ZNA PRO - Discuss the upcoming release of a legendary partnership.

[GeekyGeezer]

Yeah, that's it.

My vape mail is delayed due to the holiday, so somehow I decided to write a novel. And it doesn't have a happy ending.

Since I don't do New Year resolutions, I'll do a New Year prediction - though with a heavy heart.

I have serious doubt that the ZNA Pro will ever be released. My reasoning is that there are two major forces acting against it being sold.

First, as much as I hate to type this, I think Pro Vape is running in a code blue status due to cash flow. When I just looked, the only standard Radius available is the cabernet which I honestly think is less desirable to most people and that's why it is the only original model left. The only customs on the site are mixtures of less desirable options also. Looks like a rush to clear out dead parts and supplies.

So I'm guessing that there is not enough cash to replenish supplies. Why in the world would you not offer the black model, which has to be the choice for 80% or more of all mods sold? Low cash would explain the end of the custom Radius program with no funding for the custom finishes and parts. Low cash would explain the very un-Pro Vape style bargain basement prices in the specials page. I know it's discontinued, but a 2.5 for $20? You can't buy more than one or two different Chinese mods for that. And it would explain why after years of only having sales once or twice a year we began to see weekly flash sales.

So there's no money to buy the components for the Radius board. And Zen no longer has the virtual heart, the core of his new mod.

I said there were two reasons. Second, I think Mike has moved on to other interests. He may be a vaper, but he's an artist at heart. Vape stuff does not appear to be within his vision right now. For example, the excellent Kocho drip tip has been out of stock (in black at least) for a long time. That's a bit confusing to me since I thought Mike machined them in house. To not have made another run speaks to someone just not interested in the whole thing any longer.

Along with his watches, I think the focus has turned to the artwork of custom engraving. One of the examples on the HOH site is a lavishly engraved snare drum that had to take hours and hours to do considering that Zen does these freehand. You have a major release pending but you devote your time to something completely different? I'm glad Zen did the thing since it is beautiful but I think it truly is a sign of what's happening at HOH.

The deeming hit and we all did the human thing and tried to continue as if it didn't exist. We haven't even gotten to the worst part of the drop-dead timeline and the vape world is already decimated.

Like others here, I've tried to get myself into position to be able to continue vaping into the future, but sadly I think the community and hobby is already reeling. I'm going to miss it.

 

[AstroTurf]

My vape mail is delayed due to the holiday, so somehow I decided to write a novel. And it doesn't have a happy ending.

Since I don't do New Year resolutions, I'll do a New Year prediction - though with a heavy heart.

I have serious doubt that the ZNA Pro will ever be released. My reasoning is that there are two major forces acting against it being sold.

First, as much as I hate to type this, I think Pro Vape is running in a code blue status due to cash flow. When I just looked, the only standard Radius available is the cabernet which I honestly think is less desirable to most people and that's why it is the only original model left. The only customs on the site are mixtures of less desirable options also. Looks like a rush to clear out dead parts and supplies.

So I'm guessing that there is not enough cash to replenish supplies. Why in the world would you not offer the black model, which has to be the choice for 80% or more of all mods sold? Low cash would explain the end of the custom Radius program with no funding for the custom finishes and parts. Low cash would explain the very un-Pro Vape style bargain basement prices in the specials page. I know it's discontinued, but a 2.5 for $20? You can't buy more than one or two different Chinese mods for that. And it would explain why after years of only having sales once or twice a year we began to see weekly flash sales.

So there's no money to buy the components for the Radius board. And Zen no longer has the virtual heart, the core of his new mod.

I said there were two reasons. Second, I think Mike has moved on to other interests. He may be a vaper, but he's an artist at heart. Vape stuff does not appear to be within his vision right now. For example, the excellent Kocho drip tip has been out of stock (in black at least) for a long time. That's a bit confusing to me since I thought Mike machined them in house. To not have made another run speaks to someone just not interested in the whole thing any longer.

Along with his watches, I think the focus has turned to the artwork of custom engraving. One of the examples on the HOH site is a lavishly engraved snare drum that had to take hours and hours to do considering that Zen does these freehand. You have a major release pending but you devote your time to something completely different? I'm glad Zen did the thing since it is beautiful but I think it truly is a sign of what's happening at HOH.

The deeming hit and we all did the human thing and tried to continue as if it didn't exist. We haven't even gotten to the worst part of the drop-dead timeline and the vape world is already decimated.

Like others here, I've tried to get myself into position to be able to continue vaping into the future, but sadly I think the community and hobby is already reeling. I'm going to miss it.

Nice Novel...

But, I'd bet a Dollar to a Donut that cash flow has nothing to do with ProVapes current status.

It has become too costly, not to produce vape products, but to have them approved for future use.

Time to Bail... Until the Swamp is Drained!!!

IMO, Jim

 

[GeekyGeezer]

Nice Novel...

But, I'd bet a Dollar to a Donut that cash flow has nothing to do with ProVapes current status.

It has become too costly, not to produce vape products, but to have them approved for future use.

Time to Bail... Until the Swamp is Drained!!!

