Is the market for expensive vape gear slowly dying.

[chykensa]

An interesting thread, this, I hope you keep it alive.
I am not able to buy originals, as I am strapped most of the time. Therefore, I buy clones. If I could afford to buy the originals, I'm not sure I would as they are, as stated above, nothing more than a tubular battery holder with a switch and a connection to whatever attie you choose to pop on the top.
However, I appreciate that someone has to spend the time designing and manufacturing the original idea.
Atties - I can't see the difference between a Russian at £70 from Svomesto, and a clone from Fasttech at £15. Both do the job, and sometimes the clone does a better job. Again, I appreciate that someone has to design the original.
I think that vaping has moved on from the time when mech mods in particular were a small-scale operation, homemade and unique(-ish). With the might of China on board, we have to accept that what was a cottage industry is now a large-scale business opportunity and simply enjoy the fact that someone is making these items on a scale that was never imagined when they were first conceived.
I own a Caravela mod (a clone), and it's my favourite by a long chalk, with little voltage drop, and a great design. Sure, someone had to design the first Caravela, but it is now being copied by so many different manufacturers that it would be almost impossible to deduce who made what.
I don't know what the answer is - it seems to me that the new generation of high-watt box mods are leading the way, as vaping takes on a more popular attitude amongst non-vapers. Maybe the tube mod is a thing of the past? Maybe 18650 batteries will soon be the sole domain of cyclists who want something which will prevent them being obliterated by a careless motorist?
I really don't know any more . . .

[Marcus]

In regards to the original question, only if there is a need.
If there is a decent 1:1 clone out with decent reviews then I will get that, if not and it's something I really want I'll get the original.
Also only really buy authentic attys, I just see my mods for what they are fancy battery holders, it's the atty that can greatly affect the vape quality.

In some things the quality of the clones just aren't decent enough, the dark horse being a great example..

[Tom]

Oct 23, 2014 23:25:05 GMT Marcus said:

In regards to the original question, only if there is a need.
If there is a decent 1:1 clone out with decent reviews then I will get that, if not and it's something I really want I'll get the original.
Also only really buy authentic attys, I just see my mods for what they are fancy battery holders, it's the atty that can greatly affect the vape quality.

In some things the quality of the clones just aren't decent enough, the dark horse being a great example..

Although some of my clone rda post screws are a little poopey.

(PS FT plume veil came yesterday - now that is friggin vaping!!!)

[Marcus]

Agreed, certain RDA clones are janky ad fook.
The dark horse clone doesn't have milled negative posts so they twist, round insulator for a square post and incorrect airflow.

Also to get a decent clone in the UK is around £20-25
When I can get the original for £55 I'll get the authentic all day long.

Cant wait for the Aris RDA to get over here, for around £30-35 for an innovative RDA with glass tank is absolutely unheard of.

[igual]

Mech mods and rebuild able attys/ drippers clones all the way.
Vv/vw device genuine due to the fact they cost a lot more and if there is a problem better chance of getting repaired / refund.
In some ways if I had the cash I would happily buy certain bits genuine.
However sometimes the clones are actually better.

[Deleted]

Some buy genuine (them), some buy clones (me) and others buy both! I would, however, like to get myself two genuine taifuns one day

[Cousin Itt]

The majority of original mods and attys are just clones of something else with minor changes . I don`t think there is anything Ive seen that is wildly different from something that has existed previously.

I`ll buy whatever takes my fancy at the time . Cost isn`t really an issue if I want something as my weekly fag spend was at leased £200 and I can`t get anywhere close to that cost no matter what vape gear I want.
I think the original makers are really are missing a trick by not supplying there own clones. Do a limited run of serial numbered originals then releases some quality official china made clones that are more affordable for the masses and have decent QC so people know they will work from the box rather than the China new clone gamble.

