Where is the American mech mod?

[cromagnon]

Pretty obvious that ProVape isn't interested in making one or it would be out by now or at least a rumor of a soon to be released model. Or, did I miss that one?

China is pumping these things out by the thousands and yet, fabricated metal products are one of America's top 10 exports to the rest of the world.

I am not talking about some guy in a small shop making a few hundred at a time. I am talking about a large corporation such as Smith & Wesson or Maglite that already make flashlights by the thousands.

There is obviously a market for them. If China can make and sell one of good quality for $15 direct from a Chinese retailer, is it too unreasonable to think that a US manufacturer can make and sell one with a MSRP of $60 or even $80?

There seems to be no huge patent hurdles for manufacturers to have to jump through nor is there need for specialized manufacturing machinery or skilled labor that they don't already possess.

It's just a metal tube of the correct length (w/threads) with a mechanical switch on one end and a 510 connector on the other. Any drafting student could draw up a simple, basic utilitarian design in AutoCAD in a few hours with full specifications - I know that bc I had to take an adult education coarse on it as part of my job a few years back before I retired.

Zippo makes and sells lighters anywhere between $15 and $12,000. You can get them made of aluminum, brass, steal and even solid gold. You can get them plain, engraved and with enameled emblems.

It seems a great opportunity missed for American business, especially for Zippo. With more and more people getting off the stinkies, seems to me they would be wise to diversify.

So, where is my "Zippo mech mod"?

Your thoughts as to why it isn't here or won't be any time soon. What am I not thinking about?

Please, no tinfoil hat conspiracy theories, just logical explanations.


Oh, OK. Tinfoil hat conspiracy theories welcomed too, amuse me.

 

[Baditude]

There are actually quite a few US manufacturers who are making quality mechanical mods. AltSmoke and Super T are two that come to mind. I'm sure others will list more.

AltSmoke (Silver Bullet, Omega, BB, Alpha)

Super T Manufacturing (ELA, Precise Plus, Precise Simplicity)

Reo bottom feeder mechanical mods

 

[CloudZ]

He acknowledged that there are quality American mechs out there, but they are not cheap (less than $60) and not mass produced. It is possible that this is not economically feasible in the US yet, at least until demand rises a bit more.

 

[Baditude]

He acknowledged that there are quality American mechs out there, but they are not cheap (less than $60) and not mass produced. It is possible that this is not economically feasible in the US yet, at least until demand rises a bit more.

This is a very valid point. The machines required to mill a mechanical mod are extremely expensive. It takes skill and time to create a finely finished product whose overall quality will be miles over a Chinese manufacturer's. US manufacturers will be dealing with higher prices for higher quality stainless steel and aluminum, and higher labor and overhead costs than a Chinese manufacturer will. Also consider that US companies will be providing after-the-sale repairs when needed, where China doesn't have to deal with that at all.

China's code of quality is, "We make cheap. You buy cheap. It break, you buy another."

 

[Fury83]

Well vaperev sells at least 3 that I can think of...the King, Dominus fecit and Tree of life. They are also having a cyber monday sale and all are discounted. The Dominus is dropped to $125 which is about as low as you can expect a US made mech that isn't a POS (looking at you Scepter) to be priced.

 

[proraptor]

King is the slosest you are gonna get to what you are describing

 

[jfountain2]

Oh, OK. Tinfoil hat conspiracy theories welcomed too, amuse me.

The Illuminati received word from the Overlords on Earth 2 saying they must keep American consumers from buying American products or the alternate reality we are currently in will revert back to the real reality in which all governments get along and there are no wars or crime and Taco Bell actually taste good.

 

[anavidfan]

There is also the Saber Touch made here in Maryland. They start out at about 80? Again, not cheap, but great semi mech. Im sure if you look at the cost of materials, it looks cheap, like you said, tube and threads. Though a simple design, it does take some design and engineering to come up with a good button and quality threads and most important a good 510 connection that wont strip easy or break off.

Like some one already mentioned, here if its a one guy operation, then when demand rises, then you have complaints about the wait etc. If he hires help, then there is the cost of labor and insurance, etc.

