even come with a serial number. Decent quality also. Much of the China stuff just keeps getting better and better.

PS, I dont use mechs as a rule....ProVari and Semovar for me, but if I didnt have the funds for mechs and choices being what they are, I would get a clone/counterfit in a minut.

I just paid 25.80 with shipping for a damn Loki ring to go on my ProVari....now thats a licencense to steal. For that vey reason, I dont have a problem with clones. Maybe that will help make it affordable for the masses......making the olriginals come down in price after they have made their R&D back after a little while.

 

[SissySpike]

Clones done tastefully. The EA is a GG clone there is no denying it when EA first hit the market I contacted them about this and they responded with the GG is a heavy influence to their design. This is a good approach IMO while they did use the GG concept they did make it their own design. Companys don't have to steel names or counterfeit devices to make a good preforming mod or atty.

 

[SissySpike]

I just saw the clone caravella with all the extension tubes.... Wow. 80 bucks for a copy of a 2500 mech. LOL, they even come with a serial number. Decent quality also. Much of the China stuff just keeps getting better and better.

Or worse and worse depending on your point of view.

 

[Danbrooks2k]

My local brick and mortar store uses protank II clones on all of its juice sampling equipment. But they only sell real protank IIs... for 50$ a pop!

I am an observant fellow, I snap pictures and email myself notes while I browse and sample juice. I happened to find the exact clone protank IIs for 11$ on ebay, but only purchase the original kanger coils. I bought 4 Ihybrid mod clones from a smoke shop going out of buisness for between 20$ and 36$ came with already wired and wicked tanks, spare wire and wick, and got 2 emails full of youtube links and tips from the seller.

Every EGO i have and still use has either been a 16$ local smoke shop clone, or a 9.99 ebay special... they all work great and I have plenty to give to friends and family.

I pay full price for juice from the original vendor, and I use the name brand coils from kanger. I will pay full price for a Provari and not substitute there. Do your research and save money.

 

[generic mutant]

...
If I were in your shoes, I would take a look at some of the devices that SmokTech has been putting out. Like the Magneto, for example. It's built well, very affordable, and not really a complete rip off from someone else's hard work...

Until such time as the boutique modders see fit to put the Spiderman logo on the button, *and* etch '1939' below where it says 'Magneto' for no discernible reason whatsoever, they ain't got nothing on SmokTech.



Some of the Sigelei mechanicals are nice too, though you've got to do your research, because some of them are rubbish.

...
Every EGO i have and still use has either been a 16$ local smoke shop clone, or a 9.99 ebay special... they all work great and I have plenty to give to friends and family.
...

Egos have a reputation for exploding when charging. I wouldn't buy any that I wasn't 100% confident were real, personally [edit - well, not 100%, that's unrealistic, because even the major distributors get scammed by clones sometimes. But you know what I mean]

 

[SissySpike]

How do clones and counterfeits hurt us? It use to be with each new mod or atty released there was an advancement in design. Some one took someone elses Idea tweaked it made it better and we had a better preforming device. Buy supporting the clone and counterfeit market we are rewarding lack of innovation.

 

[illitirit]

personally i love high end mods, and i really appreciate what the makers have created. But i think shelling out hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for a piece of metal is way too crazy for me considering clones can be had for $30 with pretty much the same performance as the real thing. Not to mention even if i want to buy a real one, many times there is a wait list and not readily available. I can just pick a clone up and be done with it.

I do agree however they should really stop putting logos and serial numbers on things.

 

[DrillRX]

I think what you'll find with many of the clones is that while they may look somewhat like the originals, the build quality and materials are complete trash. Some are better than others, of course, but for the most part you get what you pay for...

If I were in your shoes, I would take a look at some of the devices that SmokTech has been putting out. Like the Magneto, for example. It's built well, very affordable, and not really a complete rip off from someone else's hard work. It does copy some features of the Madz Modz N-Zonic, but they don't market it as a "clone" because it's not... I mean, some of these clones are going so far these days as to put the original manufacturers logo and a serial number on a fake... To the untrained eye, one might think it's the real deal... The Magneto is not like that at all...

When you're ready to get a boutique mod like a Nemesis, Poldiac, GG, et al... Get the real deal... You'll be glad you did!

Not sure about all clones, I have mostly originals but Magneto is a good mod. It even has a clone called the Wooliston. Asthetically there is very little difference, internally it is identical and works great. Other mods are the opposite. I have a Sentinal m16 and the clone of it (other than being aluminum body) has better internals than the original.