[monty]

Top end stuff is out of my reach. I happily buy clones of overpriced, mass produced stuff but not of hand made attys and I wouldn't buy a UD clone - they get my support for making the first good affordable gennys and drippers. Doesn't bother me much how anyone else wants to spend their money but I think it's a bit daft buying clones in the UK which can be bought for half the price direct from China.

[greendollar]

Been through a lot of high end stuff & usually buy the clone version to compare , I think the sheer volume of different mods has dampened the highend market abit & the Chinese have upped the quality of their clones considerably .
My last bit of vape mail was a clone Sat 22 & it's fantastic quality, at £7.50 compared to £100 + it's a no brainer really .
I've been on this journey for 2 and a half years & I don't get excited as I used to when the latest 'must have' mod or atty appears , I just wait for the reviews before deciding to buy , gone are the days for lists & waiting for months on end for something to turn up .

[Marcus]

Oct 24, 2014 17:27:09 GMT greendollar said:

Been through a lot of high end stuff & usually buy the clone version to compare , I think the sheer volume of different mods has dampened the highend market abit & the Chinese have upped the quality of their clones considerably .
My last bit of vape mail was a clone Sat 22 & it's fantastic quality, at £7.50 compared to £100 + it's a no brainer really .
I've been on this journey for 2 and a half years & I don't get excited as I used to when the latest 'must have' mod or atty appears , I just wait for the reviews before deciding to buy , gone are the days for lists & waiting for months on end for something to turn up .

Have also been at it for about 2.5yrs and wish I could say the same
I'm still bloody dreadful for buying into the next "thing" and every gadget/accessories I can get.

As long as you can find out who the clone manufacturer is then you can pretty much make sure to get a decent 1:1 if you watch some reviews and do your homework, like I say, some clones have definitely improved on the original design.. Thr orchid being the main one that stands out to me.

[crin766]

I think both have their place. Most of us don't have the money to blow on premium original devices unfortunately and others would never consider buying inferior (not always) items. There's something special about owning an expensive, exclusive item that people enjoy, luckily which keeps the designers at it.

But for the rest of us, the Chinese allow us to play with the "good stuff" without the threat of divorce!

[Deleted]

Is expensive gear dying ? Probaly yes , why?

More manufacturers out there , more supply, drives down price.

Did I ever buy expensive ? Once russian 91.

Would I buy expensive mech etc again ? Never , it's a metal tube , I don't care how you sell it to me , it's a metal tube.

Thanks

[Deleted]

Personally will buy both expensive genuine or a clone. It all depends on whether the expensive item is new to the market and i dont want to wait for the clones to appear. What i am now starting to consider when going for high end gear is how long am i going to keep it, and what would its resale value be if for whatever reason i move it on. As more and more stuff is being cloned very quickly unless your going to keep something for a long time to get your money's worth out of it you'll loose big time on resale.
I have two prime examples of this. The rose and erl, both have been cloned so well and do fast the genuines are now worth bugger all. Why would you give someone 80 quid used when you can a good new 1:1 for 30.
Even the manufacturer's of the erl have now cottoned onto this.

[Pepperty]

I really love my genuine gear, they bring me joy and they are quality
Do I buy new? hell no!

my deal is I can have them but from the second hand market, so I love my stuff, but I know I can sell on without too much loss.But I don't have an issue with clones, and its a personal choice

[ionian]

I own a mix of clones and real items. Most of my originals are mods and atties that haven't been cloned (at least, not that I'm aware of) - Troy X, Gus Lord etc.

One of my favourite atties is the Heron, but I don't own an original just because of the price - made more of a problem because the clones are incredibly cheap. I'd never have started on rebuildables if it hadn't been for clones, but now I buy very little so anything I do buy tends to be genuine.

In answer to the original question, there will always be a market for high end stuff - but hopefully the trends in the market are bringing prices down for everyone, so we can all have high quality gear at a reasonable price. I'm sure it's not that simple - nothing ever is - but as an overall trend it's good for the industry as a whole.