Only way I could see an american company putting devices out, is if they put out crap or basically cheapies or if they contract out the parts and assemble in the US

Tough topic

 

[cromagnon]

He acknowledged that there are quality American mechs out there, but they are not cheap (less than $60) and not mass produced. It is possible that this is not economically feasible in the US yet, at least until demand rises a bit more.

I guess this is the best answer that I can expect.

I am well aware that the machinery\material\labor is expensive to the small business. But, there are many large buisnesses that already have the machinery and they buy the raw materials in greater quantities at lower costs and their assembly lines are automated to reduce labor costs.

For instance, S&W can produce (on the lower end) a $400 automatic pistol or an $800 revolver which are far more complicated and need to be made with far greater precisision than any Chinese mech mod. And, they make them in lage quantities. I am fairly certain that they are made reliably too, with few warranty issues that are not related to end user abuse/mistakes.

They also have the added cost of heavy insurance premiums and retain lawyers that wear suits that cost more than many people make in a month. And yet they still have (relatively) low cost products.

This is just an example.

Like I said, metal fabricated products are in the top 10 of US exports. There are many, many large existing manufactures that have the capabilities to produce a good, reliable, low priced mech mod in large quantities already - they just make different products.

China has thrown it's weight into it to cash in on the market. It would seem that they have become bigger opportunists and have greater forsight than American corporations.

To quote Vizzini:

“Inconceivable!"

 

[Traver]

There is obviously a market for them. If China can make and sell one of good quality for $15 direct from a Chinese retailer, is it too unreasonable to think that a US manufacturer can make and sell one with a MSRP of $60 or even $80?

I think it is more likely that a large American company would make it in China for $5 and sell it here for $60.

 

[Jayvaps]

I guess this is the best answer that I can expect.

I am well aware that the machinery\material\labor is expensive to the small business. But, there are many large buisnesses that already have the machinery and they buy the raw materials in greater quantities at lower costs and their assembly lines are automated to reduce labor costs.

For instance, S&W can produce (on the lower end) a $400 automatic pistol or an $800 revolver which are far more complicated and need to be made with far greater precisision than any Chinese mech mod. And, they make them in lage quantities. I am fairly certain that they are made reliably too, with few warranty issues that are not related to end user abuse/mistakes.

They also have the added cost of heavy insurance premiums and retain lawyers that wear suits that cost more than many people make in a month. And yet they still have (relatively) low cost products.

This is just an example.

Like I said, metal fabricated products are in the top 10 of US exports. There are many, many large existing manufactures that have the capabilities to produce a good, reliable, low priced mech mod in large quantities already - they just make different products.

China has thrown it's weight into it to cash in on the market. It would seem that they have become bigger opportunists and have greater forsight than American corporations.

To quote Vizzini:

“Inconceivable!"

If Chinese firearms were legally able to be imported into this country, an AKM would cost like $150. And they would be selling pistols for $99.

I would probably not trust the quality of a pistol, but an AKM is difficult to mess up.

Yes, S&W still makes money in the American firearms market. But they also have like 150 years of industry name recognition and manufacturing behind them. They can re-tool on their credit line if need be. Not alot of startup companies can do that. The smaller, 'boutique' firearm companies in the US are just that...boutique, and their prices are much higher than the big boys. They survive on quality and word of mouth.

IOW, comparing that industry to e-cigs is not a fair comparison. Sure, mechanical mods can be made here, but they wont be cheap and they will be limited in supply. It would take a known name in manufacturing in the US to get into the ecig business to produce mods on a large scale right off the bat. Say, a S&W branded e-cig mod. That would be pretty cool actually. But they would have to see a pretty high ROI to consider getting into the game at this point. And I dont think mech mods can produce that high of a ROI yet. They are not widely in use. Even with those who do use ecigs.

 

[Baditude]

I agree with JVaps. Mechanical mod users, and even regulated mod users included in the group, represent a very small minority of vapors worldwide. The majority of vapors worldwide are using cigalikes or eGo setups. Ask any B&M storefront owner or online vendor what they sell the most of, and they will all say cigalikes or Ego battery setups.