IMO, Jim

If this was 20 months in the future, I'd agree. But Pro Vape got in before the 8/8 deadline with everything I'm referring to.

The items will be legal for more than a year and a half. So I don't see a whole lot of sense in not taking advantage of selling everything you can until then.

Like I mentioned before, you couldn't sell any if there wasn't enough cash to get the components.

Finally, you wouldn't worry about restocking if you had in fact already pulled the plug and just chose to keep everyone in the dark. Though they've surprised me a few times lately, that type of behavior is totally unlike the Pro Vape I've dealt with in the past.

 

[HBcorpse]

The Custom Radius program ended because it is not feasible to operate under the regs.

The regs imply that the same part (any part) of a vape device, sold in a different color, would be considered a whole separate tobacco product.

This means every custom Radius configuration would need to be registered as an individual tobacco product, with one of those pricy PMTA's filed.

That's all I can think of for the death of the Custom Radius program.

Sad to say though, this is not the first I've heard of Provape running into trouble as of late.

Let's hope the new presidential administration can cut the regulations down at their roots!

 

[ENAUD]

If this was 20 months in the future, I'd agree. But Pro Vape got in before the 8/8 deadline with everything I'm referring to.

The items will be legal for more than a year and a half. So I don't see a whole lot of sense in not taking advantage of selling everything you can until then.

Like I mentioned before, you couldn't sell any if there wasn't enough cash to get the components.

Finally, you wouldn't worry about restocking if you had in fact already pulled the plug and just chose to keep everyone in the dark. Though they've surprised me a few times lately, that type of behavior is totally unlike the Pro Vape I've dealt with in the past.

They wouldn't be selling V2.5's at 20-30 a pop if they were flying out the door, there's even some P3's at the 99$ price tag. Shipping packaging has changed to a more generic box even for smaller items. Maybe they a just paring down their inventory to a very limited offering of models, maybe it goes deeper. I guess we'll just know when we know. Radio silence from the mothership here on the forum for a long time. Not even a happy holidays thread. I think 2017 is going to be a real downer for vaping enthusiasts, we can swim out past the breakers....and watch the world die.

 

[GeekyGeezer]

The Custom Radius program ended because it is not feasible to operate under the regs.

The regs imply that the same part (any part) of a vape device, sold in a different color, would be considered a whole separate tobacco product.

This means every custom Radius configuration would need to be registered as an individual tobacco product, with one of those pricy PMTA's filed.

You're exactly right but I'll point out you're using future tense. The stop sale doesn't go into effect until 8/8/18 for anything that was on the market as of 8/8/16. If they would decide to file a PMTA, it would be in order to keep selling on 8/9/18. Unless I have misunderstood the deeming, at this time Pro Vape can't bring out a Radius 61w (or a pink Radius) but they sure as hell can sell as many Onyx 40 and 60 watts as they are able. Same for the custom combinations that already existed.

I'm not trying to belabor the point, but I wasn't sure people understood that the deeming regs grandfathered anything existing on 8/8/16 with a mandate to stop sales on 8/8/18 unless the PMTA was approved (and from what I can tell, none will be approved in a defacto ban).

Currently, there is no prohibition against Pro Vape providing their custom service or continuing to sell their entire lineup. That's why I thought that a cash flow problem was the only reason (that made sense to me) they would stop more than a year and a half early. Hopefully no one thinks I'm attacking them, it's just the early shut down I don't understand.

This will be my last post on the subject. I've tried my best to clarify what I posted and now I don't want to linger on such a terrible situation.

 

[HBcorpse]

You're exactly right but I'll point out you're using future tense. The stop sale doesn't go into effect until 8/8/18 for anything that was on the market as of 8/8/16. If they would decide to file a PMTA, it would be in order to keep selling on 8/9/18. Unless I have misunderstood the deeming, at this time Pro Vape can't bring out a Radius 61w (or a pink Radius) but they sure as hell can sell as many Onyx 40 and 60 watts as they are able. Same for the custom combinations that already existed.

I'm not trying to belabor the point, but I wasn't sure people understood that the deeming regs grandfathered anything existing on 8/8/16 with a mandate to stop sales on 8/8/18 unless the PMTA was approved (and from what I can tell, none will be approved in a defacto ban).

Currently, there is no prohibition against Pro Vape providing their custom service or continuing to sell their entire lineup. That's why I thought that a cash flow problem was the only reason (that made sense to me) they would stop more than a year and a half early. Hopefully no one thinks I'm attacking them, it's just the early shut down I don't understand.

This will be my last post on the subject. I've tried my best to clarify what I posted and now I don't want to linger on such a terrible situation.

No wait! Come back! We aren't lingering!

Hahaha!

This really IS a sad topic, but Provape has always managed to steam ahead in the waves of the market, so who knows what they're up to?

I agree on the future-tense thing. I hadn't looked at it that way.

Except for maybe the fact that 8/8/16 meant nothing could be sold if it wasn't already on the market...in which case a custom ordered Radius combo wouldn't have technically been on the market since each possible combo was unique to the customer that ordered it, and it wasn't marketed specifically.

