Why Do People Knowingly Buy Clones?

[DaveSignal]

Over those authentics you say you own; the doge, 2 Mutations, a Troll, and a Freakshow what possible advantage do any clones have over them? Especially an rda that is really build dependent??? You sound like a collector...

Those affordable authentics are just as good as other RDAs I have that cost much more. In fact, the newest authentic RDA that I totally love is the El Cabron, which is only $60 and comes with 3 different top caps. Its awesome, and I think $60 should fit into the affordable segment.

But, of course, I also use my clones, which are great also. Right now, the attys that I currently have juice in and am currently using at the moment are: El Cabron (authentic), Samurai (clone), Tugboat V2 with Flawless top cap (authentic), Little Boy (clone). The Tugboat and Little Boy haven't actually been used in awhile, but I just felt like it today. But they are all great, and are good quality devices.

All of these atomizers are a little bit different. I enjoy them all. I am a hobbyist and collector. I want to try everything! Sometimes I just feel like testing a clone. And sometimes I want the real deal. Its a lot easier to try out clones though... it takes a little bit of experience to find the best clones, but after the learning curve, its easy.

 

[Darryl Licht]

Those affordable authentics are just as good as other RDAs I have that cost much more. In fact, the newest authentic RDA that I totally love is the El Cabron, which is only $60 and comes with 3 different top caps. Its awesome, and I think $60 should fit into the affordable segment...

Something we can agree on! I'd have to agree that $60 would be a more realistic upper end price for the affordable price! Unless its got gold contacts or some proven or truly innovative design, I'd never personally spend more on a small atty! There's no way it's worth more or a small hunk of computer machined mass produced metal!

 

[Bikenstein]

Dave and Darryl sittin in a tree............... Good to see you two agree on somethin

 

[DaveSignal]

yes, but the point was that there is lots of stuff that is equally good, throughout a huge price range. Just because something is expensive doesn't always make it a better device. There are great quality affordable authentics. And there are great quality clones. And there are great quality high-end authentics. But there is also some garbage products from all three of these categories. It pays to research. And I think its great that consumers have so many choices.

But I don't think that a buyer is always getting the clone so that they can show-off like it is something else. I have never purchased a clone for this purpose.

 

[Darryl Licht]

yes, but the point was that there is lots of stuff that is equally good, throughout a huge price range. Just because something is expensive doesn't always make it a better device. There are great quality affordable authentics. And there are great quality clones. And there are great quality high-end authentics. But there is also some garbage products from all three of these categories. It pays to research. And I think its great that consumers have so many choices.

But I don't think that a buyer is always getting the clone so that they can show-off like it is something else. I have never purchased a clone for this purpose.

Authentic, Clone, or Counterfeit Atty; none is worth more than $60! IMHO! It's a tiny piece of mass produced CNC milled stainless steel... just not worth the cost - no matter who's name is on it!

I see many young, skinny jeans wearing, "know nothings" come into my neighborhood shop and the vast majority of them are not the folks you speak of. They're bringing in attys and mods that are clones of the good stuff and its the only mod they own which 9 times outta 10 the mod and/or the atty is jacked up due to user error.

Unlike a connoisseur/collector like yourself, they've purchased them in an attempt to be something they're not... hip, cool, smart, wealthy, vape connoisseurs! In reality they're just dumb posers!

 

[crxess]

Authentic, Clone, or Counterfeit Atty; none is worth more than $60! IMHO! It's a tiny piece of mass produced CNC milled stainless steel... just not worth the cost - no matter who's name is on it!

I see many young, skinny jeans wearing, "know nothings" come into my neighborhood shop and the vast majority of them are not the folks you speak of. They're bringing in attys and mods that are clones of the good stuff and its the only mod they own which 9 times outta 10 the mod and/or the atty is jacked up due to user error.

Unlike a connoisseur/collector like yourself, they've purchased them in an attempt to be something they're not... hip, cool, smart, wealthy, vape connoisseurs! In reality they're just dumb posers!

No wonder you get so riled up. You live in one messed up place.
Most of the ones I have seen using such in my neck of the woods were sold a bill of goods by a less than experienced B&M Employee
People around here seem to not be so vein.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Something we can agree on! I'd have to agree that $60 would be a more realistic upper end price for the affordable price! Unless its got gold contacts or some proven or truly innovative design, I'd never personally spend more on a small atty! There's no way it's worth more or a small hunk of computer machined mass produced metal!

I so agree here.
Now keep in mind milling an atomizer is much much more expensive than threading a tube.
Tiny pieces with exacting tolerances take much more time and equipment.

Now you see why people buy clones?
$280 for a mod is borderline criminal. Especially from shoddy businesses that are ran by amateurs.
I own authentics too, but not overpriced ones.

 

[Darryl Licht]

No wonder you get so riled up. You live in one messed up place.
Most of the ones I have seen using such in my neck of the woods were sold a bill of goods by a less than experienced B&M Employee
People around here seem to not be so vein.

Yes So Cal is in fact a messed up place! Complete with an inordinate amount of plastic people and wanna bees!

But I'm also in the mecca of the vape world, I don't have to travel more than 10 miles and I've got no less than 2 dozen vape shops in that circle. Some are owned and operated by legitimate Americans trying to earn a living by doing business the right way, others are owned by foreigners just trying to make a buck! I refuse to spend my hard earned $ at the latter!

And yes, some of these clone owners may have been duped by unscrupulous shop owners/employees, but the ones I have observed all know they have a blankity blank brand clone! So I doubt it!

 

[smokinGAVIN]

It's nice to see that we can agree on something in a topic as wildly debated as this.

 

[Wilazn]

You all act like you never downloaded an mp3 or a movie from the Internet.

 

[Rossum]

The question is not whether someone has downloaded an MP3 or a movie, but whether they paid for it, or whether they stole it. And if they latter, are they at least willing to be honest and admit that they stole it?

(Exceptions apply of course; some people who create music or movies decide to release them for free, but it's pretty difficult to make a living that way).

 

[Darryl Licht]

You all act like you never downloaded an mp3 or a movie from the Internet.

Do they clone movies and music now?

If someone were to download such a movie/music and then sell it for $ they are guilty of piracy/copyright infringement! In my eyes same as the clone manufacturers. Would I buy a pirated movie or music? HELL NO!

 

[crxess]

Hmmm..............

So much for staying on topic

 

[Bunnykiller]

I think it is pretty clear the buyer of the $30 'clone' wants the look of the $180 authentic...

thats your viewpoint.... I buy imitations for their function...

 

[Darryl Licht]

thats your viewpoint.... I buy imitations for their function...

Can you honestly say that an "imitation" works better than a comparably priced authentic?
In a blind taste test with the same builds, do you really think you would tell a difference?

 

[stevegmu]

thats your viewpoint.... I buy imitations for their function...

That's what those who buy fake Hublots say...

 

[Bunnykiller]

Can you honestly say that an "imitation" works better than a comparably priced authentic?
In a blind taste test with the same builds, do you really think you would tell a difference?

I would say yes.... my HCigar KF3.1 preforms vastly different ( better) than my friends authenitic Protank3

 

[Bunnykiller]

That's what those who buy fake Hublots say...

hublots? explain please

 

[Darryl Licht]

I would say yes.... my HCigar KF3.1 preforms vastly different ( better) than my friends authenitic Protank3

Now that I'd like to see...

A blind taste test comparing clones and authentics of similar price!

 

[Darryl Licht]

hublots? explain please

They're an expensive Swiss made watch, that's oft copied by the... yep... Chinese!