Because we visit a forum dedicated to vaping, we get the impression that there are more people using mechs and regulated mods by the number of topics about them. Remember that many members of this forum are enthusiasts and hobbyists who are more likely to advance to the more complex world of APV's. The majority of other members are newer vapors using cigalikes and eGo's.

 

[Mitey F]

I think there are a number of reasons no one is doing this yet.

First, e-cigs are "new". They haven't been around long (let alone fancy mech mods) and for a company to invest in the machinery (although most likely it would be from a source that already has the equipment), designs, patents, and manpower required to facilitate this for a yet unproven market would be, financially, stupid. Sticking to the guns comparison, guns have been around for hundreds of years. They have always sold, and for the foreseeable future, will sell. They are a lucrative, secure market.

Secondly, with all the hullaballoo over banning e-cigs by the FDA and others, who's to say that after this hypothetical company invested all of this money and time into a new product, they wouldn't be banned from selling it 6 months down the road, resulting in a potentially HUGE loss?

Third. It seems to me that a large portion of the appeal of an "American made" mod is primarily for bragging rights. Most of these mod owners pay a premium for a device that others don't have, or simply cannot afford. Lots of people SAY they would buy a "reasonably priced" (BTW, what the hell does that *really* mean?) but, when given the chance, do you think they really would?

Fourth. Chinese mods will *always* be cheaper than American-made mods. For a company in America to produce the exact *same* product as one made in China, the American mod will be more expensive, if for no other reason than minimum wage rates. Labor is more expensive here. Our pollution is controlled more rigidly here. Electricity costs more here. Renting a building costs more here. You see where this is going... Mod ABC made in America will ALWAYS be more expensive than Mod ABC made in China. And how many people would *really* buy the US made ABC mod when they could get EXACTLY the same thing at 2/3 the price from China?

 

[Thrasher]

And how many people would *really* buy the US made ABC mod when they could get EXACTLY the same thing at 2/3 the price from China?

funny,
SuperT
ZEN
Doc Dave
and Ihybrids by faceless seem to always be out of stock no matter how fast they make them
even though there are copies for 1/5th the price.

 

[Mitey F]

funny,
SuperT
ZEN
Doc Dave
and Ihybrids by faceless seem to always be out of stock no matter how fast they make them
even though there are copies for 1/5th the price.

If they're always "out of stock" they're not exactly "mass produced", which I thought was kind of the whole point of this thread.

 

[Thrasher]

If they're always "out of stock" they're not exactly "mass produced", which I thought was kind of the whole point of this thread.

Oh..


oooops reading comprenshun suffers before coffee.

like others stated. it would be hard to do it here cheap. many of the shops doing mods over there have multi run, multi use shops. run a few 100 chi-you then switch over for a few 100 more nemesis, before switching up to make some more kayfun bases.
stop for a break and stuff the kids with noodles and rice before heading off for another 10 hour shift..

labor cost is most important to note, remember that even after a month's wages working for foxxconn the workers still dont make enough to buy the Iphone they made every day.
when it comes to an American shop they just cant compete with that kind of reduced labor cost - would you be willing to work for less then 600 a month?

then there is pride, many of the chinese clone makers dont give a damn it if it isnt perfect or breaks. more then once US vendors complained about flaws and the response is always people are willing to keep buying them so why should we care.
many of the US made mods are at minimum 1 year warranty with many offering lifetime.

 

[cement]

Check these out only $60.00 http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...rum/455848-hand-crafted-wooden-eye-boxes.html they can be purchased on his FB page by sending a message

 

[proraptor]

The JA Victoria is still my favorite USA made mod. Im also digging the emit vapors mods

 

[Thrasher]

anyone spotted the tree of life mod over at vaperev? American made and real nice.

 

[muzichead]

anyone spotted the tree of life mod over at vaperev? American made and real nice.

Yeah, but is it really worth the $190 price tag? Parts and machining is about $70.00... I understand "American" made, but I like to be wined and dined before being taken advantage of!!!