They had a few mix/match combos on the site, after the full on custom page disappeared.

I'm very curious as to what 2017 will bring for us.

The tide seems to have started to turn, but it may all be too late. Maybe the change in current is the feeling of everything starting to circle the drain...

 

[ENAUD]

There are other stages to the deeming, like product registration. All products from each MFG. were supposed to be submitted about this time, (end of year) don't remember the exact date. FDA did grant a six month extension on this one though. The custom Radius is kind of a no brainer as to why it went away, can you imagine filing a thousand different products considering all the possible permutations of such an offering?

My personal thoughts are that the vape market has also reached a point of saturation, for a while now...yeah, the cigalike and evod type consumers will still be finding their stuff at Wallgreens, gas stations, and Wallyworld. The shops around me have severely reduced inventory. lot's of empty space under them big glass showcases. A lot of their RDA RBA atties are stickered at 75% off, and stuff like Nautilus tanks are 30+$ and Subtank mini's at 50-60$ Also of note, nobody in my immediate area stock anything ProVape, zip, nada, zilch. It's all 50-75-200 watt stuff, and the juices are usually 3-6 mg/ml, it's all clouds bro stuff, or cheezy starter gear.

Today I got pretty miffed at my local B&M, thay have been doing a BOGO monday on coils forever...buy one get one at 50%. It worked out to about 12$ a five pack for my Nauti coils. Today the person behind the counter said they aren't doing that anymore, even though the sign was still on the front door ( store changed owners recently). I declined the sale and said sorry, but it left me feeling angry and a little down. The attitude from the clerk tipped me off, they aren't doing very well financially. there is going to be a lot more of that I feel. So glad my ship is well stocked and I can set sail into calm seas with a warm breeze to my stern and the sun ahead to guide me. I feel there are rough waters on the horizon...

 

[DPLongo22]

I guess that...

Never mind - that pretty much covers it.

 

[Arnold Ziffle]

another problem might be is they are losing key employees due to the uncertain future of the industry. one has to provide for their family first and foremost.

 

[HBcorpse]

I mean...their ads still look like this...

Then again, photography was never a strong suit for Provape.

Many moons ago, in the ECF that used to be, there were lots of jokes told about the poor product photos on the Provape site.
I could never figure out why their product photos didn't reflect the quality of the devices.

 

[DPLongo22]

View attachment 624033 I mean...their ads still look like this...

Then again, photography was never a strong suit for Provape.

Many moons ago, in the ECF that used to be, there were lots of jokes told about the poor product photos on the Provape site.
I could never figure out why their product photos didn't reflect the quality of the devices.

I love it that they still use this picture. I smile inside every time I see it (often).

 

[Katdarling]

I guess that...

Never mind - that pretty much covers it.

Oh M' GAWD. You were thinking PREZACTLY what I was...

 

[Eskie]

View attachment 624033 I mean...their ads still look like this...

Then again, photography was never a strong suit for Provape.

Many moons ago, in the ECF that used to be, there were lots of jokes told about the poor product photos on the Provape site.
I could never figure out why their product photos didn't reflect the quality of the devices.

Damn. Never saw that picture before. Looks just like an electric screwdriver I lost a while back.

 

[DPLongo22]

Damn. Never saw that picture before. Looks just like an electric screwdriver I lost a while back.

You must have your ads turned off (at the top of all pages). That one pops up all the time.

It's awesome.

 

[Eskie]

You must have your ads turned off (at the top of all pages). That one pops up all the time.

It's awesome.

There are ads on this site? Oops.

 

[DPLongo22]

There are ads on this site? Oops.

LOL!!! Yeppers...

 

[Eskie]

So, ah, does that mean I should turn off my ad blocker on this site to be a supportive forum member? I've just been blocking ads for so long, I don't even think they might exist somewhere I wasn't looking.

 

[DPLongo22]

So, ah, does that mean I should turn off my ad blocker on this site to be a supportive forum member? I've just been blocking ads for so long, I don't even think they might exist somewhere I wasn't looking.

You're far from the only one. I wouldn't worry about it.

I like seeing the old Provis hit the scene, so no blockage for me.

 

[Yonjuro]

It's all a bit weird that that the mothership hasn't communicated anything to their fiercely loyal supporters. I even saw on an Australian forum that people assumed they were going out of business?? The brand loyalty is what has built their business as many supporters have bought multiple devices. I think a simple, "Don't worry folks, we aren't going anywhere" would be sufficient and help their business going forward. Failure to address consumer uncertainty does not bode well.

I am thankful for my Provape mods and Kabuki atties as they got me off the cigs, but I am pretty well over them now, sold my 2 kabukis and P3 and will probably sell my onyx Radius when my next mod arrives.

My only interest in this mod now, is out of curiosity and to see if it ever actually eventuates. I wont be buying it either way.

Please don't think I am bitter at all, I dearly hope they continue to support the great people that love and use them. If they don't continue, don't stress as there are some great, high quality devices and chipsets out these days to keep you off the stinkies

PS: The above was meant to be a two sentence comment